Sabrina's POV
When I got home, I stayed in my private room. For hours, I drowned in suffocating sadness. "It turns out that my presence means nothing to my husband. Is this what is called old love, the real winner?" I said softly and sadly. Not long after that, a loud car horn was heard. "He's home." I opened the curtains and peeked down. It turned out to be true; it was the sound of Nicholas's car. Slowly, I stood up, left the room, and rushed to meet my husband in the bedroom. I pulled the doorknob of the room and stepped inside. I saw Nicholas, who was taking off his black tuxedo. "You're home? It's so rare to be out so late..." I said while walking carefully towards Nicholas. "Where have you been?” "There's important business outside," Nicholas answered indifferently while unbuttoning his shirt sleeve. The answer my husband gave made me feel suffocated. He was clearly lying; my husband was dishonest. How could Nicholas lie to me for his ex-wife? When Nicholas was about to walk away, I held his arm and looked up at Nicholas's handsome face with a sad gaze. "If I may ask... have you been spending your time with Hazel all day?" I asked, trying to suppress the rumbling in my chest. Nicholas stared at me for a moment, then said, "Whoever I meet, it has nothing to do with you, Sabrina!" "I-I'm just asking..." I said, surprised by my husband's harsh words. Nicholas released my hand from his arm. "I'm very tired today; don't upset me." "I-I understand." I turned around, walked closer to the bed, and sat down. My husband was now taking off his white shirt. Nicholas was about to walk to the bathroom, but the ringing of his cellphone caught his attention. He quickly answered the call, which seemed very important. "Hello... What?! Accident?! Which hospital are you in now? I'll be there soon; wait until I get there. Don't go anywhere!" Nicholas's voice sounded filled with anxiety. The man immediately hung up the call. Nicholas hurriedly grabbed a shirt from the closet and put it on in a hurry. His face and expression showed that he was very worried about something. I, who was curious, approached my husband and asked, "What's wrong? Where are you going at this time of night?" "I have to go to the hospital," Nicholas answered flatly. My face became tense. "Hospital? Who's sick?" "Hazel had an accident a few minutes ago. I have to go there immediately!" Hearing Hazel's name mentioned by my husband, I stood there frozen with a hurt feeling. Hazel again. In every situation, it seemed clear that I would always lose to that woman. "Doesn't she have another family that you have to go to?" I dared to ask in a last-ditch effort at self-defense. Nicholas clicked his tongue when he heard my question. "Tsk! I'm in a hurry, Sabrina! Hazel is alone there! What if she is badly injured?!" My lips immediately closed tightly. My fingers squeezed the edge of the dress I was now wearing. The lines of panic and anxiety on Nicholas's face were so clear; how worried he was to hear the news of his ex-wife's accident. When Nicholas was about to step toward the door, I grabbed his arm. "You'll come back home later, right?" I asked in a trembling voice. "Not if she's badly injured," Nicholas said, letting go of my hand just like that. My husband walked hurriedly away from me and went back to meet his ex, who was injured in the hospital. I was silent, staring blankly at the still-open bedroom door. "Even though he never panicked when I was sick, he looked very afraid if that woman was hurt...." Tears began to well up in my eyes. It felt like something was tearing my heart apart, creating unbearable pain. Why did I feel this way? Why was this jealousy and heartache so excruciating? I thought back to all the moments we had together. When I was sick, he always remained calm, as if there was nothing to worry about. However, when his ex-wife was injured, he seemed to lose control. There was something I couldn’t ignore—a feeling that I wasn’t the most important thing in his life. My head was spinning, trying to process all of this. Was I just a substitute? Was the love he gave me not comparable to the love he had for his ex? These questions kept spinning in my mind, making me sink deeper and deeper. I tried to stand up, but my legs felt weak. I reached for my phone, wanting to call him, but my hand stopped. What should I say? I didn’t want to look weak, but on the other hand, I couldn’t hold back my feelings. Finally, I decided to go out to the balcony. The cool night air touched my skin, bringing a little calm amidst my storm of emotions. I stared at the twinkling stars in the sky, hoping to find an answer among them. “Should I hold on?” I whispered to myself. “Or will I continue to get hurt like this?”Sabrina's POV Days passed, and my condition still had not improved. I had just woken up from my sleep in a panic. I had fallen asleep for two hours after taking the medicine, until I forgot to pick up Charlie from school. "Oh my God, what time is it?!" I looked at the clock on the wall in my room. "Gosh! What have I done? Charlie must be crying, waiting for me!" I hurriedly got out of the room. Even though my body felt weak and powerless, I still forced myself to move. My heavy steps carried me down the stairs. However, when I had not yet stepped onto the first floor, the door to my house opened wide. I heard Charlie's cry, which made me panic instantly. "Sabrina!" a woman shouted loudly, calling for her. "Mom..." I looked at my mother-in-law, who had come with Hazel. The woman was now carrying Charlie, who was struggling in her arms. I was silent for a moment. Didn't Nicholas say yesterday that Hazel had an accident? But why didn't the woman look hurt at all?! Not yet awar
