Hazel's POV
That support gave me an extra boost. I felt more confident that my plan could succeed. With a well-thought-out strategy and full attention to Charlie, I was determined to create a positive environment and strengthen our bond."Exactly, Mom. This isn't just about winning Charlie's heart. It's about making sure Sabrina knows her place. She’s nobody. She's just a stepmother trying to take something that isn’t hers."The strength of my statement gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I realized that my struggle was more than just building a relationship with Charlie; it was also about maintaining my position and role in his life.With firm determination, I planned my next steps. Every interaction with Charlie would be filled with care, ensuring that he felt loved and safe while I kept my distance from Sabrina. In my mind, all of this was part of a larger strategy to protect what I loved.Mrs. Rosa gently patted my shoulder, as if giHazel's POV "Your child pushed my son down and hurt him!" I shouted, pointing at Charlie, who was still crying in place.The woman frowned, looking at her child. "Is that true? Did you really push your friend?" she asked gently.The boy remained silent, his face showing guilt. I could feel the tension in the air. Although I was angry, I knew this was an important moment to teach about responsibility and empathy. I hoped everyone involved could learn a valuable lesson from this incident.Then the boy shook his head. "No, Ma! I didn't mean to!" he replied quietly."Didn't mean to? That's impossible! I saw it with my own eyes!" I retorted loudly. "Your child clearly pushed Charlie and made him fall! His knee is bleeding!"The atmosphere grew more tense. Several teachers began to approach, trying to mediate the situation. The woman's face showed confusion and worry, while her son looked increasingly frightened. In my heart, I hoped
Hazel's POVI sat with Charlie in the hospital waiting room, waiting for our turn to be called. The atmosphere around us was calm, although there were a few other patients also waiting. Charlie looked relaxed, swinging his legs that dangled from the chair.I felt relieved that his crying had subsided, and he seemed to be starting to forget about the earlier incident. Seeing him cheerful again lightened my heart. Occasionally, I stole glances at the wall clock, counting the passing time.In my mind, I hoped everything would be alright. Charlie could often be sensitive, but right now, he seemed stronger. I tried to cheer him up by talking about fun things, hoping to divert his attention from the situation that made him anxious.However, suddenly Charlie stood up from his chair quickly, startling me."Mommy Sabrina!" he shouted loudly.I froze for a moment, not believing what I had just heard. My head quickly turned in the dire
Hazel's POV Each sob and call from Charlie reminded me of the helplessness we felt. I prayed we would soon find hope regarding Sabrina's condition."Charlie, sweetheart, listen to Mommy," I said again, trying to be gentler. "Mommy Sabrina can't meet you right now. She needs to rest so she can get better."Charlie shook her head vigorously, her face reddening from crying too long. "I want Mommy Sabrina!" she said again, her voice almost hoarse.Seeing her like that, my heart ached even more. I knew how deep her love and hope for Sabrina were. I struggled to hold back tears, praying that I could provide solace even though I felt fragile myself."Charlie," I said, trying to affirm, "Mommy Sabrina wants you to be healthy and happy. She would be glad to hear that you love her."I hoped my words might slightly redirect her attention and help her understand that all of this was for Sabrina's good."But, Mommy..." Charlie's wor
Hazel's POV I took a deep breath. It felt pointless to try to talk to him while he was like this. Finally, I decided to take action. I stood up, carrying Charlie, who was still sniffling, and walked toward the receptionist."Excuse me," I said to the woman behind the desk. The middle-aged woman looked at me with a small smile, though it was clear she noticed Charlie's tear-stained face.I could feel the attention of those around us, but I tried not to care. The most important thing right now was Charlie. I wanted to ensure he felt safe and comfortable, even in the midst of his emotional turmoil."Is there anything I can help you with, ma'am?" she asked in a friendly tone.I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice calm. "I want to inquire about a patient. Her name is Sabrina."The receptionist nodded, her eyes studying my face before she responded. I could sense the tension in the air, and Charlie was still gripping my shirt tigh
Hazel's POV I took a deep breath again, trying to remain patient amidst Charlie's endless whining. It felt difficult to face his emotional outbursts while my own heart struggled with a mix of guilt and worry.“Charlie, Mommy understands. This is hard,” I said gently, pulling him closer. “But we have to trust the doctors and hope for the best for Mommy Sabrina.”He looked at me with tear-filled eyes, and I could feel the depth of his loss. In my heart, I prayed for a way to help Charlie through all of this, even when everything felt so heavy.Gently, I stroked his hair, trying to provide the comfort he needed. We would go through this together, even if the road was rocky and full of obstacles.“I want Mommy Sabrina, Mom! I want to see Mommy Sabrina!” he cried, tugging at my hand.I looked around, hoping not too many people were watching us. However, his cries were enough to attract the attention of several people waiting in the w
