Charlie fed Ella and now her little daughter was sleeping in her arms while Kathie was busy filling the colors in her coloring book. It has been an exhausting week for Charlie – with Marcus's absences due to his busy work schedule and two children – she felt worn-out. It has been three days since she saw Marcus – he flew to London for some business-related work – leaving Charlie feeling miserable without him. When he is around – he usually helps her with kids but now she was doing everything on her own. Charlie sighed and rested her head back on the header of Kathie's bed and closed her eyes as they glossed with tears. There are times when she feels useless. She has housekeepers to help her with daily work, all she has to do is take care of her children and her husband, and yet she couldn't do it properly. When did she become so dull and ungrateful? She sniffled and opened her eyes – she felt like crying but Kathie was at a curious age – she was observing things and questioning them – Charlie didn't have the energy to answer the string of her innocent questions.

Charlie was thinking about placing Ella in her crib when her cellphone buzzed beside her – she glanced at it to see that it was Marcus. With Ella in her arms, she looked at Kathie. "Kathie, sweetie – can you please answer the call on mama's phone?" She asked her daughter who lifted her head to look at her mother pointing towards her phone. "It is your Dada calling. I will put Ella in her crib," She added. Kathie's eyes sparkled when she heard that it was her father calling – she leaped forward and answered the call, "Hey, Dada!" she squealed happily. Charlie could hear Marcus's chuckling from the other side. She heaved a sigh and placed Ella in her crib – her little monkey steered in her sleep but soon went still while she moved her lower lip in her sleep – something her father finds adorable about her. She softly grazed her daughter's cheek before she turned to look at Kathie who stood behind her, "Mama, dada wants to talk to you." She said and handed the phone over to Kathie before she went back to filling colors in her book. Charlie smiled and placed her phone to her ear, "Hey," she said.

There was a small pause before Marcus replied, "Hey," Charlie could sense the tiredness in his voice. "How are you, Marcus?" She asked. "I am okay – I just miss you and the kids," He replied softly. Charlie exhaled softly, "We miss you too, babe." She replied. "How are things going on in London?" She asked him. "Things are going well – it might take a day or two to seal some deals," He replied. Charlie smashed her lips, "So when will you be back?" She asked. Se heard Marcus exhale before he replied, "It might take three to four more days," his reply sink Charlie's heart – she missed him too much to wait for another three to four days but she didn't tell him that, instead she changed the topic and started to talk about London. After a while, Marcus hung up the call and Charlie stared down at her phone. She hasn't been feeling too well lately – physically she was all right but mentally – she was tormented. Her eyes filled with tears – she quickly glanced at her daughter and placed a kiss on Kathie's head, "Mama will be in her room if you need anything, okay?" She whispered to which Kathie nodded her head without looking into her mother's teary eyes. Charlie checked on Ella before she left the kid's room and walked into her own.

Charlie closed the door behind her and walked to look at herself in a full mirror. A fat tear escaped her eye. Her lower lip quivered. "What happened to you, Charlie?" She whispered to herself as her own eyes judged her appearance. Her hair was greasy and tied up in a messy bun. She washed him the day before yesterday. She untied them and ran her fingers through her long and messy hair. She doesn't remember the last time she had a haircut – it was probably before she was pregnant with Ella. Her eyes then went on Marcu's old shirt she was wearing – it has been a while since she dressed well. Her skin looks pale and she smelled like baby powder and eggs – probably because she fed them to Kathie a while ago.

For the past few weeks – Charlie has been wondering where did the fire go between her and Marcus? Now that she looks at herself – she wonders why would Marcus want to be intimate with her when she looked like this. The insecurities were piling up in her. She stepped forward and placed her hand in the mirror. It has been over a month since she and Marcus had sex – that too was plain with a passion lost somewhere. They just got rid of the urges they had – that too rather quickly. As much as Charlie wants to deny – they haven't recovered since all the Elna fiasco. Marcus comes home late when he doesn't – he usually either is in his office at home or is busy playing with his kids. At the end of the day when they put their children in bed – they are too exhausted to even talk. They would kiss goodnight and fall asleep as soon as they hit the bed.

