Chapter 1: The Question That Shattered the Room
Chapter 1: The Question That Shattered the Room
Silence didn’t just fall over the mansion—it collapsed.
The chandelier light suddenly felt too bright, too harsh, like it was exposing something no one wanted to see.
The maid—Emma—stood frozen as the little boy clung to her apron with absolute trust, his small fingers gripping the fabric like it was the only solid thing in the world.
The billionaire, Adrian Reed, didn’t move.
His son had never run to anyone like that before. Not to him. Not even to the women he had carefully selected for weeks.
“Answer me,” Adrian said again, quieter this time. His voice had lost its command. “How often does my son cry for you instead of me?”
Emma’s lips parted, but no sound came out at first.
One of the glamorous women gave a nervous laugh, trying to break the tension.
“This is ridiculous. A child just—”
“Enough,” Adrian snapped without looking at her.
The room went still again.
Emma swallowed hard. “He… he wakes up at night,” she whispered. “When he has nightmares. He doesn’t call for you, sir. He calls for me.”
Something in Adrian’s expression cracked—but he didn’t interrupt.
“I don’t replace you,” she added quickly, as if afraid she had crossed a line. “I just… stay until he falls back asleep.”
The little boy buried his face deeper into her shoulder, as if confirming every word.
May you like
Adrian’s hands slowly curled into fists.
For the first time in years, he didn’t know what to say.
