Nicholas’s POV
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if to make sure I stayed on course—literally and figuratively. My mind drifted back to yesterday’s meeting between Hazel and Sabrina. Two women who had once hurt each other, now united by the same child. It wasn’t easy. But it wasn’t impossible either. Sabrina had taken a massive step. And now, it was my turn to take the next.A slow song began playing on the car radio, but I barely heard it. My thoughts spiraled through all the possible scenarios that could unfold today. Our legal team was reworking Hazel’s defense. One of our investigators was re-examining the digital evidence—texts and transactions that seemed to come from Hazel, but which she had no explanation for. We suspected all of it had been fabricated.Andrian. His name crept back into my thoughts, like poison I couldn’t avoid. He had always been at the root of every fracture in my life. Even when I tried to leave the past behind, his shadow always foundNicholas’s POV Once they left, I sat back down. The room felt quiet, but my mind was loud. Memories swirled—of the day I was hit, Hazel’s testimony, and the look on Sabrina’s face when she found out I was still defending the woman who had once left her.But this wasn’t about the past. It was about the truth.Hazel might have left once. But she came back, trying to fix things. And now she was being destroyed by someone who claimed to love her.I wasn’t going to let this game continue.I was going to end it.The sound of my phone ringing cut through the late afternoon silence, slipping past the golden light falling through the office windows. The name on the screen made my stomach tighten.Andrian.It took me a few seconds before I answered. My voice was cold, sharp. “What do you want?”“Relax, Nicholas.” Andrian’s voice was almost too casual, like he was inviting me to dinner. “I just want to talk. One-on-one.”“I’m not interested,” I shot bac
Nicholas’s POV I gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if to make sure I stayed on course—literally and figuratively. My mind drifted back to yesterday’s meeting between Hazel and Sabrina. Two women who had once hurt each other, now united by the same child. It wasn’t easy. But it wasn’t impossible either. Sabrina had taken a massive step. And now, it was my turn to take the next.A slow song began playing on the car radio, but I barely heard it. My thoughts spiraled through all the possible scenarios that could unfold today. Our legal team was reworking Hazel’s defense. One of our investigators was re-examining the digital evidence—texts and transactions that seemed to come from Hazel, but which she had no explanation for. We suspected all of it had been fabricated.Andrian. His name crept back into my thoughts, like poison I couldn’t avoid. He had always been at the root of every fracture in my life. Even when I tried to leave the past behind, his shadow always found
Nicholas’s POV The sound of small footsteps coming down the stairs caught my attention. I knew that sound anywhere. Charlie. He was up earlier than usual. I quickly left the bedroom and found him in the kitchen, sitting sleepily in front of an untouched bowl of cereal.“Dad…” he mumbled softly.I smiled and gently ruffled his hair. “Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?”Charlie nodded. “I dreamed about Mom Hazel. She smiled and said she missed me.”My heart clenched. His words were simple, innocent, but they carried a weight only we truly understood. I leaned down, kissed his forehead, and said, “Mom Hazel surely misses you a lot too.”Charlie gave a small smile and went back to stirring his breakfast absentmindedly. But I could tell his mind was far away—maybe imagining a time when he could hug Hazel again, or just see her face without a glass wall and heavy security in between.A moment later, Sabrina entered the kitchen with two cups of tea.
Nicholas’s POV I woke up earlier than usual this morning. The air in the room was still cool, and the faint scent of tea lingering from the cup on the small table told me that Sabrina had stayed up late last night. Beside me, her body was still curled under the blanket. Her face looked peaceful, but I knew her mind hadn’t truly found peace in recent days. I gently brushed a strand of her hair, letting her stay asleep.Carefully, I rose from the bed, making sure not to make any noise. I walked toward the window, opened the curtains just slightly, and let the morning light seep into the room. The sky was a pale blue, and I could hear birds chirping faintly in the distance. For a moment, the world felt calm. But I knew today would be filled with difficult conversations, major decisions, and truths that could no longer be hidden.My thoughts drifted back to last night’s conversation. Sabrina’s words lingered—how she wanted Charlie to grow up knowing every part of his life,
Sabrina’s POV In the car, I let out a long sigh. I wiped my face a few times. It felt hard to breathe. Memories of the beginning—the time when it was just me, Nicholas, and Charlie—rushed back into my mind. How hard it was to build that little family from ruins. But what turned out to be even harder… was keeping it together. Charlie. He was the center of everything. I thought of his face that morning—hopeful and innocent when he told me he dreamt about meeting Mama Hazel. A dream. Even in his dreams, she still lived in his world. What should I do? Pretend those dreams would stop on their own? Or let Charlie know that the world isn’t as simple as he believes—that sometimes, the people we love are behind bars, and we can’t even hug them? The car stopped in front of the school. I gathered my courage before stepping out. I knew I was about to see Charlie and Nicholas. And I had to say something. Maybe not everything, but enough to ease my son’s h
Sabrina’s POV I held my breath for a moment, then said softly, “I didn’t come here to forgive or forget everything that happened. I came here because of Charlie. Because he doesn’t need two women who hate each other. He needs the truth. And he needs his mother. Whoever that may be, he deserves to know.” We sat in silence after that. No words, only the kind of silence that weighs heavier than any conversation. I wanted to hug her, but the glass barrier and security rules stood between us. “I’ll help,” I said at last. “But you need to help yourself too, Hazel. Don’t drown in guilt or fear. Rise. Stand. Prove that you deserve a second chance.” Hazel looked at me for a long time. Then she slowly nodded. “Thank you… for coming.” I gave her a small smile. “I didn’t come to hurt you. I came to fix… something. For Charlie’s sake.” As I stood up to leave, my eyes caught our reflection in the glass—a mirror showing two women who onc