While the car was still moving, Henry suddenly did something completely unexpected. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, he gently took Laboni's hand with the other and pressed a soft, reverent kiss on the back of it.
Laboni startled and tried to pull her hand away. But there was no force in Henry's touch today—only a deep, restrained emotion. Looking into her eyes, Henry said in a tender voice,
"Today I want you to meet my daughter. Sara will be at the park this afternoon with her mother. I want you to see her—at least from a distance. I've told her that I'm going to introduce her to a princess."
Laboni's heart skipped a beat. The little girl whose photograph had once revealed the human side of Henry—today she would come face to face with her? Hesitantly, she said,
"But Mr. Henry… what if your wife sees me? And what if Sara doesn't like me?"
Henry smiled. It was a pure, unguarded smile.
"Sara will like you," he said. "Because there is a mother inside you. And my ex-wife knows that I am trying to change. If you stand beside me, I won't feel like a criminal anymore—I'll feel like I'm learning how to live again."
The car stopped in front of the city's large park. The afternoon sun had softened. Henry stepped out and opened the door for Laboni.
On the green grass of the park, a little girl in a red frock was running around like a butterfly. Pointing at her from a distance, Henry whispered,
"Look, Laboni. That's my Sara. My whole world."
Laboni stared at the child without blinking. She thought of her own unborn baby. She realized Henry wasn't just introducing her to his daughter—he was trying to introduce her to a possible future.
The moment Sara spotted Henry, she burst into laughter.
"Baba!" she shouted, running toward him and clinging to his legs. Henry bent down, lifted her into his arms, and kissed her forehead lovingly. Sara then looked at Laboni with wide, curious eyes.
Pointing at Laboni, Sara asked,
"Baba, who is she? Is she your friend?"
Henry glanced at Laboni. His eyes were wet with joy. Stroking Sara's hair, he said,
"Sara, sweetheart, this is Laboni. She's a very kind doctor. And she has something magical with her."
Sara gasped.
"Magic? What magic?"
Henry gestured toward Laboni's belly.
"She has a little baby inside her. Very soon, the baby will come into this world to play with you."
Sara was stunned. She slid down from Henry's arms and walked toward Laboni. Laboni instinctively stiffened at first, but the child's innocent gaze dissolved all her fear.
Sara gently placed her tiny hands on Laboni's belly and whispered,
"Is the baby sleeping now? Will the baby play with me?"
Laboni couldn't hold back her tears. She bent down and held Sara's hands in her own. At that moment, she realized how strangely tender this reflection of Henry was—the man she had wanted to hate forever.
Smiling softly, she said,
"Yes, Sara. The baby will play with you a lot."
Overjoyed, Sara hugged Laboni tightly. From a distance, Henry watched the scene. His chest filled with peace. He understood—this bond between Laboni and Sara was enough to erase all the darkness of his life.
Henry walked up to Laboni. In front of Sara, he extended his hand and asked softly,
"Laboni, in front of this child, I ask you again—will you help me piece my broken life back together? Will you become a part of my life… and Sara's?"
At the touch of Sara's small hands and her innocent face, every hard wall inside Laboni collapsed. She realized the child was blameless. And if Henry had truly changed, perhaps he deserved a chance.
Looking into Henry's eyes, Laboni slowly nodded.
"Alright, Mr. Henry," she said quietly.
"For Sara… and for our unborn child… I agree."
Joy flooded Henry's eyes. He could hardly believe she had forgiven him.
But at that very moment, all happiness froze.
From behind came a sharp, commanding voice—
"Henry! What is going on here?"
Henry and Laboni both turned around in shock. Standing there was a well-dressed, beautiful yet furious woman.
It was Henry's ex-wife—Rani.
Rani rushed forward and pulled Sara away from Laboni, gripping her tightly. Shooting Henry a look filled with hatred, she said,
"You said you wanted to meet your daughter, so I brought her to the park. But what is all this? Who is this woman? And why is she touching my child?"
Henry, caught off guard, replied,
"Rani, calm down. This is Laboni. I'm going to marry her."
Rani laughed—a cold, demonic laugh. She scanned Laboni from head to toe and said mockingly,
"Oh! So this is her? The woman who caused all that scandal in the prison? Henry, do you think I don't know about your crimes? And you—do you know how dangerous this man is? If you knew what he's capable of inside prison walls, you wouldn't be standing here today."
Laboni remained silent, her head lowered. Each word struck her chest like an arrow.
Turning back to Henry, Rani snapped,
"You can meet Sara. But don't stage this cheap drama in front of my daughter. Come, Sara!"
Sara cried,
"No, Mom! I want to play with the baby!"
But Rani didn't listen. She dragged Sara away by force.
In the middle of the park, Henry and Laboni stood alone.
Henry was breaking apart. In a shattered voice, he said,
"I'm sorry, Laboni. I knew she would come… but I never imagined she'd humiliate you like this in public."
Laboni looked at him calmly now—there was a new firmness in her eyes.
"I can endure humiliation, Mr. Henry," she said.
"But what Rani said—was it untrue? Can you really keep your past from destroying our future?"
Rani's harsh words burned in Henry's ears like molten lead. He realized that if he delayed any longer, society and his past would continue to wound Laboni.
He turned to Rani one last time and said firmly,
"What you spoke of is my past. But Laboni is my present and my future. From today onward, no one will get the chance to insult her again."
He tightly held Laboni's hand. She was trembling. Looking into her eyes, Henry said,
"Trust me, Laboni. Today, I want to give you the respect you deserve. Come with me."
Before she could respond, Henry guided her into the car. The vehicle sped off toward a familiar address—a kazi office in the city.
At the Kazi Office
Within fifteen minutes, they arrived. Without wasting a moment, Henry led Laboni inside. After hearing their identities and the urgency, the kazi arranged the paperwork.
In a solemn voice, the kazi asked,
"Laboni Akter, do you willingly agree to marry Mr. Henry?"
Laboni glanced at Henry. There was no command in his eyes today—only longing and a promise of protection. Taking a deep breath, she answered clearly,
"Yes. I agree."
Henry signed next. When Laboni signed the marriage contract with trembling hands, she felt as if a vast banyan tree had spread its protective shade over her unborn child.
After the marriage was completed, the kazi offered prayers.
Henry took out a gold ring—one he may have bought long ago. Sliding it onto Laboni's finger, he whispered,
"From today on, you are no longer alone, Laboni. I know I can't wipe away all your tears. But from now on, I share your humiliation. If anyone points a finger at you, they'll have to fight me first."
Laboni rested her head on Henry's shoulder and broke down in tears.
But these were not tears of pain.
They were the tears of a long war finally coming to an end.