Come on, I will take you home," Kane said as he stood near the mall entrance.
Elara hesitated. It was already past seven, and she knew the nanny would have left by now. Emily must be waiting at home, all alone. Her heart ached at the thought of her daughter standing by the door, watching the clock, wondering when her mother would come back. tonight she had no choice.
She gave him a small nod. "Alright."
They stepped into his sleek black car. The ride was quiet. Elara kept glancing at her phone, anxious to reach home quickly. Kane's phone vibrated several times on the seat between them. Neither of them noticed—it was on silent, and the sound was lost in the hum of the city.
When they finally reached Elara's house, the headlights swept across a tiny figure standing outside. Emily, in her pink dress, was waiting by the gate, her little hands fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. The moment she saw the car, her face lit up.
"Mom!" she shouted, waving her arms.
Elara's heart melted. She hurried out of the car, kneeling to hug Emily tightly. The warmth of her daughter's small body washed away her exhaustion. But Emily's curious eyes peeked past her mother's shoulder and caught sight of Kane still inside the car.
Her eyes widened. She remembered him. The tall man who had saved her at the airport when her silver bell rolled into the road. Without a second thought, Emily tugged on her mother's sleeve.
"Mommy, that man… he helped me before!" she said excitedly. Then, with the confidence only children had, she turned to Kane. "Come inside! Mommy makes the best coffee."
Kane's brows lifted slightly. No one invited him so openly, not even adults. Yet, before he could answer, his phone vibrated again. This time he noticed. And he picks it up.
"What do you mean he is lost?" Kane's voice dropped, sharp and urgent. "Where are you?"
Elara's stomach twisted. "Mr. Willson… what happened?" she asked softly.
But Kane didn't reply. He ended the call and without another word, slid back into the car. The door slammed shut, and the car sped away into the night.
Elara's heart pounded. Something was wrong. Her suspicion was confirmed only minutes later when her phone rang. It was the office.
"Ms. Vance," a trembling voice said, "please come quickly. The young master is missing."
"Young master?" Elara asked, confused.
"Yes… Mr. Willson's son. He's only five. He has a hearing problem, wears a hearing aid. He came to the office looking for Mr. Kane but now—now he's missing. Please, we need you here."
Elara didn't waste a second. "Emily, come," she said, grabbing her daughter's hand. Together they rushed back to the office.
When she arrived, kally ran towards her.
"Oh, Ms. Vance, thank goodness you're here!" she said, wringing her hands. "We found the young master, but… he refuses to eat anything. He hasn't touched food for days. Mr. Willson is furious, and nothing we say works."
Elara followed her to a private room. Inside, a small boy sat on the couch, staring blankly at the laptop screen where Kane had left a video playing. The boy's face was tear-streaked, his eyes swollen from crying. His tiny shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world rested on them. A hearing aid glinted behind his left ear.
Elara's breath caught. He was almost the same age as Emily.
Emily recognized him instantly. "It's him! Mommy, that's the boy from the airport," she whispered. Without hesitation, she skipped over to him. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of chocolate she had been saving.
"Here," she said, offering it to him. "You look sad. This will make you feel better."
Nick stared at the chocolate for a long moment. His lips trembled. Slowly, he reached out, took it, and placed it in his mouth. His eyes softened as the sweet taste filled him. For the first time that day, he ate.
Kane, standing near the desk with clenched fists, finally exhaled. Relief flickered across his stern features. He had faced ruthless businessmen, hostile boardrooms, and endless challenges—but nothing terrified him more than his son's silence.
Emily grinned. "See? It's yummy, right?" Then, without warning, she wrapped her little arms around Nick. Everyone in the room froze.
Nick, who never let strangers near him, leaned into her hug. His small body relaxed as if Emily's warmth melted the walls around him.
Elara knelt, her eyes soft. "Sweetheart," she said gently, "are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"
To everyone's astonishment, Nick slid off the couch, walked straight to her, and hugged her tightly. He buried his face in her chest and, within minutes, fell asleep in her lap.
Gasps rippled through the staff. Kally whispered, "He's never… he's never done that before."
Kane's eyes darkened, unreadable. He looked at Elara cradling his son, her gentle hands brushing Nick's hair, her expression tender as if he were her own child. Something stirred in his chest, something unfamiliar and unsettling.
Meanwhile, Emily tugged at his sleeve. "My mummy is the best, you know," she said proudly. Kane bent down slightly as she wrapped her little arms around his neck. He froze, then carefully picked her up.
For a moment, with Nick in Elara's arms and Emily clinging to him, they looked almost like… a family.
But the moment was interrupted when Jude, an older man in his sixties, entered the room. His hair was silver, his steps slow but steady. His eyes, however, carried sharpness and loyalty.
"Mr. Willson," he said respectfully, bowing slightly. Jude had been Kane's caretaker since childhood and now watched over Nick with the same devotion. "The young master needs proper rest. I will prepare his room."
Kane nodded. "Take care of him."
Later, in the quiet of Kane's private room ,Nick lay sleeping on a soft bed. Emily sat beside him, watching curiously. When his eyes fluttered open, she leaned closer.
"Are you alright?" she whispered.
Nick gave a small nod.
"You're too thin," Emily said seriously. "You have to eat. Your daddy is really worried."
Nick's gaze shifted to the couch, where Kane had dozed off, his usually tense body slumped in exhaustion. Beside him, Elara slept lightly, her hand still resting near Nick's blanket.
Emily smiled. "See? They both care." She lowered her voice. "Where is your mommy?"
Nick looked away, his lips pressing tight. He didn't answer.
Emily thought for a moment, then whispered, "It's okay. My mummy can be your mummy too."
Nick's eyes widened, shining with hope.
"But…" Emily added mischievously, "I want your daddy to be mine too."
Nick froze, processing her words. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at his lips. He nodded.
"Deal," he whispered back.
Emily giggled softly, and the two children lay side by side, their small hands touching, as if sealing the promise of a new beginning neither of them fully understood.
And across the room, though he slept lightly, Kane's hand twitched, as if somewhere in his heart, he had already heard them.