Nicholas's POV
The atmosphere grew tenser, and more people began to notice us closely. I felt my heart racing, struggling to contain the overflowing emotions. Charlie in my arms looked bewildered, and I wanted to shield him from this confrontation. Hazel looked taken aback by my words, but the anger on her face didn't wane. "You have no right to control my life or judge me," she said, her voice trembling. "This isn't about you or me," I replied, trying to maintain my tone. "This is about Charlie and Sabrina. We should unite for them, not fight.”Hazel's expression changed, but she quickly covered her anxiety with a defensive stance. "I don't care. All I know is that I am Charlie's biological mother, and I have rights to him."Charlie, who seemed to start understanding the tension between us, clung to my neck tighter. "Daddy, don't be mad at Mommy Hazel," he said in a small voice.Hearing Charlie's gentle voice made myNicholas's POVI watched Charlie, who was now tightly clinging to Hazel's side, holding her hand as if he didn't want to let go. I was at a loss for words. Seeing them like that made my heart feel heavy.There was no point in pushing this argument in front of our child. Whatever happened, it was already confusing and hurting him. I recalled the happy moments when we were all together and how difficult it was to see this rift.“Charlie, sweetheart, everything will be alright,” I said gently, trying to ease the atmosphere.Hazel looked at me with hopeful eyes, as if asking us to resolve this without adding to Charlie's burden. I knew we had to find a way to talk and resolve our issues without involving our child.Hazel hugged Charlie and said softly, “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go home. Mama will make your favorite food at home.”Charlie nodded slightly and then turned to me. “Papa, I want to go home with Mama Hazel,” he said quiet
Nicholas's POV Hazel stayed by my side, gripping my arm tightly as if to ensure I wouldn’t go anywhere. Amidst the chaos, I tried to remain calm, hoping that everything would improve soon."This is all because you're so stubborn!" she complained, pushing my wheelchair towards the ER."Look at what happened now! Charlie is scared!"As Hazel spoke, I felt the emotional burden from the car shift to this situation. The guilt weighed heavier as I saw Charlie still crying in the back, his face filled with worry.Hazel pushed the wheelchair quickly, and I could sense the tension between us. Even though I knew she was worried, her tone made me feel worse. In my heart, I promised to be more careful in the future and not neglect my own health.I turned to Charlie, who was now holding Hazel's hand with a worried expression."Dad is okay, sweetheart," I said softly, though my voice sounded weak.However, Hazel didn’t give
Nicholas's POV Seeing the concern on his face made me more determined to recover. In that moment, I realized how important my health was for him and how much love he had for me. Hazel watched us with a warm smile, as if sensing the peace that was beginning to return. Gratitude filled my heart, and I was determined to follow the doctor’s advice for the well-being of Charlie and Hazel. This small moment brought new hope amid the tension we had experienced. Seeing Charlie so worried warmed my heart. But behind all of this, I knew the real issues weren't resolved. Hazel was still hiding something, and I had to find out what she had really told Charlie. However, for now, I needed to focus on my health and make sure I could stay by Charlie's side. The anxiety lingered in my mind, but I tried to push it away for the time being. Remembering how important my role was for Charlie and Hazel, I was determined to follow all t
Nicholas's POV As I looked at her, I hoped to convey my support without words, wishing she could feel it. "What everything?" She narrowed her eyes, her tone full of suspicion. "Charlie, you, Sabrina... everything." I swallowed, trying to choose the right words. "I just feel... all of this is too heavy to bear.”Hazel snorted softly, but I caught a glimpse of a change in her expression. She looked a bit softer. "You just realized that now? Life has always been heavy, Nicholas. But we have to keep moving, no matter what happens."I looked deeply into her eyes. "And that's what you're doing, Hazel? Just keep moving?"She fell silent, as if my question stunned her. Then she turned her gaze back to the window, her voice softening. "I have no other choice. I have Charlie. I have to be strong for him."Her words silenced me. For the first time in a long while, I could see Hazel not as an enemy or someone always cha
Nicholas's POVI stared at her intently, trying to find answers in her face. But Hazel seemed confident in what she was saying.I knew Hazel always had her way of steering situations to her liking, but this time I couldn't fully accuse her. After all, I wasn't there when all this happened.There was something in her demeanor that made me hesitant to argue further. Maybe she was right; perhaps there were things I didn't know, reasons behind her actions that had frustrated me. In this silence, I felt the vulnerability between us, and for the first time, I wanted to listen—not just to judge, but to understand."I'm not accusing you, Hazel," I finally said. "But I still find this strange. Charlie loves Sabrina so much. Why would he think that Sabrina doesn't love him anymore?"My mind circled around that question. Confusion and worry enveloped my heart. Charlie always seemed happy when he was with Sabrina, and I couldn't imagine him feeling n
