I have no justification for my actions toward your daughter. I've already apologized and explained myself to her, and I hope you both can believe me." William's voice was calm, but the weight of his words carried his guilt and sincerity.
For a few moments, silence hung in the room, until Tina's voice finally broke through.
"Mum, he's already apologized and explained everything to me, and I understand him."
Mrs. Martins nodded slowly, deciding not to press further. She didn't want to interfere in matters that seemed beyond her grasp. Still, the warm, lighthearted atmosphere of the dinner had turned cold, leaving everyone tense.
As he stood outside Tina's house near his car, she walked him out with a straight face, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Don't worry about my mum. She'll be fine. She just needs some time, probably until tomorrow."
William gave her a small nod but looked at her intently, his gaze filled with something deeper. "And what about you?" he asked softly. "Do you think you can ever forgive me? I didn't mean those words the way they sounded."
He stepped closer, gently holding her arms, his touch warm and steady. "I might have said something similar to what you heard, but I didn't think you'd take it that way. i felt were getting distracted and forgetting your purpose in the company. I would never intentionally hurt you. If I didn't hurt an 11-year-old girl back then, what makes you think I'd ever hurt you now? I could never hurt Titi."
Tina frowned slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion. "You saved me 11 years ago? What do you mean by that? I don't remember meeting you before. I don't have the best memory, but if I'd seen you before, I would've remembered."
Her words made it clear she had no recollection of the event he spoke of.
William's gaze softened, and his voice dropped lower as he explained. "Eleven years ago. Santa Street. It was exactly 11:43 PM. There was a little girl lying by the roadside in immense pains bleeding. I took her to the hospital."
Tina's eyes widened in shock. She stared at him, her mind racing to piece the fragments together. "You... you were the one who saved me? That older guy from back then?"
William nodded, still gently holding her arms.
"I remember you now," she whispered, her voice trembling. "That night, I was so scared... scared someone might hurt me again. But you—" her voice faltered, and her wide eyes filled with emotion. "You were the one who helped me."
William smiled faintly, his tone soft and steady. "You were terrified that night. I could see it in your eyes, and all I wanted to do was help. But I had to leave before you woke up... I had a meeting early the next morning."
He stopped, his voice thick with emotion as he gazed at her. "I didn't think we'd cross paths again. And yet, here we are."
Tina's heart raced as she searched his face, her emotions a whirlpool of gratitude, disbelief, and something else she couldn't yet name. The man standing before her wasn't just the CEO who'd wronged her years later—he was also the stranger who had once saved her life.
feeling over flown by emotions, Tina ran in his embrace hugging him tightly her white eyes glistening with tears. William felt overwhelmed by the emotions and hug her back. "was it so important to you that you had to cry?" he ask coaxing her hair
"of course it was important to me know the person who help me save that night before my mother got to me the next morning"
"i'm sorry i didn't know that. i thought you forgot it and it didn't matter cause kindness is what we offer not appreciation"
Tina released her grip on his arms, giving William a questioning look.
"And you knew it was me all along?" she asked.
William hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I did," he said quietly. "I don't even know how. I'm terrible at remembering faces, especially people I've only met once. But yours... when you said please that night, begging not to be hurt — that stayed with me. The moment I saw you again, I knew."
Tina stood silently, watching him speak. His calm voice and the detail in his words made her chest tighten.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "All this time I hated you for it."
William exhaled.
"Because that's not who I am. We started off on the wrong foot, but that had nothing to do with the past. If it had been anyone else that night, I'd have done the same. So... why bring it up and make things worse?"
Tina nodded slowly. William smiled faintly and stepped closer, his hand brushing her cheek.
"Tina," he said softly, looking into her pale eyes, "this is me telling you I'll never hurt you. I might have said those words once, but that's not who I am now."
Before she could respond, his phone rang. He almost ignored it until he saw the caller ID. His expression changed instantly — a deep frown crossed his face.
He lifted a finger toward her, silently asking for a moment, and turned away to answer. Tina could tell it was important and took a small step back, glancing toward her front door. Maybe it was time to go home... or maybe to wait a little longer.
A smile crept across William's lips as he ended the call.
"I think I might have to go," he said, walking toward her again, a lightness in his eyes.
He must have gotten good news, Tina thought.
"Oh, that's fine. Maybe I'll see you next time," she replied, though her voice carried hesitation.
He caught her tone and studied her face.
"Let's pick up from where we left off today," he said gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face — almost like an apology. "My brother just woke up from a coma. I need to see him. He's going to need me now."
Tina's eyes widened in surprise, then softened into a smile.
"Then you should go," she said warmly.
"Are we good?" he asked.
She blushed and nodded.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Then... can I get a hug?"
For a heartbeat, it seemed she might say yes. But instead, Tina smiled, turned, and dashed toward her house. William stood there for a moment, caught off guard — and then simply laughed to himself, shaking his head.