son
Audrey

2
As the successful CEO of Vance Enterprises, Audrey Marcus (36) hadn't taken a Christmas vacation in eight long years—not since her husband died. But now, Liam Carter, a board member, brought light back into her life. Ten romantic days in Paris with Liam was everything she longed for.
There was only one obstacle: her 13-year-old son.
Audrey's solution was to send him to Silva, a border town in Eastern Europe where her retired parents lived. The region sat on a fragile peace line, but her parents reassured her: "Everything is quiet here, send him."
Her son begged her: "Mom, please! Things are getting bad there. Let me stay with friends or come with you. I'm scared."
Blinded by her desire for a fresh start, Audrey snapped back in frustration: "Forget it! You won't ruin my holidays with Liam. You are going to Silva even if a war breaks out!" Words she would bitterly regret.
On Christmas Eve beneath the sparkling Eiffel Tower, Liam proposed, and Audrey tearfully accepted. But the nightmare began the next morning. Liam woke her in panic. Live news showed Silva heavily bombed and captured by enemy forces. The war began.
Audrey tried calling her family—again and again. Dead lines. "My God... what have I done?" she sobbed in terror.
For days, every attempt to reach the war zone failed. Heartbroken, Audrey returned to New York, taking an indefinite leave from her company. 19 days after Christmas, the Red Cross called: her son was alive at a shelter in Berlin.
Audrey flew to Berlin immediately. When she saw him, her heart shattered. He was dangerously thin, pale, bruised, with a bandaged knee and hollow eyes.
As Audrey threw her arms around him weeping, he noticed the engagement ring on her finger. Gently brushing his lips against her hand and ring with cold, bitter irony, he whispered: "At least your Paris trip was worth it... Grandpa and Grandma didn't make it. Please, can you take me home?"
Audrey collapsed into tears.