Nicholas’s POV
“Yes. I went to where she lives. I needed to hear it directly from her... about what Andrian said.” Sabrina nodded slightly. She didn’t look angry, just... waiting. So I continued. “Hazel admitted that when she gave birth to Charlie, she was in a very dark place. And Andrian pushed her to leave Charlie and live with him.” Sabrina closed her eyes. I knew it hurt. Because even though she knew she wasn’t Charlie’s biological mother, she had always been the only mother he had ever known. “And?” she asked finally. Her voice was flat. Calm, but I could hear the bitterness underneath. “Hazel didn’t try to defend herself. She knows she was wrong to hide it. But she said she just wanted to get Charlie back without having to reopen all those wounds.” “And she thinks that’s fair?” Sabrina looked at me sharply. “After I carried this pain for years? Raised Charlie alone, soothed hi