Nicholas's POV Hazel might have a different way of thinking, but I knew she loved Charlie in her own way. Although sometimes, I wasn’t sure if that love always brought goodness. The pain and complexity we faced made me wonder if love could be a burden or rather a strength that bound us.I took a deep breath, feeling heavy in my chest. As I walked back into the hospital, I was determined to find a way for our love to be a source of support, not conflict. We needed to learn to understand each other, even if the journey might not be easy.I sighed deeply and then walked back to my room. In my mind, images of Hazel and Charlie kept playing along with thoughts of Sabrina, who still lay weak in the ICU.I felt as if I were being pulled in two conflicting directions: the desire to stay with Sabrina and the guilt that lingered in my heart for not being able to fully attend to Charlie.Eventually, I decided to go to the ICU instead of returning t
Nicholas's POVMorning came too quickly. The sunlight pierced through the hospital room curtains, marking the start of a heavy day. I had just finished speaking with the doctor, who told me I was allowed to go home. His words still echoed in my ears, but instead of feeling relieved, I was enveloped in overwhelming fatigue. I truly hadn’t slept well last night.I sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. My phone lay on the side table, vibrating silently as if waiting for my attention. I reached for it and was greeted with a screen full of missed call notifications and unread messages. Most were from the office, some from numbers I didn’t recognize. There were also messages from coworkers asking when I could return.I rubbed my temples, trying to soothe the slight throb that had begun in my forehead. "I should have slept longer," I muttered softly, realizing that even the pain in my head hadn’t completely subsided.However, there was no tim
Nicholas's POVI imagined Sabrina in her bed, fighting pain and uncertainty every day. Have I been present enough for her? Or have I been too busy with my work and other problems, forgetting how valuable our time together is? And what about Charlie? The child might be too young to understand what is really happening, but I know he also has the right to know the truth. But Hazel… she definitely won’t let me talk about this to Charlie.I sipped my coffee, which was almost cold, trying to gather my thoughts. The man in front of me looked at me with understanding in his eyes."You know, Nicholas," he said softly, "sometimes we focus too much on how we can fix something, that we forget to truly be present in the moment. Don’t let that happen to you."His words struck a chord with me. I thought of Sabrina, struggling against pain every day. How often have I been caught up in routine, letting time pass without giving her the attention she needs?
Nicholas’s POV I stepped into my office building with a steady stride, even though my mind was still filled with the various events that had transpired lately. I let out a long sigh. I didn’t want to keep thinking about that woman, but for some reason, she always appeared in my life, as if she would never truly leave.Once I arrived at my office, my secretary, Laura, was already standing there with a tablet in her hands, ready with today’s schedule. I took off my jacket and hung it on the back of my chair before looking at her with a nod."What’s on my agenda today?" I asked as I sat down.Laura quickly opened the schedule on her tablet. "This morning you have an internal meeting with the finance team, followed by a meeting with the head of the marketing division. Then at one o'clock, you’re scheduled to meet with Adrian."I looked up, my expression instantly sharpening. "Adrian?"Laura seemed hesitant for a
Hazel's POV I wanted my child back. I wanted to prove that I could be a better mother for him. I wanted to show the world, especially Sabrina, that Charlie should be with me, not her. But did I really want to depend on a man like Adrian?I took a deep breath, trying to control the emotions swirling inside me. "Tell me one thing, Adrian," I finally said. "If I accept your offer, what guarantee do I have that you won’t just discard me once you get what you want?"He smiled, his expression hard to read. "I’m not the kind of man who likes to throw away valuable assets, Hazel."Assets? I clenched my jaw, feeling sickened by his choice of words. I wasn’t his asset. I wasn’t a pawn in his business chess game.But I also knew that if I rejected him now, I might lose my only chance to win Charlie back.I stared at him for a long time, trying to read his intentions. Adrian had always been a calculating m
Hazel's POV “But that’s what you want, right?” he replied in an overly casual tone. “I just want to help you.”I shot him a sharp look. “Why do you suddenly want to help me? I don’t need your help, Adrian.”He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Are you sure?”I fell silent, my mouth feeling dry. His words reflected a deep uncertainty. On one hand, I knew I was strong enough to face this problem on my own. On the other hand, my heart wondered if there was a way to fix everything that had been broken.The atmosphere between us grew tenser, and I could feel the discomfort flowing in the air. The mixed feelings left me bewildered. Why did he suddenly want to get involved again after being gone for so long?Adrian seemed to study my facial reactions, as if searching for a way back into my life. How could he act as if everything was fine after all that had happened?I struggled to gather my thoughts, trying to und