For months Charlie has been wondering if it was because of their growing age – she was just a couple of years close to thirty and Marcus – just a couple of years close to forty. They were getting old – she would tell herself when she sees the sparkles vanish between them but now she thinks that it was not the case, they aren't that old – maybe it was her or maybe the gap that came between them because of Elna was never filled. She wondered when will the point come when Marcus will get bored with her? When there will be nothing left between them and everything will only be about work and kids. The intimacy in their lives was already taking an exit and it scared her. Maybe she needs to talk to Marcus – they need to share what was bothering them and work on their relationship – she doesn't want to lose the man she loves. With that thought, she went in to take a shower with the baby monitor in the washroom. She placed it on the slab, took her clothes off, and took a long shower.

Maria was supposed to plan her wedding but here she was in her bathtub – bawling her eyes out. Her skin was exposed to the warm water but it wasn't soothing her – it felt like it was burning her. She let out a soft sob and she snuffled and rest her head back on the tub. The day went by her eyes. She started her days as she always does – she kissed her fiancé and then checked on her baby. Silas left for work and she was left with Ezra and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was busy on a phone call when Ezra started to cry. Ezra's caretaker was sick, so she couldn't come today. Maria was in her washroom – cleaning the milk Ezra spit on her when she heard him cry in the room. She tried to hurry up and come out when her crutch slipped on the bathroom floor and she slipped and fell – hurting her arm but that didn't matter – her baby was crying and she couldn't get up. After she tried again and again – she failed and scream for help. Elizabeth came running into her room and picked Ezra in her arm while Maria cried her eyes out as she believed that she once again failed as a mother. Her worse nightmare was coming true – her disability was coming between her and her child. She was an incompetent mother.

When Elizabeth helped Maria get on the bed – she placed Ezra to her chest and cried for hours – apologizing to her little child. Nothing Elizabeth said or done made Maria feel better, so when she realized that her sister-in-law wasn't getting any better, Elizabeth called her brother and Silas didn't take long before he was beside Maria. Elizabeth left them alone – she knows that all Maria needs right now is Silas and her son. It took a lot of converses before Maria let Ezra go – who was now peacefully sleeping in Maria's arm. It did make her feel better when she saw her angel sleeping in her arms. He was safe with her – she sighed in relief. Silas tried taking him away from her but that only reduced her to tears, "No – no, Silas – what if he needs me and I can't get to him?" She asked. "Don't take him away from me," She cried. Silas left a lump in his throat – it was killing him to see his love so miserable.

He sighed and sat beside her. He took her face in his palms and made her look into his eyes. The first thing that Maria saw in his eyes was fear. Silas gulped, "Maria, everything is okay. Nothing happened, Maria. Please, you need to stop thinking so much, baby. You are hurting yourself." Silas spoke softly. Maria closed her eyes and tears once again escaped her eyes, "What if Elizabeth wasn't here, Silas? What if I was alone with Ezra? I couldn't get up – he was crying. He could have been hurt, Silas. I am completely useless – I can never be a good mother." She cried. Her words did nothing but made Silas angry. He scowled and removed his hands from her face, "Look at him, Maria." Silas asked her. He didn't have to say twice as Maria's eyes fell on a sleepy baby in her arm, "Does he look hurt? Does he look like he is suffering? He is sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms, right now. He is in peace and happiness. Your know-how made it happen? You. Only you, Maria – I am always away for work. Even the caretaker had told me that you don't let her do much – you are doing it all, Maria. A single hiccup doesn't make you a bad mother, Maria. I swear you are the mother that every child of this world deserves," His words swell her heart. Her lower lip quivered but she didn't say anything – instead, she placed her head on his shoulder and Silas wrapped his arm around her – letting her cry a little more before Maria let Silas put Ezra in his crib. He prepared a warm bath for her – Maria was hesitating to leave Ezra out alone again but Silas promised that he will look after her while she bathes.

