Giving birth to triplets from her rapist, Sarah sobbed loudly, and when out of desperation she got a job as a cleaner to feed her children, she suddenly froze in place, recognizing in her boss…

On Monday, she went to work. No choice. Mrs. Peterson, recovered from her stroke, agreed to watch Mike and Daisy while Sarah visited Mary in the hospital after work.

In the evening, cleaning Wolf’s office, she accidentally knocked a folder off the desk. Bent to pick up the scattered papers and froze. These were charitable checks.

Wolf was donating large sums to a children’s cancer center. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sarah stared at the figures, feeling something dark and bitter rising inside.

He helps other people’s children. And her children? Her daughter lies in the hospital, and she has no money for medicine. The office door opened.

Wolf entered. Sarah hurriedly gathered the documents, placed them on the desk. «Sorry, accidentally.»

He approached closer, and she involuntarily stepped back. The old fear stirred deep inside. «Are you crying?» he asked unexpectedly.

Sarah raised her hand to her face. Indeed, tears streamed down her cheeks. She hadn’t noticed.

«Sorry, I…» «My daughter is in the hospital.» «What’s wrong with her?» Why did she answer? «Maybe from fatigue, maybe from despair.» She told about the pneumonia, the expensive medicine she couldn’t buy.

Wolf listened silently. Then he pulled out a checkbook, wrote something, tore off the sheet. «Take this.

It will help.» Sarah looked at the check and couldn’t believe her eyes. The amount was ten times more than needed for the medicine.

«I… I can’t.» «You can. Consider it a bonus for good work.»

He turned to the window, signaling the conversation was over. Sarah clutched the check. Pride battled maternal instinct.

Instinct won. For Mary’s sake, she was ready to accept help even from him. «Thank you,» she whispered and ran out of the office.

Mary recovered. The expensive medicine worked wonders. A week later, she was discharged home.

The doctor said timely treatment saved the girl’s life. Sarah didn’t know how to feel about Wolf’s help. On one hand, he saved her daughter.

On the other, the money burned her hands. She felt indebted to the man who… No, better not think about it. At work, she tried to become even more invisible.

She came when Wolf was definitely gone, cleaned quickly and thoroughly. But fate seemed to mock her; he started staying late more often. One evening before New Year’s, she found him at the desk with a bottle of whiskey.

He was drunk. Not like that time five years ago. Then he reeked of aggression and lust.

Now he looked lost, broken. «Oh, it’s you,» he raised his bleary eyes. «Sarah, right?» «Strange name.»

«Sarah.» «Bringing light into the darkness of office days.» Sarah silently started cleaning, trying not to attract attention.

«You know what’s funniest?» he continued, pouring more. «I have everything. Money, successful business, beautiful wife, kids.

And here I am on New Year’s Eve, getting drunk alone. Because no one waits for me at home. Wife in the Maldives with her lover, kids in Switzerland at school.

And I’m here…» Sarah continued silently dusting. What could she say? Sympathize with the man who ruined her life? «You despise me,» he said suddenly. «I see.

Rich bastard, swimming in luxury. Your daughter is sick, and I’m drinking whiskey worth fifty thousand. You helped me.

I’m grateful.» «Grateful,» he smiled bitterly. «You know, sometimes I feel like I’m paying for something.

For sins I don’t even remember. Karma, or whatever it’s called.» Sarah froze.

«He doesn’t remember? Doesn’t remember the night that turned her life upside down?» For him, it was so insignificant it didn’t even stick in memory. «I have to go,» she quickly gathered the bucket and mop. «Sarah,» he called.

«Happy holidays.» «And… Thanks for listening to my drunken outpouring.» She nodded and left.

In the hallway, she leaned against the wall, trying to calm her racing heart. «He doesn’t remember.» For him, that night never happened.

And she lives with it every day, sees echoes of that nightmare in her children’s faces. New Year’s Eve Sarah spent at home with the children. A small tree, bought with the last money, twinkled with colorful lights.

The children danced in a circle, sang songs, made wishes. «Mom, does Santa exist?» Daisy asked, cuddling up to her. «Of course he does.»

Sarah stroked her daughter’s head. «Then why doesn’t he bring us a dad?» «I ask every year.» Her heart clenched in pain.

What to tell the child? That they have no dad and never will. That the man who should love them doesn’t even know they exist. «Santa can’t bring people, sweetie.

Only gifts.» «I don’t want gifts,» Daisy pouted. «I want you not to be so tired.

And for no one to tease us.» Mike silently hugged his sister. At five, he already understood too much.

Too much for his age. After the children slept, Sarah went out to the small balcony. The city sparkled with holiday lights.

Somewhere fireworks boomed, laughter echoed. Someone else’s happiness. She thought about Wolf.

How he was spending New Year’s. Alone in his huge office with a bottle of expensive whiskey. Or did he go to his family?

Why was she thinking about him at all? He should be nothing to her. Just an employer, no more. But after that evening, something changed.

She saw in him not the monster from her nightmares, but a lonely, unhappy man. And that scared her more than hatred. Her phone beeped.

Text from an unknown number. Happy New Year, Sarah. May the new year bring good things for you and your children.

M. W. She reread it several times. How did he get her number? Though what difference; employee files probably have all data. Sarah didn’t reply.

What could she write? Thanks for the greeting from the man who… No. Better stay silent. After the holidays, something changed.

Wolf started treating her differently. Not familiarly—he kept distance with all employees. But now he greeted her, sometimes asked about her daughter, offered help.

Sarah answered curtly, minimizing interaction. But she couldn’t ignore the boss completely. One day in February, she arrived late.

