Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1434

Sabrina couldn't hide the smug smirk spreading across her face. She possessed an arsenal of tricks to make Martin do whatever she wanted.

After all these years, hadn't it always been this way?

Manipulating Martin was as effortless as breathing for Sabrina.

Of course, there were rare moments when her control slipped. Martin was still a man with his own ambitions, not a mindless puppet.

For instance, when she had begged him to liquidate some of the Mercer family's private art collection to bail Bella out, he had flatly refused.

But a refusal here and there hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things.

When it came to crashing the birthday gala tomorrow, she knew exactly how to make Martin yield.

Sabrina bided her time. She didn't dare bring it up in front of Colin and Brandon. Instead, she waited until the house was quiet and they were curled up in bed together. Then, she unleashed her signature seduction.

Martin didn't stand a chance against her practiced wiles.

Within minutes, all logical thought evaporated from his mind.

Between heavy breaths, Sabrina whispered against his ear, "For years, I've treated little Noah like my very own flesh and blood. It breaks my heart that I can't be there to celebrate with him tomorrow. It's just so tragic.

Martin, oh... be gentle... can you understand how much this hurts me?"

Martin panted heavily, his response utterly earnest in the heat of the moment. "Baby... of course... I understand..."

"So," Sabrina purred, "are you going to take me with you tomorrow?"

"Take you... yes, of course. How could I leave you behind?"

Only when those words crossed his lips did Sabrina finally smile in satisfaction. She released her teasing grip, allowing him to pull her close and finish what they started.

Later, as a thoroughly exhausted Martin emerged from the en-suite bathroom, the reality of what he had just promised hit him like a bucket of ice water.

Yet, she expertly avoided asking if he was having second thoughts, terrified that giving him an out would result in him actually taking it.

"Let's get some sleep, honey. It's getting late, and we have a very important event to attend tomorrow."

An important event, indeed.

Except now, Martin was wide awake, staring at the ceiling in a cold sweat.

Could he really bring her? Should he text his sons right now, or maybe try to feel out Sebastian's mood?

But as his mind raced, a memory surfaced. He recalled the last time Noah had thrown a tantrum at the house. It was Sabrina who had sat the boy down, softly praising Lillian and urging him to give his mother a chance.

Since that conversation, Noah's defensive walls seemed to crack. He had stopped reacting with such violent hostility whenever Lillian's name was brought up.

It appeared the boy actually listened to Sabrina, likely because she and Bella had been the ones raising him during those two crucial years.