Hasn't always been

"You know, Nick hasn't always been... notorious," Sarah remarked to Maria, searching for the right word to describe her son's behavior. 'Notorious' seemed perfect.

"Oh, of course not. No one is born notorious," Maria replied with a soft chuckle, echoing Sarah's choice of words. She concealed her disdain, for which mother on this planet wouldn't stand by her child, no matter what they did? Just like Sarah was doing for Nick, even though his behavior was widely known.

"That's not quite what I meant," Sarah clarified, her eyes distant. "You see, Nick used to be perfect. A true gentleman and an ideal son. Of course, occasionally, he'd flirt with a woman or two, but it never went beyond that." She paused, offering a knowing smile to Maria. "Young women would often swoon over him, but he never paid them any mind."

Maria sensed that Sarah didn't share this with just anyone, so she listened attentively.

"Nick was my shining boy until that wretched witch came into the picture."

"Diana?" Maria asked curiously. The tumultuous relationship between Nick and Diana had been plastered all over the tabloids. Gossip abounded, but the real reasons for their breakup remained a mystery.

"Precisely," Sarah replied with unwavering determination. "That girl completely destroyed my son's life. She's at the top of my death list," Sarah said, her tone deadly serious.

Unconsciously, Maria glanced toward the exit, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"She broke him," Sarah continued, her voice heavy with sorrow. "One moment, he was head over heels for her, and the next, he despised her. He started seeing all women as these awful creatures, believing they didn't deserve anything from him, and that he could do whatever he wanted with them."

"He can't treat Rachel like that," Maria interjected defensively, a protective instinct flaring up within her. The mere thought of anyone hurting her daughter churned her stomach.

"Of course not," Sarah reassured her, her eyes warm with understanding. "If Rachel is anything like her mother, then I'm genuinely worried for Nick." Sarah replied, a genuine smile creeping onto her face as she admired Maria's unwavering defense of her daughter.

"I just want the very best for my daughter," Maria confessed earnestly.

"I know, Maria. And I want the best for Nick too, someone who can heal his wounds and bring the happiness I know his heart desperately needs."

Maria sighed, conflicted but willing to look at the brighter side of the situation. "They do make quite the couple."

Sarah laughed lightly. "I know, right? They're like eye candy. Just imagine how beautiful our grandkids would be."

"Well, if we want that to ever happen, then we'll have to talk to them," Maria replied.

"Already ahead of you," Sarah said with a grin.

******

William arrived home late that night, a heavy burden of frustration weighing on him. After dropping Rachel off, he sought refuge in a bar, drowning his problems in a sea of alcohol.

For as long as he could remember, he had been deeply in love with Rachel. Yet, he had never mustered the courage to confess his feelings. He feared it would jeopardize their friendship, and that fear had kept him silent.

During her relationship with Brandon, it felt like an unending torment for him. But when he learned of their breakup, a glimmer of hope emerged. He told himself that this was the moment when Rachel would finally see his love for her, a love that had burned within him since their first encounter back in middle school.

However, that flicker of hope shattered when Rachel revealed she was betrothed to Nicholas Hill. It seemed inconceivable.

"Argg..." he growled, tossing his phone onto the bed and collapsing onto it. He couldn't allow this to happen. He couldn't lose Rachel, and he wouldn't. William was determined to do whatever it took to halt her wedding and make her his forever. He loved her.