82

In the interrogation room at the station, Suzanne maintained an upright and firm posture. Her hands rested in her lap, tightly intertwined to contain the trembling.

Nathan, sitting across from her, was trying to process everything that had happened. His eyes, glistening with unshed tears, couldn't look away from her.

"Nathan, I have to go," Suzanne said with a trembling voice, though she tried to sound confident.

Nathan nodded, unable to speak. He felt a lump in his throat and an emptiness in his chest that was hard to ignore. Suzanne stood up slowly, her eyes tracing every detail of Nathan's face.

She wanted to remember him like this, vulnerable but strong, before walking out that door.

"See you soon," she whispered, forcing a smile as her eyes filled with tears.

Nathan could only nod again, watching Suzanne walk away. When the door closed behind her, his tears finally fell. He slumped over the table, sobbing quietly.

Each tear carried a bit of the burden he had borne for so long.

From the corner of the room, Jarek watched the scene with a satisfied smile. It had taken a long time, but he finally saw a change in Nathan.

In the end, his plans had worked. Nathan was willing to fight for his place in Suzanne's and his children's lives.

Days later, in Suzanne's house, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Her children were sleeping, starting to giggle at her gentle touches.

Suzanne watched them from the kitchen, her heart filled with love and hope. Although the worry for Nathan never disappeared, knowing that he was well and would soon be released gave her strength.

Each visit to Nathan was a ray of hope for both of them. Nathan looked more animated each time Suzanne arrived, his eyes shining with a mix of gratitude and something deeper that he had yet to identify.

"Suzanne, thank you for coming again," Nathan said one day, taking her hand through the glass of the visiting room.

"I will never stop coming, Nathan. You are important to... our children," Suzanne replied, squeezing his hand tightly.

The progress in the investigation by her grandfather Jarek's lawyers had been crucial. They had found security camera recordings from Strong Enterprises and, most importantly, a key witness.

Nathan was in the conference room at the station when they gave him the news.

"Nathan, we have a witness. Valery has testified against Richard," said one of the lawyers, a triumphant expression on his face.

Nathan straightened in his chair, his eyes widening in surprise and disbelief.

"Valery? How is that possible?" he asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"She confessed that Richard forced her to deceive Suzanne into going to the company on the day of the explosion," the lawyer explained.

Indignation filled Nathan. He couldn't believe someone could be so malicious just to keep him.

When Valery came to testify, Nathan confronted her with restrained fury.

"How could you do this to me, Valery?" he demanded, his eyes filled with anger and pain.

She, with tears in her eyes, fell to her knees before him.
"Nathan, please, forgive me. I didn't know what I was doing, I was desperate," she pleaded through sobs.

"I can't forgive you, Valery. You are selfish and cruel. Maybe, if I get out of here and get my family back, I'll consider it," Nathan replied, his voice firm and cold.

Valery left, defeated and knowing she had lost any chance with Nathan, even as a friend.

Days passed, and the trial finally arrived. Nathan was nervous but also hopeful. Suzanne was there, her presence giving him strength.

When the not guilty verdict was announced, Nathan couldn't hold back his tears of emotion. He thanked God for the chance to redeem himself and start anew.

Suzanne ran to him, hugging him tightly.

"We did it, Nathan! You're free!" she said, her tears mixing with his.

Jarek also approached, embracing his grandson with pride.

"I'm proud of you, Nathan. I knew you would make it," Jarek said with a warm smile.

Nathan, hugged by the two most important people in his life at that moment, felt he could finally begin to heal.

"Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you, Suzanne. I will do everything possible to earn your affection, to be the man you deserve," he promised, looking at Suzanne with determination.

Suzanne smiled, her eyes shining with hope, but she said nothing.

As they left the courtroom, Nathan felt that, for the first time in a long time, the future was a place where he could find happiness and peace.

...

Suzanne cradled the other little one in her arms, bringing one of her fingers close to her son's tiny hand, which wrapped around his mother's finger as if trying to hold on to her.

"You and your brother are the people I love most in the world," she said.

"And your father," she thought, but didn't say out loud.

She loved that man with all her heart, but she was sure that things between them might never be the same after everything they had been through.

Valery had clarified everything, telling her it had been part of Richard's plan and that Nathan had never cheated on her, that he had just been another victim.

She told her that man was a monster, that he had killed his own son and planned to kill the other as well.

Nathan had had a very hard and traumatic childhood, he had suffered too much.

It hurt him to hear Suzanne's words. She didn't love him, but even so, he was more than willing to fight to save their relationship.

He told himself that he had to make her fall in love with him again, he was more than willing to do so and he would not give up, he would fight for his family until the end.

Now more than ever, he had to save their relationship and, if possible, propose to Suzanne; their children deserved a united and happy family.

The family he never had.