He thought about the man he had been nine years earlier.
A man who had believed that wealth was proof of his worth.
A man who had mistaken control for strength and pride for dignity.
A man who had thrown away the woman he loved because he thought she could always be replaced.
He thought about the years Emily had spent raising Noah alone.
The birthdays he had missed.
The hospital visits he had never attended.
The first words he had never heard.
The first time Noah had tried to stand.
All those moments had happened without him.
And no amount of money would ever bring them back.
His phone rang.
It was his assistant.
“Mr. Whitmore, the board wants to know whether you’ll be attending tomorrow’s emergency meeting.”
Daniel looked through the window.
Inside, Emily was washing dishes while Noah sat at the kitchen table, telling her an animated story about his physical therapist.
