The moment Veronica ended her call with Sabrina, her phone buzzed with a message from Cullen. He had sent her the time and location for Sabrina's fencing training the following day—nothing more, nothing less. No greeting, no additional comments, just the bare minimum information required.
The next afternoon, Veronica arrived at the fencing gym early, intentionally giving herself time to prepare mentally. A few minutes later, a sleek black car pulled up, and Sabrina hopped out, her eyes lighting up when she spotted Veronica. Cullen was noticeably absent, with only the family driver accompanying her daughter.
"You're here!" Sabrina exclaimed, rushing toward Veronica. She grabbed her mother's hand with unbridled enthusiasm, pulling her toward the entrance. Veronica allowed herself to be guided, feeling the warmth of her daughter's small hand in hers.
Just as they crossed the threshold into the gym, Veronica's phone began to ring. Glancing at the screen, she saw Dario's name flashing.
"I need to take this call," she told Sabrina softly.
"Okay! I'll go find my coach," Sabrina replied, bouncing on her toes before skipping ahead.
Veronica nodded and answered the phone. "Dario?"
The conversation was purely work-related—questions about a pending project, scheduling concerns, and a brief update on their current clients. After resolving the issues, Veronica hung up and looked around for her daughter.
Sabrina hadn't gone far. She stood chatting animatedly with a tall, athletic man wearing a fencing instructor's uniform.
"Hey, Sabrina, good to see you today," the coach was saying as Veronica approached. His eyes scanned the entrance. "Ms. Crystal and Mr. Dennis didn't join you this time?"
"Nope!" Sabrina replied proudly. "My mom brought me today!"
Veronica felt a pang in her chest at the casual mention of Niall accompanying Sabrina to her lessons. She paused momentarily before continuing forward.
The coach noticed Veronica and did a double-take, clearly struck by her appearance. "Hello, you are—?"
"Mom!" Sabrina called out before Veronica could introduce herself.
Understanding dawned on the coach's face. "Ah, so you're Sabrina's mother." His smile was friendly but tinged with curiosity as he extended his hand.
Veronica shook it firmly, offering a polite nod in return.
It was evident from the coach's reaction that he was surprised to meet her. For the past six months, Cullen and Niall had been the consistent parental figures at these sessions—sometimes together, sometimes separately, but always one of them. The coach had clearly formed his own conclusions about the family dynamics.
Based on his expression, Veronica could tell he was mentally reassessing his understanding of Sabrina's family situation. Previously, he might have assumed Sabrina's mother was completely out of the picture—divorced or perhaps deceased. Now, faced with Veronica's living presence, he seemed to be recalibrating his assumptions.
Wisely avoiding any potentially uncomfortable questions, the coach focused on safe territory.
"Sabrina shows remarkable aptitude for fencing," he commented, his tone professional and enthusiastic. "She's making exceptional progress. I believe she has a strong chance of placing in the top three at next month's competition."
Veronica was about to respond when Sabrina tugged on her hand. "Mom, come with me to the changing room!"
With a slight smile, Veronica followed her daughter, feeling the coach's curious gaze on her back.
After Sabrina changed into her protective gear—the white uniform making her look both adorable and serious—the training session began in earnest.
The coach's reputation as a former champion was evident in his teaching style. Each instruction was precise, each demonstration fluid and masterful.
Watching Sabrina train was a revelation for Veronica. Her daughter moved with unexpected grace and determination. There was no hesitation in her lunges, no fear in her approaches. Her footwork was nimble, her attacks confident, and her defensive maneuvers surprisingly sharp for someone so young.
In those moments of intense concentration, Sabrina's face showed a focus and maturity that momentarily transformed her from a child into an athlete. Veronica could easily imagine her daughter years from now, competing at higher levels, standing tall on winners' podiums.
A twinge of sadness passed through her at the realization that she likely wouldn't be there to witness those future triumphs.
After thirty minutes of rigorous training, Sabrina bounded over to Veronica, her face flushed with exertion beneath her mask. Removing her headgear, she looked up with hopeful eyes. "Mom, how did I do? Was I good?"
Though fencing wasn't a sport Veronica was familiar with, she had spent the previous night researching the basics online, wanting to understand what she would be watching. She accepted the small towel Sabrina offered and gently wiped the perspiration from her daughter's forehead.
"You were exceptional," she replied with genuine admiration.
As the Coach approached, Veronica turned to him. "Thank you for your guidance. She's learning so much."
The coach smiled, his expression warm. "I'm just doing my job," he replied modestly. "But I can't take all the credit for Sabrina's success. She came to us with a strong foundation already in place."