Torn Between Forgiveness and Fury のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 24

"What do you want, Benjamin?" Unlike the quiet woman he was accustomed to, Hazel's voice had a harsh edge.Benjamin continued after a long silence during which there seemed to be pregnancy. "I just wanted to… see how you're doing." His tone was tight, almost uncertain.Hazel scoffed, her tone acerbic and sceptical. "All right. since you've consistently expressed concern for my welfare."On the other end, silence stretched. Benjamin finally let out a heavy sigh. "Look, Hazel, I made a mistake. Largely. I am aware that regrets cannot change the past, yet nonetheless."But what?" Hazel was powerless to resist. A small, sensitive part of her longed to hear an expression of regret or acknowledgement of the suffering he had brought about.Benjamin suddenly said, "But I want to see my child," in a remarkably honest voice.Hazel caught her breath. This caught me off guard. She was surprised by a desire for participation, even though she had expected rage and threats."Your child?" she said ag

For Hazel, the ensuing few months were a blur of activity. The childcare manager interview process was unexpectedly nerve-racking, but Hazel was hired because of her strong vision for the facility and Ms. Evans' good reference.Early on, it was a baptism by fire. Remodeled into a community center, the center was alive with the exuberance of small children and the focused work of the construction crew who were wrapping up the finishing touches. Hazel was overburdened with the task of organizing lessons, scheduling meetings with contractors, and juggling Liam's constant demands.In unexpected ways, Christian—who was always the dependable friend in a beat-up truck, rather than the knight in shining armor—stepped up. He volunteered his evenings to assist with the mural painting, transforming the formerly empty space into a vibrant jungle picture. He even proposed to watch Liam on infrequent playdates, providing Hazel with much-needed respites.One evening, Liam curled up on Hazel's lap as