The bus broke down; the next came 40 minutes later. She rushed into the office breathless, ready for a reprimand. Wolf sat at the desk, studying documents.

«Sorry for being late, transportation.» «Sarah, sit down.» She sat warily on the edge of the chair.

Now he’d fire her. For the lateness too. «I’ve been thinking, you commute by public transport?» She nodded.

«With three kids, it’s inconvenient. If they get sick, need to get to the hospital fast, but waiting for the bus. Anyway, I want to offer you a company car.»

What? Sarah couldn’t believe her ears. «The company has several cars for employees. Nothing fancy, a simple import.

But reliable. Do you drive?» «Yes, I have a license, but…» «I can’t accept this.» «Why?» Because you raped me five years ago, she wanted to scream.

Because of you, I’m raising three kids alone. Because I don’t want to owe you. «It’s too much,» she forced out.

«Sarah,» he set aside the documents, looked at her attentively. «You’re a good worker. In two months, no complaints.

I value such employees and try to create comfortable conditions for them. The car is not a gift, but a work tool. You’ll get there faster, tire less, work more efficiently.»

All logical. If you don’t know the backstory.

«Think about it,» he added, seeing her hesitation. «The offer stands.» Sarah thought for three days.

On one hand, a car would solve many problems. No crowding on packed buses, hauling heavy grocery bags, freezing at stops. She could take the kids to the park, the lake in summer, the circus for birthdays.

On the other, accepting such a gift from Wolf. It was like betraying herself, her pain, her suffering. The children decided for her.

More precisely, Mike. He came from preschool with a split lip and a bruise under his eye. «Fighting again?» Sarah asked tiredly, getting the iodine.

«They said we’re poor. That we don’t even have a car like normal people.» «Mike, many people don’t have cars; that doesn’t make them abnormal.»

«But why don’t we?» he suddenly shouted. «Why do others have dads who earn money, and we don’t? Why are you always tired? Why can’t we live like everyone?» And he burst into tears. Her serious, too-adult son cried like a baby.

Sarah hugged him, and they cried together. She silently, he sobbing, releasing all the pent-up resentment at the world’s unfairness. The next day, she went to Wolf.

«I agree. To the car.» He nodded, as if expecting no other answer.

Giving birth to triplets from her rapist, Sarah sobbed loudly, and when out of desperation she got a job as a cleaner to feed her children, she suddenly froze in place, recognizing in her boss…Great. Pick up the keys from the secretary tomorrow. We’ll handle the paperwork on the company, but you can use it for personal purposes.

Gas on the firm’s account. Thank you. Sarah, he called as she was at the door.

You’re a good mother. Your children should be proud of you. She left without answering.

If he knew whose children they were. The car really changed life. A simple gray Toyota, but reliable and economical.

The children were thrilled. Daisy kissed every door, Mary jumped on the back seat, and Mike sat importantly in front, pretending to be the navigator. The first trip was to the zoo.

Sarah had long promised to take the children, but getting there on buses with three little ones was a real ordeal. Now they got there in half an hour, parked right by the entrance. The children ran from enclosure to enclosure, squealing with delight at the monkeys, freezing at the lion’s cage.

Sarah followed, smiling at their joy. She hadn’t seen them so happy in a long time. At the pond with swans, they met a family: a man, woman, and a boy about Mike’s age.

The boy was strikingly similar to Mike, same dark hair, brown eyes, stubborn chin. «Mom, look!» Daisy tugged her hand. «This boy looks like Mike!» Sarah froze.

The man turned, and she recognized him. It was Wolf’s younger brother, Steven. She had seen his photo in the office.

«Really similar,» the woman smiled. «Maybe distant relatives?» Sarah mumbled something incoherent and hurried the children away. Her heart pounded wildly.

«Similar. Of course similar. Because they’re cousins, but no one knows.»

In the evening, putting the children to bed, she scrutinized their faces. Mike was a copy of Wolf as a child; she had seen a photo on his desk. Same features, same head set.

The girls took after her more, but the brown eyes. What if Wolf suspects? What if he sees the children and understands? No, impossible. He doesn’t remember that night, doesn’t know the consequences.

To him, Sarah is just a cleaner with three kids from an unknown father. But a worm of doubt settled in her soul. In March, the triplets had a birthday.

Five years. A whole life. Sarah baked a cake, simple sponge with whipped cream, but the children were delighted.

Invited a few kids from preschool, Mrs. Peterson. Modest celebration, but sincere. That day at work, she came tired but happy.

The children enjoyed the gifts, inexpensive toys bought with saved money. Mary got the doll she dreamed of, Daisy a drawing set, Mike a Lego set. Wolf was in the office when she came to clean.

Usually she waited for him to leave, but today he was clearly not in a hurry. «You look in a good mood,» he noted. «Something happened?» «Children’s birthday,» she answered without thinking.

«Congratulations. How old?» «Five years.» «Nice age.»

My nephew just turned five too. He and his wife threw a whole show, clowns, animators, hundred guests. The kid didn’t seem thrilled with the scale.

Sarah nodded, continuing to dust. She had seen photos of that birthday on Steven Wolf’s wife’s social media. Pompous event at a country club.

«And how did you celebrate?» «Modestly.» «Cake. A few friends.

Celebrating with three is expensive, probably.» She tensed. «Does he suspect? Or just small talk?» «We manage.»

Sarah, he suddenly stood from the desk, came closer. She instinctively stepped back. «I want to help.»

«No, not like that. I want to give your children what they don’t have. Education, opportunities, future.

We don’t need charity. This isn’t charity. This…» He hesitated, searching for words..