Sabrina's POV "Are you sure, ma'am?" I nodded. "I won't regret my decision," I said seriously. I sat on the back porch of my house with an old man with white hair who put down a file. "Okay, I hope you're okay." I gave a slow nod. The man in the gray tuxedo then stood up from his seat and said goodbye. This is what has been going on for the past few years. It hasn’t been easy, and every step has been hard. But I know that this is the right decision for me. After that man left, I stared out into the quiet backyard. The sound of birds chirping and the gentle breeze seemed to remind me that life goes on. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. This divorce wasn’t just about ending a relationship; it was about finding myself again. I felt like I had lost myself in that marriage, and now it was time to rediscover who I really was. I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing—writing about the hopes and dreams I wanted to achieve after all of this. I wante
Sabrina's POVI stared at Nicholas with unstoppable tears, even though his grip was so tight on my shoulder. I didn't understand why he was acting like this, as if our marriage was so precious to him when in every step, I always felt insignificant in his life. I tried to calm myself down, but my anger was getting higher. I wanted to ask him why he did this, why he kept forcing me to stay with him even though I was already unhappy.However, the words I wanted to say were stuck in my throat. I was afraid of Nicholas' anger, afraid that my words would only make things worse. I tried to take a deep breath, trying to understand this situation with a cool head.But the feeling of injustice continued to surge in my heart. I never asked to be involved in this marriage, I never asked to marry Nicholas. I was just an ordinary woman who wanted to live happily, without having to be trapped in a relationship full of lies.I wanted to break free from Nicholas' grip, but I was also afraid of the c
Sabrina's POV I stared at Nicholas sharply. "I won't stop. Tomorrow, or the days after, you will continue to find those letters. Until you finally understand that I will not give up just because you refuse to let me go." Nicholas frowned, looking disturbed. I knew, maybe he was not used to seeing me insist like this. But I had made my decision. Every day, I would continue to file for divorce. Every time he tore it up, I would make a new one, until finally he had no choice but to accept it. I looked at him with determination. "I want to live without this pain, Nicholas. If you can't let me go, then be prepared to face my wishes every day, at every opportunity, until I am free." I turned around, walking away from him, even though I knew he was looking at me with an angry and disapproving look. But for the first time, I felt a ray of strength emerging from within me. The strength to fight for my right to happiness. I would continue to file those letters until the day he could no lo
Sabrina's POV “You really would separate me from Charlie, just because I want to be free from this meaningless marriage?” My voice grew softer, full of hurt. “I’ve given you everything, and this is what you get in return?”Nicholas just laughed sarcastically. “Free? Do you think it’s that easy, Sabrina? As long as I still want this, our marriage will never end. And Charlie, he’s my son. You have no right to him.”I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I held them back, not wanting to appear weak in front of him. “Charlie may not be my biological son, Nicholas, but I have always treated him like my own. But you, you have used him as a weapon against my desire to live in peace.”Nicholas just snorted, then stood up from the chair with a rough movement. “If you think I will change my mind just because of your whiny feelings, you are very wrong.” He stared at me coldly, as if I was just someone insignificant.“Do whatever you want, Sabrina. But remember, I will always win.” With those
Sabrina's POV My steps stopped when I heard the little voice that I had missed so much."Mom!"I turned around slowly, almost in disbelief. There, Charlie stood with his innocent face, his eyes sparkling as he stared at me. Unconsciously, my tears flowed even faster. When he started running towards me, I spread my arms wide, waiting with a heart filled with warmth that I couldn't describe with words.As soon as I reached his arms, Charlie immediately hugged me tightly, as if afraid that I would disappear. I returned his hug with all my heart, feeling his warm and soft little body on my chest, covering all the sadness that I had been holding in. In his arms, I felt whole again.We both fell silent for a moment, enjoying the moment of togetherness that we had been waiting for so long. My heart was filled with gratitude and love that flowed so heavily. After being separated for so long, we were finally reunited.From this incident, I learned that a mother's love can never be replaced by
