Nicholas’ POV
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before speaking again.“Hazel, I understand you’re worried about Charlie. But you don’t know what’s really going on with Sabrina. She’s sick, very sick, and I… I didn’t even realize it until now. If you had a shred of heart, you’d understand why I had to be there for her.”“So what does that mean? You want to choose her over me and Charlie?” Her voice trailed off, but I knew her question held a threat.I stared at her deeply, trying to find the right words.“I’m not choosing anyone. I just want to make things right. For Charlie, for Sabrina, for all of us.”Hazel chuckled, bitterly. “Do you think that’s possible? Nicholas, you’re too naive. Don’t expect me to let Charlie near Sabrina again.”My anger was rising, but I chose not to retaliate. Instead, I said softly but firmly,“Hazel, this isn’t about you or me. This is about Charlie and what’s best forNicholas's POV I lowered my head, looking at Hazel firmly. “Hazel, enough. This isn’t about you or me. This is about Charlie. He wants to see his mother, and I won’t stop him.”“She doesn’t know what’s best for him!” Hazel replied in a shrill voice. “Are you really going to take this child to a woman who can’t even take care of herself?”The argument was getting more heated, but Charlie’s cries finally stopped everything. He cried loudly, hugging my legs tightly. “Daddy, Mommy Hazel, don’t fight!”Seeing him like that, I felt an indescribable pain. I bent down, lifted Charlie into my arms, and stroked him gently. “Daddy won’t fight anymore, son. I’m sorry.”I glanced at Hazel, signaling that I wouldn’t back down. “I’ll take Charlie. We can talk later.”Hazel looked like she wanted to fight, but she finally chose to remain silent, even though her face was full of anger. Without waiting any longer, I carried Charlie out
Nicholas's POV When the light turned green, I continued on my way cautiously, promising myself to pay more attention, both on the road and in my life. Charlie deserved a good experience, and I would do my best to keep it that way. I followed his gaze, looking to see what had caught his attention. He pointed to a small flower shop on the corner, with a pastel-colored sign and a display case full of fresh flowers. “Daddy, let’s buy some flowers for Mommy Sabrina, okay?” Charlie exclaimed excitedly. I paused, a little surprised by his request. Buying flowers for Sabrina was something I had never thought of before. But seeing Charlie’s enthusiastic smile, I couldn’t refuse. “Okay, honey. Let’s buy some flowers first,” I replied, trying to smile even though my heart was still heavy.We parked in front of the store and went inside. The scent of fresh flowers immediately greeted me, bringing a little sense of calm to my chaotic thought
Nicholas's POV Charlie jumped out of the car as soon as I opened the door. He held the yellow lilies we had bought tightly, protecting them as if they were his most precious treasure. I could only follow his small, hurried steps towards Sabrina’s room.“Slow down, Charlie!” I called, but he only glanced back briefly before continuing his run.We arrived in front of Sabrina’s door. I reached for the doorknob to open it, but Charlie was faster. He pushed the door open enthusiastically and then ran inside. “Mommy Sabrina!” he called, his voice full of happiness. On the bed, Sabrina, who had previously been leaning with her eyes closed, looked surprised. She opened her eyes wide, looking confused for a moment before realizing who had just called her. “Charlie…” she whispered, her voice shaking. Charlie jumped onto the bed, immediately hugging Sabrina tightly. His small arms wrapped around Sabrina’s still-weak body. Sabrina
Sabrina’s POVSeeing Charlie sitting beside my bed excitedly, his face full of smiles gave me an energy I never thought I had. I opened his favorite storybook and began reading. My voice might not be as strong as usual, but I tried to make the story sound as interesting as possible for Charlie.The story began with the adventures of a brave little hero, and I could see Charlie’s eyes light up with enthusiasm. Every time I described an exciting moment, he became absorbed in the story, as if he were part of the world.When I reached the part where our hero faced a great challenge, Charlie bit his lip, waiting anxiously. “Will he succeed?” he asked, his voice full of curiosity. I smiled, feeling the warmth of his excitement.With every sentence I spoke, I felt like I was reliving a fond memory between us. When the story ended happily, I closed the book gently, and Charlie clapped his hands together, his face glowing with joy.Charlie laughed
Sabrina’s POV With Charlie in our midst, I knew that this togetherness was a small step towards recovery—both physical and emotional—for all of us. Charlie eagerly opened his bag of chips and then fed me. “Mommy, open your mouth!” he said, as if I had no other choice. I followed his instructions and pretended to chew excessively, making Charlie burst out laughing. His laughter filled the room, making everything feel much lighter. Nicholas finally smiled a little, seeing Charlie’s cheerfulness and my excessive behavior. The moment seemed to melt the tense atmosphere that had been there, and I felt the weight on my chest lighten a little. “Charlie, you have to eat by yourself too, you know. Not all of it for Mom.”“Dad wants some too?” Charlie asked with sparkling eyes.Nicholas nodded. “If Charlie gives it to me, Dad will.”Charlie took another chip and handed it to Nicholas. “But Dad has to say ‘Aaaa’ firs
