Nicholas’s POV
I sat in the study, staring at the pile of documents my lawyer, Mr. Bima, had just handed me. My eyes felt heavy—not from physical exhaustion, but from the mental weight that seemed to grow heavier each day. Hazel’s case was no longer just about a custody battle or wounds from the past—this was now about the life and death of our future.I shook my head slowly, trying to clear my mind. On the desk, a photo of Charlie peeked out from between the dry legal texts and witness statements. My son's bright smile in that picture felt like a completely separate world from the one I was facing now. A world I desperately wanted to protect, no matter what it took.Mr. Bima stood across the desk, organizing a few documents into a folder. “We need to prepare for all possibilities, Nicholas,” he said quietly, his voice low but firm. “Hazel may not be acting alone. The investigation is pointing toward connections that… can’t be taken lightly.”I took a deep breath. “Sabrina’s POV I went quiet. All of this was too complicated. I knew Hazel wasn’t perfect, but I also knew she wasn’t a killer. There was something sharp, something harsh inside her—but not cruel. She was Charlie’s mother. And though our relationship was never easy, I knew she still had a part of her that wanted to make things right, not destroy them.Nicholas looked at me after I thought it—long and steady. Maybe he could feel it, even though I hadn’t said a word. I lowered my gaze, trying to steady my breath, then quietly said, “I never hated Hazel, Nicholas. Maybe I never have. But I do know one thing—she loves Charlie.”Nicholas nodded, his expression softening. “That’s also why I can’t turn away.”“If we can prove she was framed,” I continued, “maybe this isn’t just about clearing Hazel’s name. Maybe it’s about saving Charlie from inheriting an even deeper trauma.”Nicholas took my hand and kissed it gently. Warm, unhurried. “Thank you, Sabrina. You don’t ha
Sabrina’s POV I had just pulled the blanket over Charlie’s small sleeping body. His breath was steady, soft and even, and in the warm dim light of the night lamp, I could see a faint smile resting on the corner of his lips. Maybe he was dreaming about the happy day he’d had. And I hoped that dream would stay sweet until morning came.I sat at the edge of his bed for a while, gently stroking his soft hair. Every strand reminded me how quickly time had passed. It felt like only yesterday I was cradling him home from the hospital—so tiny, so fragile. Now, he could laugh freely, ask endless questions, and wrap his arms around me like I was the only safe harbor in the world.“Goodnight, baby,” I whispered softly, even though he wouldn’t hear me anymore. But still, I needed to say it—every night. Every time I closed the door to his room.My hand was still holding his bunny plush, the one that had fallen to the floor earlier. That worn-out toy had been with him since he wa
Nicholas’s POV “Listen to me, Hazel,” I said. “We’re investigating every trace of communication between you and Adrian. Office CCTV, phone logs, emails—everything. I’ll prove you were set up.”Hazel’s red eyes welled up again. “Why do you even care, Nicholas? After everything I did to you… after I disappeared from Charlie’s life, only to come back demanding custody…”I shook my head slowly. “This isn’t about you, Hazel. It’s about Charlie. I don’t want him to grow up remembering his mother behind bars if she’s not guilty.”Hazel then whispered, “Adrian told me… if I helped take you down, he’d make sure I got custody of Charlie. He knew how much I loved that boy. He… he manipulated me.”I clenched my fists on the table, holding back the rising fury. “He manipulated all of us. And I won’t just sit and let it continue.”“Thank you,” she murmured. “I don’t know what else to say.”I stood. “Just tell the truth when the time comes
Nicholas’s POV “But I can’t build strategy on speculation. Hazel was a part of my life. I know how she talks when she’s lying. I know how she lowers her head when she’s afraid. If she’s hiding something, I want to see it in her eyes.”Bima stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly and pulled out his phone. “Alright. I’ll try to arrange a visit. But you’ll be given limited time—and you can’t bring notes or recording devices.”“That’s more than enough,” I said.My head was full of what-ifs. Would Hazel talk? Deny everything? Or finally reveal the truth—about Adrian, the pressure, the real motive? Deep down, I hoped she would help. But I was also prepared for the opposite.One thing I’d learned from all this: the truth doesn’t show up unless you search for it. Sometimes, to save the future, you have to walk straight into the past.After Bima left, I sat back down and opened the file containing Hazel’s arrest photo. She looked shocked. Empty. Powerless
Nicholas’s POV This time, I wouldn't choose. I would protect both. In my own way. With everything I had.I stood from my chair and looked at my reflection in the glass window of the study. My eyes were tired, but beneath that weariness, something was stirring back to life: resolve. I wouldn’t let the past decide our future. I wouldn’t let them take away what we had worked so hard to rebuild.And tonight, even though everything was still dark, I knew one thing for sure. This war wasn’t over. And I wasn’t going to lose.“Mr. Bima, I want us to start with the man who hit me. Can we check his background? Who he is, where he got the money, and who contacted him in the week leading up to the accident?”Bima nodded as he scribbled notes. “I’ll ask the digital forensic team to track his phone and financial data. We can also try pulling CCTV footage near the warehouse where Hazel was arrested. There might be traces left behind.”I got up from the chair and began
Nicholas’s POV I sat in the study, staring at the pile of documents my lawyer, Mr. Bima, had just handed me. My eyes felt heavy—not from physical exhaustion, but from the mental weight that seemed to grow heavier each day. Hazel’s case was no longer just about a custody battle or wounds from the past—this was now about the life and death of our future.I shook my head slowly, trying to clear my mind. On the desk, a photo of Charlie peeked out from between the dry legal texts and witness statements. My son's bright smile in that picture felt like a completely separate world from the one I was facing now. A world I desperately wanted to protect, no matter what it took.Mr. Bima stood across the desk, organizing a few documents into a folder. “We need to prepare for all possibilities, Nicholas,” he said quietly, his voice low but firm. “Hazel may not be acting alone. The investigation is pointing toward connections that… can’t be taken lightly.”I took a deep breath. “