Sabrina's POV "Forgive me, Charlie..." I whispered, my voice almost lost by my own tears. I could only watch Hazel drag Charlie who continued to cry in pain. My son was still struggling, his little hands reaching out towards me, while his cries begged me to take him. "Mom! Please! Don't leave me, Mom!"I could no longer hold back my tears. My body felt weak, but I couldn't do anything. Hazel finally managed to get Charlie into her car. Charlie was still kicking the car door, his face full of tears and panic. But Hazel quickly closed the door and ignored his cries.I could only watch the car move away, carrying my son who was still screaming for me. The car drove further away, leaving Charlie's little shadow struggling inside.When the sound of his cries disappeared from my hearing, my whole body felt empty. It felt like I had lost a part of myself. I fell to my knees, covering my mouth with both hands to hold back the sound of sobbing so deeply and painfully.Silently, I could onl
Sabrina's POV I tried to hold myself up by holding onto the sink, but the world began to spin faster. Suddenly my body felt so weak and light, that my grip on the sink slowly slipped. My eyes began to blur, my vision blurred, and I collapsed to the bathroom floor, unable to catch myself. As I fell, my hand accidentally knocked over several bottles of skincare that were arranged on a small shelf next to the sink. One by one the bottles fell, producing a faint sound of breaking glass that reached my increasingly indistinct ears.Instantly, the room was silent. I lay weakly on the cold floor, with the faint scent of skincare and blood mixed in the air. Only silence enveloped me as my body felt like it was sinking into darkness, leaving all the suffocating pain behind the bathroom door. In the silence that enveloped me, I felt my head and body start to feel light. Darkness filled my vision, making me feel even more isolated from the outside world. The
Sabrina's POVBut how could I do that if I didn’t even have the right to be near him? Frustration crushed me, making me feel trapped in an unfair situation.I knew the love and care I wanted to give him couldn't just be taken.Suddenly, dizziness struck my head. Everything seemed to spin slowly, making me stagger. I held onto the edge of the table to keep my balance, but the sensation of nausea hit me instantly. I pressed my stomach, trying to suppress it, but it was in vain.I rushed to the bathroom, almost stumbling at the door. Once at the sink, I vomited, expelling everything from my stomach—or rather, almost nothing. I hadn’t eaten since morning, and now my body demanded attention.After a moment, I struggled to stand upright, my breath ragged. The accumulated fatigue and stress made me feel increasingly fragile. With difficulty, I washed my face, trying to return to a better state.Once finished, I looked at my reflection i
Sabrina's POVThat memory haunted my thoughts, making my heart feel heavy. I wanted to erase his pain, to provide the safety he needed. Seeing him distressed made me feel helpless, and I knew I had to do something.With renewed determination, I began planning the steps I could take. Perhaps there was a way to approach Hazel wisely, or seek help from others who could understand my situation. Whatever happened, I couldn't give up on Charlie. He deserved protection and love.I closed my eyes, trying to dispel the shadows, but instead, I remembered the beautiful moments we shared. Like the time we went to the playground, and he laughed joyfully on the swings. Or when he innocently asked, “Mommy Sabrina, why is the sky blue?” As if I had all the answers in the world.Each memory made my heart tremble. His smile, his joyful laughter—everything felt so precious. He brought unexpected happiness into my life, and I couldn't let him go.Yet, those beaut
Sabrina's POV I sat in the living room of my small apartment, looking at the cold cup of tea on the table. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows on the floor, but my mood was far from warm.My mind wandered to various disturbing things. Every second felt heavy, as if there were a burden that couldn't be lifted. Memories of the past swirled in my mind, reminding me of decisions made and paths taken. Although the beauty outside seemed calming, inside me, anxiety and loneliness took over.My mind kept turning, thinking about Charlie. Yesterday afternoon, he sat in front of me, smiling a little while enjoying the pancakes I made. I can even remember his voice when he said, "Mommy Sabrina, this is really delicious." Those words warmed my heart, even though I knew the word "Mommy" he said probably only came from comfort, not because he really thought of me as his mother.This fact creates a mixture of happiness and sa