Sabrina's POVI swallowed, my heart clenching at his request. I wanted to say yes so badly, but I knew it was impossible. “Honey,” I whispered, stroking his hair. “You have to come home with Daddy. You have school tomorrow, and I want you to be a good boy.” “But…” His voice cracked, and his eyes started to fill with tears. “I don’t want to go home, Mommy. I want to be with you.” I tried to hold back my own tears. I didn’t want him to see me sad. “Listen, Charlie,” I said softly. “After school tomorrow, Daddy will bring you back here. We can play again, and Mommy promises to read you another story.”Charlie looked at me hesitantly, his lips pursed sadly. “Promise?”I smiled and nodded. “Promise, honey.”Nicholas stepped closer, placing his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Mommy’s right, Charlie. We’ll come back here after school tomorrow.”Charlie finally nodded slightly, though his face was still pouting. He hugged me tightly
Sabrina’s POV One step at a time, I tried to strengthen myself. Today was part of the struggle, and I knew that I had to fight for Charlie, for a brighter future. Nicholas helped me sit on the chair prepared for patients. The nurse came with a gentle smile, making sure everything was ready. Meanwhile, Nicholas took the chair next to me, only a few inches away. He didn't speak, but his presence was enough to make me feel a little stronger.As the IV needle began to penetrate my skin, I winced slightly. Nicholas saw it and instinctively reached out as if wanting to hold me but hesitant. I noticed it and looked at him briefly. "I'm okay," I said softly, even though it wasn't entirely true. He nodded but said nothing. I could see his jaw tighten, and his gaze never left my face, as if making sure I was really okay. Time seemed to slow down. Every drop of fluid from the IV bag seemed to move at an excruciating speed. My body began to feel
Sabrina's POVToday is the day I've been waiting for. The doctor finally allowed me to go home after undergoing chemotherapy and treatment for the past few days. Although my body is still weak, I feel relieved to be able to return home. It feels like being given a little freedom after being locked up for so long.Nicholas was busy taking care of the paperwork for my return outside the room. The sound of his footsteps approaching made me turn towards the door. He entered with a small smile that I had rarely seen lately, carrying a plastic bag filled with medicines and documents.The warmth of his smile gave me encouragement. In my heart, I was grateful for his support so far. As he placed the bag on the table, I felt new hope. Today was the beginning of my recovery journey, and although there were challenges ahead, I was ready to face them."Everything is ready. We can go home right away," he said, his tone soft but firm.I smiled slightly
Nicholas's POV I felt my urge to fight for Sabrina's rights grow stronger, and I knew I had to do everything I could to support both of them in this difficult situation. "Second," Rudi continued, "the stability of the environment. If the biological mother suddenly reappears and wants to take custody, she must prove that the change will not harm the child." I sighed. "But Hazel might use the fact that she is the biological mother." "True." Rudi looked at me intently. "But you can prove that for five years, it has been Sabrina who has cared for him. And if Charlie is old enough to speak, the court may consider his wishes." I fell silent, processing all this information. "So, what do you want to do, Nicholas?" Rudi asked quietly. I raised my face and looked at him. "I want to know, if I take this to legal proceedings, is there a significant chance that Charlie will stay with Sabrina?" Rudi nodded. "There is a possibility, if you have sufficient evidence." I breathe
Nicholas's POV From where I stood, I could see her walking into the room, disappearing behind the door. The atmosphere around her house seemed calm, with sunlight streaming through the windows, creating a warm ambiance.After a few seconds, I took a deep breath and walked back to the car. But as I reached for the door handle, I glanced back at the house once more.I didn’t know when it started, but lately, something felt different. It was as if something within me was beginning to change. Something that made me want to keep ensuring that Sabrina and Charlie were okay.This feeling was so strong, as if they had become an important part of my life. I felt more connected to them than ever, and that sense of responsibility was growing within me. Every time I saw Sabrina, I saw not just a friend, but also a struggling mother, and I wanted to make sure she wasn’t facing everything alone.I sighed, trying to gather my thoughts before getting into th
Nicholas's POV After dropping Charlie off at school and watching him enter the gate happily, I sighed in relief. I waved goodbye before turning to Sabrina, who stood beside me. She seemed to smile, but there was a hint of fatigue on her face.I could feel how exhausting yesterday had been for both of us. The happy moments with Charlie had indeed drained our energy, but seeing his smile made it all worthwhile. Sabrina took a deep breath, trying to shake off the weariness that was evident on her face.We walked slowly away from the school, enjoying the morning silence. The fresh air brought a bit of new energy, and I hoped today would give us a chance to relax. We both knew that despite the fatigue, this time together was the most precious thing.“Come on, let me give you a ride home,” I said while opening the car door for her.Sabrina gently shook her head. “I can go home by myself, Nicholas. You might be late for the office.”