Silas came into the washroom to check on Maria and his heart clenched in his chest when he saw her crying still. Silas sometimes feel helpless – Maria's insecurities were piling up day by day – sometimes he doesn't know how to deal with them. He doesn't want her to suffer – he doesn't know what he can do to make her feel better about herself – or her indefinite capabilities. She was a mess now and Silas wanted nothing but to make everything better for her. It was very hard for him to see her like this. He walked to her kneeled to her level. Maria looked at him and her eyes widened, "Silas – Ezra," she tried to get up – she failed. Silas clenched his jaw, "Maria, enough." He told her sternly. Maria has seen him annoyed in a long time – her heart clinched thinking that she had made Silas feel this way. Silas's eyes softened, "You need to stop doubting yourself, Maria. You are not only hurting yourself – you are hurting me too," he told her, and that Maria sits quietly. "I love you and I refuse to let you hurt yourself like this and I don't care what and how I will do it but I promise that I will make things better for us," He spoke softly as he caressed her cheek.

It has been days since Maria's breakdown and she was finally getting better. The past few days haven't been easy for Silas at all. He was very concerned about her – although Elizabeth promised that she will look after Maria but still he couldn't be satisfied until he sees her himself but his work also needed his attention and now he was torn between the two. He wasn't sure that they should go on with the wedding as well – which was hardly three weeks away. Maybe he will talk to Maria and think about postponing – although that is the last thing he wants to do. Charlie needed to feel different so she thought about changing her looks and without thinking twice – she got a haircut and changed her hair color. She cut her hair in long bobs – the long length of her hair was now limited to her shoulder. Also, she was bored with her brown hair so, she got some caramel lowlights. She couldn't stop smiling as she looked at herself in the mirror – she didn't want to feel bad about herself and she also wanted to surprise Marcus with her new look – so she got it all done before Marcus arrives back in New York.

She even decided to dress up a little for him – she wore a cute yellow sundress that ended below her knees – she doesn't remember when the last time she wore a dress was – it was probably when she was pregnant with Ella. She got a manicure and pedicure done as well and she didn't feel bad at all. It feels good to dress up for Marcus and her. She has applied a nude lip color when the doorbell went off – it must be Marcus. The kids were sleeping and she had already asked the house helps to leave early so that she could spend some time with Marcus. This distance between them made her think a lot about their relationship and she realized that she shouldn't just expect him to do something but she should put her input as well. With one last glance in the mirror – she fixed her hair and leaped downstairs to open up the door for her man. With a huge smile she swings the door open – anxiously waiting for Marcus's reaction when he sees her but as soon as she opened the door – her smile faded.

It wasn't Marcus but an unknown yet attractive young man – maybe around her age. She saw his eyes widened slightly while a smile played on his lips. He briefly glanced at Charlie before he smashed his lips together, "Uh – hello, I am not sure if I am at the right place – this is Mr. Harrison's house, right?" The blonde guy with a white button-up shirt and black jeans asked. Charlie looked at the strange man and narrowed her eyes, "Uh – yes," She replied as she slightly went behind the door. "Oh, then you must be Mrs. Harrison. Hi, I am William, Mr. Marcus Harrison's new assistant. You must be, Charlotte?" He asked. Charlie noticed an accent on him – he was British.

Charlie doesn't remember Marcus telling her about a new assistant. "Uh, yes." She replied. "Mr. Harrison will return later – he had to go straight to the office from the airport – he asked me to hand over some files to you." He handover the file – that received Charlie's confused gaze, "I am sorry but I don't think he told you about it. He told me that he will inform you about me showing up with some files," William spoke. "Oh, he didn't." She mumbled. William smashed his lips together and nodded, "Not a problem, Mrs. Harrison. I was just here to hand you over the documents – I will have to leave now," He said with a smile that never left his face. "It was very nice meeting you, Mrs. Harrison." He called her Mrs. Harrison – Marcus must have told him that they were married which they weren't – not yet.