Hazel's POV Charlie tried to push me away, and somehow that only fueled my anger further. Before I realized it, my hand struck his cheek. The slap wasn’t hard, but enough to make him go silent. His face turned red, and he stared at me with wide eyes. “Don’t you understand?! I am your mother!” I yelled, my voice trembling. Charlie held his cheek, starting to cry again, this time more heartbreakingly. His cries filled the room, making me feel like a villain in my own home. Guilt enveloped me, making me want to reach out and hug him, but I was trapped in my own emotions. Just then, my mother-in-law entered the room. “Hazel! What are you doing?!” she shouted. I flinched, realizing what I had just done. But I was too angry to feel remorse. “He won’t stop, Mom! He keeps calling that woman as if I don’t exist!” My mother-in-law stepped closer, pulling my hand away from Charlie. “You cannot hit him, H
Hazel's POV My mother-in-law nodded slowly, but her eyes still radiated the same determination. “And you are right to think that. You are his mother, Hazel. No one can replace that. Sabrina has no rights over Charlie.”I slammed the glass down on the table, the sound ringing in the room. “Then we have to stop this, Mom. We can’t let Sabrina keep being around Charlie. She’ll just ruin our relationship.”Mom smiled slightly, but there was a sharp tone in her voice when she spoke. “Don’t worry, Hazel. I’m on your side. We’ll make sure that woman can’t get near Charlie anymore.”I looked at her, feeling a spark of confidence beginning to grow within me. Mom’s support made me feel stronger, more ready to face Sabrina.But just then, Charlie’s crying echoed from upstairs again. His sobs of sorrow weighed heavily on my heart, even though I knew I was doing this for his sake.His pain reminded me of how important my presence was in his
Hazel's POV As I pondered, I tried to find a way out of this situation. Charlie needed support, and I couldn’t let my emotions get in the way of helping that child. However, the pain and frustration still haunted my thoughts, making me feel trapped in uncertainty.“You know what annoys me the most, Mom?” I turned to her, who was now standing at the kitchen door, her face full of regret. “It’s not just that you let Charlie run away, but that woman keeps ruining my life!”My mother-in-law didn’t respond, only lowered her gaze, her hands nervously clasped. Her expression showed how heavy the burden she felt was, and it made me hesitate a little. Yet, the anger and frustration bubbling inside me were hard to quell.I felt a mix of emotions—wanting to unleash everything I felt and wanting to give a chance to fix things. Each second that passed strengthened my conviction that I needed to speak, even if it was painful.“From the start, I knew
Hazel's POVI stood outside Charlie's room, breathless, my hands shaking. The sound of his sobs from behind the door pressed down on my mind like an unbearable weight.Each scream and whimper seemed to call to me, inviting deeper anxiety. I knew I should go in and comfort him, but fear and doubt held me back. What could I say to make him feel better?“Charlie, stop!” I shouted sharply, trying to control my anger. But his cries only grew louder, making my head throb.I rubbed my face roughly, then slammed my palm against the door. “I said stop crying, Charlie!”Frustration and despair flooded me. I knew yelling wouldn’t help, but the overwhelming emotions made it hard to think clearly. Each scream from Charlie felt like a knife stabbing, adding to the heavy burden on my shoulders.Yet nothing changed. I could hear his desperate sobs, full of sadness, calling out Sabrina’s name. That name. The name that constantly haunted me, like
Nicholas’s POV Seeing that change in him made my heart heavy. I wanted to see him happy and hoped today could be a special moment for him. I tried to think of a way to cheer him up, ensuring he felt loved and cared for.I took a deep breath, trying to choose the right words. I turned back to look at him. “Mommy Sabrina is resting, sweetheart. She really wishes she could be here, but she needs some time to recover.”Charlie looked at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “Really, Daddy? We’re really going to see Mommy Sabrina?”I smiled and nodded. “Of course. After lunch, we’ll go there.”Joy immediately returned to his face. “Yay!” he cheered, bouncing in his seat, even though he was still strapped in.Sabrina would be waiting for us at home, and I knew Charlie couldn’t wait to see her. That made me even more determined to do my best to keep this relationship intact, no matter how challenging it might be.For Sabrina. For Charli
Nicholas’s POVI drove in silence, my jaw tightening as thoughts spun in my head. Hazel sat beside me with her arms still crossed, her face angry yet somewhat uncertain.I didn’t know what she was planning, but I knew she wasn’t finished. The tension in the car felt increasingly heavy, and I could sense the emotions clashing between us. On one hand, I was determined to protect Charlie; on the other, I had to face the challenges posed by Hazel.Every passing second felt like a growing burden, and I knew the decisions ahead wouldn’t be easy. Yet, in my heart, I promised to fight for Charlie’s happiness, regardless of all the complexities involved.“Stop here,” she suddenly said, her voice flat but firm.I glanced over, seeing her point to the side of the road near a small bus stop. The place was isolated, with only a few small shops and a quiet street.“Are you serious?” I asked, my tone revealing my irritation. It felt like someth