Nicholas's POVThe phone call came while I was buried in a pile of paperwork at my desk. The voice of the doctor from the hospital sounded firm yet heavy, informing me that Sabrina's condition was getting critical. That sentence struck me like lightning to the chest.My hand trembled as I held the phone, struggling to find the words. My heart raced, and my mind drifted to the beautiful moments we had shared together. Every laugh, every touch—everything felt so precious, and now it all depended on a thread of hope."Mr. Nicholas, can you hear me?" the nurse's voice interrupted the silence."Yes, yes, I can hear," I replied, my voice slightly hoarse. "How... how is she doing now?"The nurse explained calmly, but every word felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. She told me about the procedures being carried out, about the medical team's efforts to stabilize Sabrina's condition. It was hard to accept the reality that the person I love
Nicholas's POV “I... I’m in a hurry,” I replied, my breath heavy as I tried to remain calm despite feeling dizzy. “I need to get to the hospital. I’m sorry.”My head throbbed, and the pain made it hard to focus. But all I could think about was Sabrina. I tried not to panic, even though the situation was getting worse.People began to gather around, some pulling out their phones to call for help. The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, adding to the tension in my heart. I knew I had to handle this situation as quickly as possible, but uncertainty gnawed at my mind.The man stared at me, confused. “In a hurry? Sir, you’re bleeding! Your head is hurt! You need to get checked out.”“No... not now,” I insisted stubbornly, trying to hold back the pain that was becoming more intrusive. “Is your car badly damaged?”He shook his head, though he looked annoyed. “Not too much. But you really need to take care of yourself.”
Nicholas's POV I nodded, though it was hard to accept this reality. “Thank you, Doc.” "I want to see her," I finally said. “Right now, she’s not conscious. You can wait outside the ICU.” I nodded slowly, feeling my body grow weaker. With heavy steps, I approached the closed ICU door. Behind that door, Sabrina was fighting for her life. Anxiety gnawed at my heart. The monotonous sound of machines added tension to the air. I stood outside, feeling how silent the world around me was. Every heartbeat was focused on one hope: to see her rise again. Trying to calm myself, I sat on the provided bench. The morning sun streaming through the window lent a bit of warmth, but it couldn't dispel the cold creeping into my soul. All the memories with her spun in my mind, and I prayed that she knew how many people loved her, including me. I walked out of the ICU with mixed thoughts. The air in
Nicholas’s POV I suddenly sank back in my chair. My body felt stiff, and my head felt like it had been hit with a blunt object. The project with Mr. Harrington wasn’t just any project; it was a long-term strategic partnership that would expand our business network into Europe. Everything was almost finalized. And now, canceled?I squeezed my temples with both hands. The missing report, Hazel avoiding me, and now this. Everything felt clearer. But there was no time to get caught up in anger or shock.I had to move quickly. With my mind starting to focus, I reopened my laptop and began checking all the data related to the project. If there were discrepancies, I needed to find them before Mr. Harrington made his final decision.One thing was certain: I couldn’t let this end like this. I had to find Hazel, get an explanation from her, and perhaps—just perhaps—find a way to save this project.“Book the fastest flight to London for today!” I c
Nicholas’s POV I had been holding my phone for five minutes, staring at the screen with Hazel's name clearly displayed. Anger bubbled inside me, but there was also deep disappointment. Even so, I knew I couldn’t resolve this with just emotions. I needed clarity. I needed direct answers from her.So, with a deep breath, I pressed the green button and brought the phone to my ear. But she didn’t answer.Seconds ticked by, feeling more and more tense. I tried calling again, but the result was the same. The courage I had built up began to fade, replaced by anxiety and frustration.What should I do now? If she was indeed involved, maybe she already knew I was suspicious. With each passing second, negative thoughts gnawed at me.The ringing tone continued until I finally heard her voice on the other end. “Hello?” “Hazel, it’s Nicholas.” There was a brief silence, then I heard her usual tone. “Oh… why are you calling
Nicholas’s POV My heart began to race. This wasn’t just an ordinary document. Inside were details of the monthly report, fund allocation strategies, and financing plans for new projects. Everything was sensitive.I stood and walked to the shelf in the corner of the room, checking the extra folders I sometimes used to store copies. Still nothing. “Strange…” I muttered as I sat back down and rubbed my temples.My mind drifted to many things. I hadn’t opened that document yesterday. So who did? My secretary was always meticulous and wouldn’t randomly move important documents without my knowledge. And the only person in my office yesterday was Hazel.I shook my head quickly, trying to dismiss the suspicion that arose. But my mind was starting to be clouded with discomfort. I rarely made mistakes with paperwork, especially something so crucial.Quickly, I pressed the intercom button. “Please come to my office now.” “Sure, sir.”
