A tall man emerged from the crowd, impossible to overlook. Dressed in a fitted black shirt and tailored suit, his sharp features half-hidden behind dark sunglasses, Kane Willson carried an aura that made people instinctively step aside.
Beside him walked a small boy, clutching his father's hand tightly. The boy, no older than five, had a hearing aid clipped behind his left ear. His dark eyes mirrored Kane's, but his expression was grumpy, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Nick," Kane said quietly, glancing down at his son, "are you still upset?"
Nick didn't answer, turning his head away. His small hands fidgeted, clearly restless. Without his beloved Pikachu toy, the one he never slept without, his world felt incomplete—and so he refused to eat, even when coaxed.
Just then, Ethan rushed forward, taking Kane's suitcase. "Mr. Willson, the car is ready. We should head to the mansion first." He hesitated, lowering his voice. "Little master still hasn't touched a thing since yesterday…"
Kane stopped walking. Slowly, he slid off his sunglasses, his sharp gaze pinning Ethan in place.
"You knew this before we boarded the plane?"
"I… I didn't want to distract you during the Chicago contract signing," Ethan stammered. "I thought it was just his mood. But without his Pikachu, he—he just won't eat."
Kane's jaw tightened. For a man feared in boardrooms and negotiations, nothing cut deeper than seeing his son in distress.
Before he could speak, a chocolate ball rolled across the floor, stopping at Nick's shoe. Nick blinked, bent down to pick it up, but a small voice called out—
"That's mine!"
A little girl, about four or five, ran toward them, nearly colliding with Kane. Even crouched, Kane's presence was overwhelming, yet the girl boldly looked up at him with wide, sparkling eyes.
Nick clutched the chocolate, frowning at her.
The girl puffed her cheeks and stretched out her hand. "I only have three chocolates. I can't give you any. If you want some, buy your own!"
For a moment, Kane was silent—then, unexpectedly, his stern expression softened. "Nick," he said gently, holding out the chocolate, "should we give it back?"
Nick hesitated, then placed it into the girl's hand. She grinned, her bunny teeth showing. "Thank you! You're nice."
Watching the exchange, Ethan almost dropped the luggage. Kane Willson never lowered himself for anyone. But around his son—and now, strangely, around this little girl—he was a different man entirely.
The girl happily tucked the chocolate back into her pocket. Just as she turned to leave, a small silver bell tied to her wrist slipped loose and rolled across the floor, bouncing until it skittered out onto the busy road just beyond the airport drop-off area.
"Ah! My bell!" the girl cried, chasing after it without a second thought.
Nick's eyes widened. Even with his hearing aid, he couldn't catch everything in the noisy crowd, but he saw the flash of the tiny bell and the little girl darting recklessly toward the street. He tugged at his father's sleeve, pointing.
"Daddy!" Nick's voice cracked, a rare urgency breaking through his usual quietness.
Kane's head snapped toward the road. His heart dropped as he saw the child dart into danger. Without hesitation, he strode forward, scooping her up just as a car sped past, the bell clinking under its tire and rolling to the side.
The girl's small hands clutched at Kane's suit jacket, her eyes wide with fright.
"It's dangerous to run like that," Kane said, his deep voice firm but not unkind. He set her back down, crouching so his sharp gaze was level with hers. "A bell isn't worth your life."
The girl blinked, then nodded shyly, clutching the rescued bell that Kane had picked up for her.
Nick, still holding his father's hand, stared at the girl. For once, his usual stubbornness about Pikachu was forgotten. His lips pressed together, and then he whispered, "She… almost got hurt."
Kane glanced down at his son, surprised by the tremor of worry in his voice. He placed a hand on Nick's shoulder and squeezed gently.
From a few steps away, Ethan exhaled in relief. He had never seen Mr. Willson move so fast for anyone other than Nick.