Hazel's POV As I opened the apartment door, I let out a long sigh. Today had been quite exhausting. The fitness class went as usual, but my mind kept drifting to various troubling thoughts. I kicked off my shoes carelessly, threw my bag onto the sofa, and walked toward the kitchen, intending to grab a glass of cold water to refresh my mind.However, before my hand could open the fridge, my phone rang. Frowning, I pulled my phone from my bag. An unknown number was displayed on the screen. Who could be calling at this hour?At first, I wanted to ignore it, but for some reason, a strange feeling emerged in my mind. Hesitantly, I pressed the answer button and brought the phone to my ear.“Hello?” My voice sounded flat, a bit tired.“Hi, Hazel.”That voice made my body tense up immediately. I recognized it clearly. No way. After all this time, why now?“Adrian?” I murmured sharply.Adrian chuckled softly on the othe
Sabrina's POV After breakfast was over and Nicholas left to meet his client, I decided to spend some time with Charlie. This was a rare opportunity for me to go out just the two of us, without distractions or being rushed by a schedule. Charlie looked very excited as we exited the hotel. "Mom, where are we going?" he asked, gripping my hand tightly. I smiled. "How about we go see the River Thames? We can walk along its banks, enjoy the views, and maybe try some London snacks." Charlie immediately nodded with bright eyes. "I want to! I also want to see the Tower Bridge!" We strolled leisurely through the city. The morning air in London felt cool, and the bustling atmosphere of the city gave a different energy. I enjoyed every step we took, while Charlie continued to chatter about various things that caught his interest. When we reached the banks of the River Thames,
Sabrina's POV Nicholas gently stroked my shoulder. "You need to rest too, Sabrina. Today has been tiring for all of us." I nodded, though I was still reluctant to leave Charlie’s side. I wanted to make sure he was really safe. Nicholas took my hand and gently pulled me. "Come on, let him sleep. We need to rest too." Finally, I stood up, glancing at Charlie one more time before following Nicholas to our bed. Tonight had been full of unexpected events, but the most important thing was that we were still together. And that was more than enough for me. Once we lay down, Nicholas turned off the light, and the room became quiet. In the dark, I felt comfortable with Nicholas beside me. We held hands, as if it were a reminder that we were not alone. With my thoughts calm, I let myself sink into the warmth and love that we shared.
Sabrina's POV Nicholas came and immediately knelt in front of Charlie, gently holding him shoulders. "Charlie, you can’t just go off on your own like that. This is a strange place, and we were so worried about losing you." Charlie looked down, his voice soft. "I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to..." I sighed in relief and kissed his forehead. "The important thing is that you’re back now. But next time, don’t go without telling us, okay?" Charlie nodded quickly, his eyes a bit watery. "I promise, Mom." Seeing the moment between Nicholas and Charlie warmed my heart. Our family was the most important thing, and even though this situation made me anxious, our togetherness provided a sense of safety. We had been through so much together, and moments like this reminded me of how meaningful our relationships were. Nicholas gave Charlie a gentle smile, then tur
Sabrina's POV Yet, I held back my feelings, choosing to maintain a polite smile before finally turning to leave with Nicholas. As we walked out of the restaurant, I felt Nicholas's hand grip mine tightly, as if he could sense my unease. I turned to him, and he looked at me for a moment before saying, "Don’t think about him. I’m here." I nodded slightly, trying to calm my mind. But I knew this wasn’t over. After leaving the restaurant, we decided to spend time at the famous amusement park in the city. Charlie looked so excited, holding Nicholas's and my hand while continually asking what ride we would go on first. Once we arrived at the amusement park, the colorful flashing lights welcomed us with a festive atmosphere. The laughter of running children and the cheerful music floating in the air made this place feel so alive. Charlie jumped with joy, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the various rides
Sabrina's POV "Ah, you finally made it. Sabrina, Nicholas, this is my son, Adrian Harrington." Nicholas nodded politely, but I could feel my body tense. Adrian gave me a slight smile before sitting in the empty chair. His eyes bore into me, as if assessing something. His smile didn’t fully convey warmth, and I felt a tension between us. "So, you are Sabrina," he said quietly, his voice carrying something difficult to interpret. I merely nodded and offered a small smile, trying to keep the atmosphere positive. However, deep inside, I felt uncomfortable. There was something in Adrian's gaze that made me feel he knew more than he let on. His sharp eyes seemed to penetrate the outer layer I presented. I struggled not to let that anxious feeling take over, but the mysterious aura around him kept me on guard. My smile felt forced, and I tried to focus on the conversation at the table, even