Nicholas’s POV Today was long, and I had to be strong for everything. A sense of responsibility flowed within me, pushing me to remain steadfast. With each passing second, I was determined to give my best for our family.Charlie began to tell stories about his friends at school, his cheerful voice filling the car. I tried to listen, although my thoughts still wandered to heavier matters. However, seeing his smile made me feel a little better.“Papa, look! There’s a dog!” he suddenly exclaimed, pulling my attention back to the road.I smiled, trying to engage in his excitement. “Yeah, champ! The dog is cute, isn’t it?”As soon as the car stopped right in front of the school gate, Charlie eagerly unbuckled his seatbelt. “Charlie’s off to school now, Papa!” he exclaimed as he reached for his bag in the back seat. I turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder for a moment. “Wait a second.” Charlie stopped and looked at
Nicholas’s POV That morning, I woke up earlier than usual. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, but its soft light was already streaming through our bedroom window. Beside me, Sabrina was still asleep, her face calm despite our deep conversation the night before.I felt relieved to have comforted her, assuring her that I would always be there for her and Charlie. Seeing her sleep peacefully made me grateful. We had been through so much, and although there were tensions to face, I believed we could find a way out together.As I gazed at her face, my mind drifted back to our conversation last night. Her fear of losing Charlie was very real, and I wanted to protect both of them from anything that could hurt them. I knew that Hazel was part of our past, and although there was hope for change, I had to remain vigilant.I quietly got out of bed, not wanting to wake her. After showering and changing into my work clothes, I left the room and caught the delici
Sabrina's POV My eyes lingered on his face longer than usual. I knew that the fear I had expressed to Nicholas wasn’t just an ordinary worry. I truly didn’t want to lose this child. Charlie meant everything to me. He might not be my biological child, but my love for him had surpassed the boundaries of blood and birth ties. My gaze fell on an object at the edge of the bed. A small toy robot from Hazel. I reached out and gently grabbed it. The toy was still lit, its light blinking softly. Charlie must have been so happy earlier. I could imagine his face when he received it directly from Hazel. But because of that, my feelings churned again. There was a faint yet piercing wound. I stared at the toy, then back at Charlie’s face. I gently caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry if I was selfish earlier,” I whispered softly, more to myself. “I was just scared. So scared…” I took a deep breath
Sabrina's POV I stepped closer, bent down for a moment, then sat on the edge of Charlie’s bed. The little one was still sound asleep, unaware that he had become the center of my worries tonight. Seeing his peaceful face made me feel calmer, even though the weight in my heart still lingered.Nicholas stood by the door, looking contemplative. I could sense the depth of our feelings. We were both parents trying to do what was best for Charlie, even though sometimes our ways were different.I turned my gaze to Nicholas, trying to find a way to bridge our feelings. “We need to be better at communicating,” I said softly, hoping to open the door to a more constructive discussion.Nicholas nodded, as if he agreed with what I was saying. A sense of guilt began to envelop my heart, reminding me that we both just wanted to protect Charlie, even though we often got caught up in differing perspectives.The tense atmosphere began to so
Sabrina's POVI waited in the living room, watching the clock on the wall move painfully slow. It was past nine in the evening, and the house was still quiet. Just a moment ago, I heard the door open and Nicholas's careful footsteps as he carried a sleeping Charlie in his arms.I watched them in silence, holding back the anger that had been rumbling in my chest.“He's back,” I said, my tone icy. My eyes never left Nicholas's face.He turned quickly, perhaps sensing the tone in my voice. “He fell asleep after playing…”“I know he fell asleep,” I cut in sharply. “What I don’t understand is why you took Hazel to meet Charlie… even coming home this late.”Nicholas's face hardened for a moment. He avoided my gaze and walked slowly toward Charlie’s room. I followed behind, watching him lay Charlie down carefully, cover him with a blanket, then stand back with a long sigh.Seeing Nicholas so calm while holding Charlie made me f
Hazel's POV Carefully, I leaned down and kissed Charlie on the forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart... Mommy Hazel loves you so much,” I whispered softly, trying to hold back the surge of emotions pressing from within.I took a deep breath, then opened the door and got out of the car. Outside, the night air touched my face, bringing a slight chill that didn’t come from the weather but from the heavy heart of leaving my son.Nicholas got out as well and looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Thank you... for giving me this time,” I said, my voice slightly trembling.He simply nodded. “See you, Hazel.”I stood there, watching the car slowly pull away from the parking lot, taking my sleeping child with it. And as the taillights disappeared around the corner, I felt as if a part of me was leaving with him.My steps felt heavy as I entered the apartment. The door closed quietly behind me, leaving a silence that echoe