Almost 5days had gone by, and not a single word, message, or call from his end. The deafening silence on the other end of the line was more agonizing than anything he could have hurled at her as Sabrina walked across the living room, clutching her phone in hand with unanswered calls and messages piling up.She kept replaying the argument in her head and trying to understand the whole situation. She had bared her soul before him, hoping that he would see her pain and understand that she needed him to see her as a partner. He shrugged off everything, leaving her to drown in the echo of her own desperation. Just as she was starting to believe that no one had returned, the front door clicked open. Sabrina froze, her heart racing with every beat as Benedict strode into the room, his face blank and indifferent as he dropped his keys on the table. He didn't even look or glance at her, walking past her as if she wasn't even there and never existed. "Benedict," she whispered, trying to keep
Weeks have gone by since Sabrina last saw Benedict. Barely able to decide what to feel-hurt , anger , or maybe just numbness-Sabrina didn't know how to handle the pain. Its absence had grown so ordinary that it almost felt easier to bear the load when he was not around, but loneliness weighed heavily on her during quiet mornings. She had grown accustomed to the sound of silence, but now it felt louder than ever.Recently, something else had changed. She hadn't been feeling well. Almost every morning, nausea greeted her, making it hard to keep anything down. She was exhausted, too, as if she were carrying a weight she couldn't see. At first, she dismissed it, thinking it was just the stress of everything with Benedict. Then her period didn't come. Days turned into weeks.With each passing morning as the cars rolled down the driveway while she lay there, she grew worried about whether she had to see where his car was or wasn't. She felt both a flicker of hope and a chill of fear at what
Sabrina sat alone in the dim light of early morning, shaking in her hands, clutching a positive pregnancy test. She stared at it and just could not understand what this little line meant to her. After all, she should have been experienced with this happenstance, bubbling over and full to the brim with delight. When she thought of being pregnant, it was under very different circumstances—sharing news with a husband who loved her, supported her, and cherished her. Now, the reality stared her in the face: she would bring this child into a world of broken silence with a man who hardly glanced at her, viewing her as an inconvenience. Hours later, Sabrina finally resolved to call Benedict again. She dialed his number, her heart pounding with the hope that somehow, someday, it would be enough to finally reach whatever small portion of his heart remained. This time, though, the ringing went straight to voicemail, and she whispered a message she had no hope of him ever hearing. "Benedict, it'
Sabrina is riding in the back of the car as it pulls toward Thompson Mansion, the grand estate her husband's family calls home. She stands out against the magnificent mansion, framed by tall gates and meandering grounds, like some castle where, honestly, she never really belonged. But tonight, dusk settling in a golden haze, Sabrina felt more disconnected than ever. Her world has shrunk, grown quiet. Benedict's absence cast a dark shadow over her life.She hadn't wanted to burden her mother-in-law, Teresa Thompson, with the news just yet. But with her mother, Leila, egging her on to tell Teresa, Sabrina knew it was time. Time to face the truth, and maybe, just maybe, seek a little solace.The car pulled up, and Sabrina stepped out, her body heavy with the weight of everything she hadn't shared. She hadn't expected this day to go smoothly. Nothing about her life seemed to go the way she wanted anymore.Leila was sitting on the porch, a calm smile on her face. She welcomed Sabrina into
As Sabrina settled back onto the pillows, a quiet resilience began to beat in her chest—a feeling she hadn't experienced in years. She allowed herself to glance around the room, letting reality sink in—she was going to be a mother with or without Benedict's approval or belief. Where she had once dreamed of their future together, she now realized that hers didn't need to end where his indifference began.She had spent so long trying to piece together the broken shards of their crippled marriage, hanging onto every crumb of affection that Benedict had dangled in her way, no matter how small or short-lived. It was freeing and terrifying. In the warm light of Teresa's encouragement, a new path lay before Sabrina, one of joy and strength untainted by Benedict's presence.She was carrying this child, a part of her, a new life she got to nurture and protect. And if Benedict refused to believe, if he turned his back on them, then so be it. She would give all the love, strength, and happiness
The next morning, Sabrina moved around the kitchen preparing breakfast when nausea hit her hard all of a sudden, almost doubling her over. Morning sickness had taken hold, leaving her weak and exposed. It was just then that she heard the creaking of the front door and the pounding inside her chest. That was the moment she had imagined a hundred times in her mind: the confrontation with Benedict. But when she saw the giant figure of Benedict standing there at the door, she lost some of that confidence.Benedict walked in. Dark shadows of dislike surrounded him. "If you want to puke Sabrina, don’t let me see it," he said in a tone dripping with sarcasm. "Honestly, do you really want to act like the dramatic pregnant woman now?"He was stabbing her with words full of cruel mockery that turned her inside out. Under the heavy weight of his judgment, she felt smothered, small, and inconsequential in comparison to him. It was more than a fight; it was a battle of wills, and inside her own m
