65

Nathan and Jarek ran through Central Park, their heavy breaths synchronized with the frantic rhythm of their steps.

Urgency propelled them; they knew every second counted. When they arrived at the small café, their eyes desperately searched for Suzanne.

Finally, they found her. She was sitting, holding her babies, but alone. There was no sign of the man in the black overcoat.

"Comb the area!" Jarek ordered his men, his voice authoritative. "Look for Richard Quirrell, it's surely him."

Jarek's men nodded and quickly dispersed. Nathan, however, was paralyzed.

Suzanne, whom he thought lost forever, was in front of him, alive and with her children.

"Suzanne..." he murmured, slowly advancing towards her as if he feared she was an apparition.

Suzanne, upon seeing him, took a step back, instinctively protecting her babies.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling with incredulity and fear.

Jarek, noticing the tension, approached and explained with a sigh.

"We were worried about you, Suzanne. That's why we're here, Nathan and I."

Nathan tried to get closer, his eyes fixed on the babies. Suzanne, feeling a wave of panic, adopted a defensive stance.

"Don't touch them! Mr. Strong, please," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Nathan stopped, feeling as if an iron fist was squeezing his heart. The fear in Suzanne's eyes was tearing him apart.

He painfully remembered the moment he had asked her to abort, and then, his desperate attempt to forcefully take her from her father's house.

"Suzanne..." he repeated, trying to find the right words, but only her name came out, laden with regret and pain.

Suzanne looked at him, unsure of what to think. Jarek, observing the scene, decided to intervene.

"Suzanne, we’re going to my mansion," he said firmly, making a momentous decision.

She nodded without hesitation. Nathan felt as if the ground had opened up beneath his feet.

"Why are you going with him?" Nathan asked, desperation in his voice. "What do I have to do to have you back?"

Suzanne looked at him with eyes full of tears.

Emotions were mixing inside her: fear, sadness, desolation, and a glimmer of hope that struggled to stay alive.

"Nathan, you have hurt me so much," she finally said. "I don't know if I can trust you again. These babies..." she looked at the little ones in her arms, "are the most important thing to me, and I need to protect them."

Nathan felt a void in his chest.

The sight of Suzanne with her babies, her palpable fear, and her decision to go with Jarek filled him with unbearable anguish.

"I'm sorry, Suzanne," he murmured. "I didn't know... I didn't understand."

Jarek placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder, trying to calm him.

"Now is not the time for recriminations, Nathan. The important thing is that Suzanne and the babies are safe," he said in a paternal tone. "You have a lot to prove if you want to earn her trust again."

Nathan nodded, his eyes filled with determination and pain.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he promised. "I won't leave them again."

Suzanne, feeling a mix of compassion and caution, let Nathan's words resonate in her mind as she prepared to leave with Jarek.

She knew the road ahead would be complicated, full of challenges and difficult decisions, but for the well-being of her children, she was willing to face it.

As they walked away, Nathan watched them, with hope burning in his heart that one day, he could redeem himself and be a part of Suzanne and her children's lives.

***

Nathan was sitting on a park bench, with his gaze lost on the horizon. The sun was slowly setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

Jamie, who had been summoned by his friend, approached and sat beside him, breaking the silence.

"Nathan, we need to talk about what happened," Jamie said, his voice serious.

Nathan nodded, but kept his eyes fixed on the horizon. Jamie took a deep breath, as if preparing for a painful confession.

"I knew beforehand," Jamie admitted. "I knew about Suzanne and the babies before you found out. But Dylan forbade me from telling you."

Nathan closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the wave of emotions engulfing him: anger, sadness, but above all, an overwhelming fatigue from so much confrontation.

"It's not your fault, Jamie," he finally said, surprisingly calm. "I messed things up. I can't keep blaming others."

Jamie looked at him, amazed. In all the years he had known him, he had never seen Nathan so humble and accepting of his mistakes.

"That woman has changed you a lot," Jamie commented, with a mix of admiration and surprise.

Nathan smiled, a smile that didn't quite erase the sadness in his eyes.

"Yes, she has changed me," he admitted. "But they're also my babies. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win her back. But the grandfather is always around, and I want to see her alone."

Jamie fell into thought, observing his friend in a new light.

Nathan's sadness was palpable; almost two weeks had passed, and he had barely seen his babies twice. He felt like he needed many more occasions to feel complete.
"I'll help you, Nathan," Jamie finally said, determination in his voice. "I can't bear to see you so sad. We'll do whatever it takes for you to talk to Suzanne alone."

Nathan looked at him gratefully, a ray of hope lighting up his eyes for the first time in days.

"Thank you, Jamie. You don't know how much this means to me."

As the two friends talked, unaware, someone lurked in the shadows.

Someone who had waited years to get revenge on Nathan, someone who wanted to see him suffer, and now, knowing Suzanne was his weakness, wouldn't hesitate to strike.

"Enjoy it while you can, Nathan," the stranger whispered before fading into the crowd, their voice barely audible in the park's hustle and bustle.

Nathan shivered, a chill running down his spine, attributing it to the cool night breeze settling in.

He had no idea of the storm looming over him, a threat that would test his determination and his love for Suzanne and their children.