Sabrina's POV
As I gazed outside, my thoughts drifted to all the challenges that might come. However, I was confident that we could face them together. Nicholas was a strong person, and we would always support him, no matter how difficult the situation was.“Together, we can get through this,” I whispered to myself. With the love we had, I believed that everything would be alright.After a while, I felt tired but didn’t want to disturb Charlie’s sleep. He looked so peaceful, and I wanted to protect this moment for as long as possible. I started thinking about plans for tonight—a simple menu and maybe a family movie we could watch together after Nicholas came home.***The wall clock in the living room showed a little past ten when I glanced at it. It had only been two hours since Nicholas left for work, but it felt like Charlie and I had done so much. We played, read books, laughed together, and then watched cartoons while eating fruit. A munSabrina’s POV Charlie laughed along, even though he didn’t fully understand the old stories. The dinner atmosphere became warmer. The pendant lamp above the table cast a soft light, creating peaceful shadows on the walls.Hazel started eating with more appetite, though she still looked pale. “I didn’t think I’d be able to sit like this again.”I turned to her. “You can, Hazel. You’re not alone now.”She looked at me, her eyes beginning to well up again. But she held back the tears and gave a slight nod. “Thank you… for everything. For accepting me again.”I took a deep breath, lifted my water glass, and looked at them both. “We’ve all made mistakes, Hazel. But I think… life is about second chances. Or third. As long as we’re still willing to make things right.”Hazel answered with a small smile, but that smile held so much—regret, surrender, hope.“Mom Hazel, Mom Sabrina, Dad, guess what? I finished five drawings!” Charlie exclaimed proudly.“Wh
Sabrina’s POV Hazel chuckled, her face turning slightly red, perhaps from embarrassment or emotion. I walked over and gently held her hand.“Come on, slowly!” I said. “Let me help.”Hazel looked at me for a moment and said nothing, just gave a small nod. Her eyes still held fatigue, but now there was a different light in them—a spark of life returning after so long.We walked into the house, and Charlie had already dashed inside, flinging the door wide open while shouting, “Mom Hazel is home! Mom Hazel is home!”It felt like welcoming someone who had been lost for a long time. And now, she was back in a safe place.I led Hazel to the guest room we had prepared a few days earlier. The room was bright, with a large window overlooking a small garden. Fresh white sheets had been changed that morning, and on the small table beside the bed, Charlie had placed one of his drawings—a family portrait he made himself.“This... feels too fancy for me,” Hazel murmure
Sabrina’s POV “Do you think Hazel will change a lot?” I finally asked, breaking the quiet.Nicholas nodded slowly. “A journey like that always changes a person. But I hope… she’s still her.”I nodded in understanding. “Charlie can’t wait to see her. He’s been ready since dawn.”Nicholas smiled, warmer this time. “Hazel will be happy to hear that.”I sipped my tea, feeling the warmth spreading through my chest. “We all need a break, Nick. Including you. Whatever you're working on isn’t going anywhere. But your time with the people you love—it’ll be gone if you don’t catch it now.”He didn’t reply, but I knew my words reached him. He just stared ahead, at the garden, as if trying to remember what it felt like to live without the weight of the world on his shoulders.“Charlie’s been ready since sunrise,” I said softly, smiling. “If you can spare the time, we should head out soon.”Nicholas turned to me and smiled. “I promise. Fifteen more minutes.”
Sabrina’s POV It’s been a month since that day.Adrian was finally arrested and officially detained. Since all the evidence collected by Nicholas, Bima, and Prasetya succeeded in exposing the rot hidden behind the power and prestige he had built. The scandal exploded in the media. He could no longer hide behind threats or expensive lawyers.Hazel...Today, Hazel is finally allowed to go home from the hospital. She has even been cleared of all charges, with solid evidence proving her innocence.I stood in the kitchen making tea, my eyes glancing at the wall clock. Nine o’clock in the morning. Charlie had been excited since before the sun fully rose. He didn’t even wait for the alarm. The first thing he said when he woke up was, “Today Mom Hazel is coming home, right?”I could only smile, amused by his excitement. He was already dressed neatly even before taking a bath. Now, he was in his room, choosing which drawing to bring as a “welcome home” gift for Hazel
Sabrina’s POV Charlie giggled and ran to the closet. I helped him into a pair of gray pants and brushed his hair neatly. While he was picking out his shoes, I checked my phone for a message from Nicholas.[Everything’s arranged. Prasetya has provided security. Hazel has been informed, and she agreed to meet Charlie. Private room. No interruptions. You can leave whenever you're ready.]I let out a quiet sigh, a mixture of nerves and relief. Everything was happening so quickly, yet somehow it felt right. Hazel was now conscious and strong enough. And Charlie… he was more than ready.“Charlie,” I called gently, kneeling in front of him. “When we get to the hospital, don’t run around, okay? Mom Hazel still needs a lot of rest.”“Okay, Mom,” he replied seriously. “I just want to hug her, then give her this drawing.”He folded his drawing carefully and placed it into the little folder I had given him earlier. It was a light blue folder with a dinosaur sticker on t
Sabrina’s POV Charlie grinned widely, then sat down on the grass, still holding his drawing. He started doodling again, adding a large sun above the head of “Dad” in his picture. The sun was smiling.I sat beside him, letting time pass slowly. In this little yard, we waited. In a silence full of meaning, in hope without sound. Because even though the world outside was moving fast, we knew—we had to be a place to come home to. A quiet place, a patient one, that never stopped believing.I still don’t know how all of this will end. But I do know one thing—whatever happens, I’ll be right here. For Nicholas. For Charlie. And maybe… for Hazel too.Because sometimes, love isn’t about possession. It’s about choosing to stay… when the storm returns.The morning sky began to change. Sunlight hadn’t quite pierced the clouds yet, but the shadows of trees on the lawn were growing clearer. I sat on a wooden bench near the fence, while Charlie played with his toy car