Benedict hadn't come home again, but Sabrina was so accustomed to that becoming her reality. Nights turned into eternities of endless silences, and hope, clung to helplessly about his returning to her, slowly flew out the window. She had grown used to the emptiness; the hollow ache that arose from sharing a life with someone who hardly gave her a moment's notice. So, she went to the Thompson house, where she intended to visit her mother, Leila, who for the last twenty years had been the maid for Benedict's family. Memories of her childhood flooded through her mind as she stepped into the familiar mansion. There, after school, she spent a few hours with her mother, who folded laundry or prepared meals for the Thompsons. Even then, she’d catch glimpses of Benedict in the halls, though he never really noticed her. Years later, now she was his wife, yet he barely acknowledged her. It was in the kitchen that Sabrina encountered Leila, her mother's hands now bearing witness to years of se
The week was a haze of packing, paperwork, and goodbyes. Sabrina helped her mother move into a little house in her hometown, which, though modest, seemed warm and cozy. Her neighbors welcomed Leila with open arms. The place felt simple and warm again. Here, she was just Sabrina, not "Mrs. Thompson." She could breathe.Yet, as the days passed, an ache began to settle in her chest. She hadn't heard a single word from Benedict. No calls, no texts, nothing at all. A part of her was relieved—it was simpler to forget the ache of his indifference when he was away; however, as her day of departure grew closer, the hurt crept back in. She would return to an icy, hollow house, a husband barely looking at her, and a marriage that felt more like a punishment cell.Sabrina stayed a week in her mother's town, helping Leila settle in, making sure she had all the things she needed. She was comforted by all the familiar habits of home—toothpaste and shirts, the warmth of her mother's small but cozy ho
The high-ceilinged conference room of Sabrina Ultra was heavy with tension. The firm's strongest board members occupied the gleaming, mahogany table, their eyes keen and critical as they examined the young woman before them.Eliana Hope Thompson.Daughter of Benedict Thompson and Sabrina Auburn, heiress to one of the largest luxury brands in the nation.But was she really up to it?That was the question hanging over all of us like a sword in the air waiting to descend.Sabrina was quietly tall and statuesque, standing beside her daughter, whose anger, like the swirling tongues of fire, raged left and right, backward and forward, across her face. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are today at the turning point for Sabrina Ultra. You all know I have been the head of this company for many decades, and I have taken it to what it stands now. Today is the day, however, to bring in the future. The future of the company—the future leader—is my daughter, Eliana Hope Thompson."Murmurs spread among boa
Eliana sat cramped in the back of the family's luxury vehicle, her arms crossed as she stared out the window. Lights from the city whizzed by, but her mind was taken up with the one thing—Nathaniel Harper.That egotistical, condescending asshole.He believed she was fragile. He believed she would break beneath the strain.She gripped her fists.Let him believe that. For when the moment arrived, she would show him—and everyone else—otherwise.As the vehicle arrived at the Thompson Estate, Benedict stepped out first, his stance stiff. Saben got out next, looking at his sister before heaving a sigh."Eliana," he grumbled, shaking his head. "I recognize that expression. Don't be foolish."She got out, her heels clicking on the ground. "Define foolish.""Taking on Nathaniel Harper without a clear plan," Saben retorted. "He's not some entitled rich kid pretending to be a businessman. He's merciless, and he doesn't lose."Eliana smiled. "Neither do I."Benedict spun round, his face impassiv
Saben paced a vexed hand through his hair. "This is no laughing matter, Eliana! I'm warning you, stay away from him. Don't let your defenses down. Don't trust him."Eliana's eyes flashed with mutiny. "I never said I trusted him. But I'm not going to hide from him either.""You should," Saben bit out. "For your own safety."She didn't know what to say before someone else interjected."Well, well. Talking about me behind my back already?"Both of the kids spun around.There, leaning against a marble column, was Nathaniel Harper.They were crinkled with amusement, furrowed at the edges, a broad smile spreading from his mouth. "I didn't know I'd impressed you that much Eliana."Saben bristled immediately, standing watch over Eliana. "What in the devil are you still doing hanging around here?"Nathaniel took a slow drink of his whiskey."I was leaving, but someone called out my name. Figured I'd stay for a little while."Eliana stood around Saben, planted firmly in front of Nathaniel. "You'
