Emily looked toward the small kitchen.
Daniel shook his head.
That sentence silenced him.
Because she was right.
Words spoken in anger could still leave permanent wounds.
Daniel slowly walked toward Noah.
Noah looked at him cautiously.
Daniel’s heart broke.
Noah stared at him.
Daniel couldn’t answer.
He knelt beside the wheelchair.
Noah looked toward Emily.
Daniel almost laughed through his tears.
Noah smiled faintly.
For the first time in nine years, Daniel saw something he hadn’t felt in decades.
Shame.
Not because he was poor.
Not because his company was struggling.
Because he had spent years building an empire while his own son grew up without him.
Then Daniel noticed the condition of the house.
There was almost no furniture.
A small refrigerator stood in the corner.
The kitchen cabinets were nearly empty.
The heater appeared to be broken.
A stack of medical bills sat on the table.