Sabrina's POV Upon entering the room, I immediately sat on the edge of the bed, exhaling slowly. Nicholas grabbed a glass of water and took medication from the drawer, then handed it to me. "Drink this, and then you can go straight to sleep."I accepted it without much protest. After swallowing the medication, I looked back at Nicholas, who was still standing in front of me with a worried expression."I'll take care of Charlie," he said, as if answering a question I hadn't asked. "You don’t need to worry. Sleep, I promise everything will be alright."I nodded slowly. "Thank you, Nicholas."Nicholas smiled slightly, then pulled the blanket over me. "Rest. I’ll wake you up later for lunch."I merely murmured a quiet response. My body felt even more tired after lying down, and slowly my eyes began to close.Before I completely fell asleep, I heard the sound of Charlie's tiny footsteps approaching. "Mom, have a good rest."
Sabrina's POV When we reached the car, Charlie carefully placed Titan in the back seat, as if the robot were a special passenger. The ride home felt even cheerier with Titan's presence, a symbol of a day filled with happiness and precious moments we shared as a family.During the drive home, Charlie sat in the back seat with his robot in his lap. His eyes sparkled as he played with the robot's arms, as if imagining an epic battle between Titan and its enemies. Every time he moved Titan's arm, he narrated imaginative adventure stories.“Titan will fight a giant monster!” he exclaimed, his excitement unmatched. “He will protect the city from destruction!” His vivid storytelling made me smile.Nicholas, who was sitting in front, occasionally turned around and laughed at Charlie's imagination. “You have to be careful, Charlie. The monster can come at any time!” he said, adding excitement to the story.Charlie nodded seriously, as if he were truly
Sabrina's POV I decided to take over and give it a few tries myself. With hope, I directed the claw towards the panda, but the results were still the same. Every time the claw missed its target, I sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. It felt like an endless challenge, and I really wanted to see a smile on Charlie's face.Nicholas stepped closer, encouraging Charlie. “Don’t worry, Charlie. We can try again! Maybe we just need one more attempt.”Charlie nodded, though his expression still showed disappointment. I felt how important that panda was to him, and I didn’t want to give up just yet. We both kept trying, occasionally changing our strategy, but every time the claw reached for the toy, the outcome was the same.With unwavering determination, we gave it one last shot. I carefully directed the claw, praying in my heart that this time it would work. As the claw began to close, my hopes soared, but unfortunately, the panda remained in its place.
Sabrina's POV After finishing our shopping, as we walked past the stores, Charlie suddenly pulled my hand excitedly. "Mom, Dad, can we play first? Look, there's Timezone!" he said, pointing to the arcade area in the corner of the mall. I glanced at Nicholas, seeking his approval. Nicholas just smiled slightly and shrugged. "Why not? We still have time." Charlie immediately cheered and pulled us both toward the arcade. I laughed at his enthusiasm, while Nicholas just shook his head, smiling. Seeing Charlie so excited made my heart flutter. Moments like this are what I always wanted—sharing happiness and joy as a family. Once inside, the loud sounds from various game machines filled our ears. The laughter of children and the sound of falling coins created an atmosphere full of energy and cheer. Charlie jumped up and down, his eyes sparkling as he saw all the colorful games. He ran toward the most eye-catching machine, as if all the games were calling him. Nicholas and I followed be
Sabrina's POV I run toward the yard, flinging open the front door, hoping to find her standing there. But there is no one. My chest tightens further. My eyes begin to burn. No. This can’t be happening. “Charlie!” I scream at the top of my lungs, my voice rising in panic. Tears are falling before I can hold them back. I bite my lip, my body beginning to shake violently. It feels like the entire world around me is collapsing in an instant. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I’ve lost Charlie. My hands grip my chest, which feels painful, my head spinning with terrible thoughts. I sob, my knees finally giving way, and I fall to the floor, shaking uncontrollably. “Charlie... where are you?” I whisper through my sobs, a desperate voice barely audible even to myself. I cry uncontrollably, feeling a fear I’ve never experienced before. I’m still sobbing on the floor, my body trembling uncontrollably. My breath is ragged, my chest feels so tight. The fear grips me tightly, as if shatte
Sabrina's POV Nicholas sat beside me, and his presence provided an invaluable sense of security. We shared a moment of silence, listening to the soothing sounds of nature. The gentle wind and rustling leaves created a harmonious melody, adding to the peace of this night. I reflected on all the efforts and struggles we had faced. Each step felt heavy, but tonight, it all seemed worthwhile. With Nicholas by my side, I felt strengthened and supported. He was always there, a light in the darkness, and I felt grateful for his presence. As I gazed at the sky, I envisioned a bright future. I knew many challenges awaited, but tonight, I felt ready to face them all. The love and support we had gave me the strength to move forward, and I no longer felt alone. “Sleep, you must be tired,” Nicholas said. I nodded and left the room. I lay down next to Charlie, pulling the blanket up to cover his small