At the same time, Nathaniel Harper was not your average businessman—he was the son of Theodore Harper, one of the erstwhile board members of BMX Estates, who had been charged with money laundering by no less a person than Benedict Thompson himself.That scandal had threatened to bankrupt BMX Estates back in the old days. Whereas Benedict had defended the company tooth and nail, the Harper clan had been gaining strength behind the scenes, benefiting from the pandemonium.The acrimony between the Harpers and the Thompsons was more than professional—it was personal.Nathaniel sipped his whiskey slowly, observing Eliana across the ballroom. She had the same spark as her father, the same resolve as her mother.Interesting.He smiled to himself.So this is the girl they are counting on to lead Sabrina Ultra?She was young, too young. Regardless of how poised she seemed in that instant, Nathaniel knew business was ruthless—a war where only the fittest remained.And if she believed she could
The mood was still tense as Nathaniel Harper melted into the crowd, his departure leaving behind a lingering sense of unease. The party went on, but to the Thompson family, the evening had turned dark. Saben looked at his sister, his face stern."True, Eliana. All of my business ventures in BMX—some of them have failed due to him." His tone was clipped, laced with irritation."Nathaniel Harper is merciless. He does not just want to win—he wants to destroy his competition. Eliana, You have to be careful. And whatever you do, don't be taken in by the way he appears."Eliana crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not easily distracted, Saben."Saben grinned. "You should. Because men like him? They don't play fair."Sabrina, who had remained silently present, spoke at last, her tone level but unyielding."The Harper family is an eyesore, yes." She shook her head, sighing. "But that's competition, my dear. That's business. But you must have your principles and be humble. No matter how ruthl
18 years later. Sabrina Auburn Thompson leaned against the balcony railing of their large estate, observing the sun set below the horizon. The golden colors of the sunset caught the reflection from the large gardens where her adult children had as toddlers played with abandon.Sabrina sighed in satisfaction, her back against the warmth of Benedict's body. He encircled Sabrina's shoulders with his arms and bit gently at her hair."What do you think about, my love Sabrina?" he asked in his deep, comforting voice.Sabrina smiled, leaning back against him. "Just thinking how fast time passes… One minute, we were rocking them to sleep, and now… they're all grown up."Benedict laughed. "And they're both great. We must've done something right."Actually, their kids had turned out to be great young adults.Saben Thompson, 26, had become the CEO of BMX Estates, the billion-dollar real estate empire that had been in their family for generations. Intelligent, ambitious, and charming, he had inhe
Leila crossed her arms. "Benedict, do you want the baby to be born in the back of your car?"Benedict turned pale. ".Mom, you're driving."They got Sabrina into the car as quickly as possible.Benedict sat behind her, holding her hand tightly as she clutched it with surprising strength. "You're doing great, baby. Just breathe. In, out—""IF YOU TELL ME TO BREATHE ONE MORE TIME, I SWEAR TO GOD—"Benedict swallowed hard. "Okay. Shutting up now."The entire drive to the hospital was wild. Sabrina's contractions were getting closer and closer together, and she moaned through all of them.Saben, sitting in the front seat, plugged his ears. "Mommy is scary when she is in pain."Leila stroked his head. "Welcome to childbirth, honey."They finally arrived at the hospital. Nurses and doctors were already standing outside with a wheelchair.As they rolled her in, Sabrina clung to Benedict's shirt. "You better not pass out on me, Benedict Thompson!"Benedict, sweats bullets or not, smiled. "I wo
As the evening wore on, Sabrina nestled against Benedict, observing their family and friends giggle and spin to the twinkling fairy lights. The house had never felt more festive.Saben hurried toward them, his small fists still bunched in a tight pink confetti ball. He grasped at Benedict's elbow. "Daddy, will she have princesses or dinosaurs?"Benedict grinned, dropped down on one knee next to Saben's row. "Why decide? Perhaps she'll be a wee princess warrior who loves tea parties and dinosaurs."Saben's eyes widened in excitement. "Whoa… that is so cool! I'll show her all about dinosaurs! And—and I'll let her play with my toy T-Rex!"Sabrina smiled, tousling Saben's hair. "You'll be a wonderful big brother."Saben smiled proudly. "I know! But, Mommy, does the baby hear us?"She placed his small hand against her belly. "She does. And I think she's waiting for you too."Saben breathed deeply as if listening to the expected reply of the baby. "Hello little sister! Your big brother Sabe
Benedict froze.Saben laughed once more. "Daddy, your face is silly!"Benedict groaned yet again, rubbing his temples. "I totally walked into that one."Sabrina' smile suddenly took on a false sweetness. "C'mon, sweetie pie?"Benedict sighed dramatically, then leaned in and kissed her nose. “Fine. Anything for my pregnant queen.”Saben cheered. “BEST. DADDY. EVER!”Benedict pointed at him. “You say that now, but wait until you’re the one running late-night errands for your pregnant wife in the future.”Saben gasped in horror. “No way! I’m never getting married!”Sabrina and Benedict exchanged amused glances.Sabrina grinned. "Let's definitely do that in ten years."And with that, they hugged on the couch, laughing, hearts full of love and happiness—ready for whatever adventure life had in store next.Six months had passed, and the Thompson household was humming with excitement. Sabrina's belly was round lovely, and she beamed beautifully, blissful as she and Benedict waited to count d