Tony Stark—Chairman of Stark Industries.
A world-famous entrepreneur.
Philanthropist.
Inventor.
Former arms dealer.
And… the superhero known as Iron Man.
Listing so many titles served only one purpose: to make it very clear that Tony Stark was not a low-key person. The word subtle did not exist in his dictionary.
The plaza in front of the newly completed building was packed shoulder to shoulder. Anyone unaware of the event might have mistaken it for a concert by an international superstar rather than a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
When Iron Man descended from the sky, clad in gleaming armor, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
In that moment, Clara finally understood what it meant to be someone who lived their entire life surrounded by flowers and applause. People like Tony Stark shone so brightly that someone like her existed on a completely different trajectory—two lines that should never intersect.
A wave of fear rose in her chest.
She hesitated.
She wanted to retreat back into the crowd behind her.
But Iron Man's appearance had only made the crowd surge forward even harder. Everyone wanted to get closer, to see the hero up close.
In the chaos, the small and fragile Clara was shoved forward by someone she couldn't see. She slipped between two security guards and stumbled straight to the ground. The flowers in her basket scattered everywhere.
Before she could even scramble back up, a pair of polished leather shoes came into view.
Her gaze slowly traveled upward—
And met Tony Stark's eyes.
He looked down at her from above, distant and aloof, like a god observing a mortal.
"Hey, kid," Tony said casually. "You're way too young to be in a crowd like this. Where are your parents? That's some seriously irresponsible parenting."
Faced with Iron Man towering over her, Clara panicked. She scrambled to her feet and raised the sunflower in her hands.
"M-Mr. I-Iron Man…" she stammered. "P-Please… accept m-my g-gift!"
All the compliments she had practiced vanished from her mind. She could only hold up the paper sunflower with both hands and stare at Stark with wide, pleading eyes.
Tony Stark didn't like taking things from strangers. Anyone who knew him was aware of this annoying habit. He opened his mouth, fully intending to refuse.
But the sight of her cracked, rough hands and her helpless, frightened expression stopped him.
Forget it, he thought. She's just a kid. Breaking a rule once won't kill me.
He reached out with two fingers and pinched the paper flower, intrigued despite himself.
Just as his fingers closed around the stem, Clara lifted it slightly.
Hidden within the paper stem, a sharp piece of wire pierced his fingertip.
Tony felt a sting and pulled his hand back. A tiny bead of blood welled up on his thumb.
"Oh, damn it," he muttered under his breath.
"I-I'm sorry… Mr. Iron Man…" Clara said, looking utterly terrified.
Tony felt a surge of irritation. He shouldn't have reached out in the first place.
"You," he said, pointing at a nearby security guard. "Take this kid out through the back and return her to her parents."
The front entrance was completely blocked by the crowd—it wasn't a place for a child.
The guard picked up the scattered flower basket and led Clara toward the interior of the building.
As she was taken away, Clara glanced back just in time to see Tony pull a white handkerchief from his suit pocket. He pressed it briefly against his finger, then casually tossed it into a nearby trash bin.
"Sir, my home is nearby," Clara said sweetly once they were out of the crowd. "I can go back by myself."
"Alright," the guard said kindly. "Just be careful crossing the street. And don't push into crowds like that again—you could get seriously hurt."
Looking at the tiny girl, barely different in age from his own child, the guard couldn't help but offer some advice.
"I understand, sir. Thank you," Clara said politely. She handed him a small bouquet. "This is for you. Goodbye."
Carrying her basket, she walked away.
The guard looked at the unexpected gift in his hands and broke into a broad smile.
Outside, the excitement continued for a long time. Only after Iron Man finally took off into the sky did the crowd gradually disperse.
From behind the thinning crowd, a hooded child approached the plaza and glanced around carefully.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, the child sneakily fished a white handkerchief out of a trash bin, stuffed it into their clothes, and ran off as fast as possible.
With Tony Stark's blood sample secured, Clara went straight to the hospital. She had already inquired about the cost of a paternity test.
When she handed over five hundred dollars in testing fees, her heart bled.
That was more than half of everything she owned.
Eager to get the results as soon as possible, Clara personally went to the testing department.
The staff member on duty was a young nurse named Miranda. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she looked gentle and approachable.
"My mom passed away a few days ago," Clara said softly. "Before she died, she told me that this man was my father. Big sister, I just want to know if it's true. Please help me get the results as quickly as possible. In a few days, their whole family will be moving far away. If I miss this chance… I'll really be an orphan."
Her large eyes filled with desperation as she looked up at the nurse.
In truth, Clara didn't need to act.
Years of malnutrition made her look far younger than her age. Her pale face and faded clothes made her barely better off than the street children outside.
Miranda's heart softened instantly. She reached out and gently touched Clara's colorless cheek.
"Little one… did you pay for the test yourself?" she asked. "If you believe he's your father, shouldn't he be the one paying for the test?"
Clara shook her head firmly.
"I got this blood sample myself. If he's not my biological father, I won't disturb his life. I can't destroy someone else's family."
Miranda felt tears well up in her eyes.
What a kind, sensible child…
She pulled a hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and offered it to Clara, but Clara pushed it back.
"Thank you for your kindness, big sister," she said calmly. "But I'm not a beggar. I won't accept charity. I earn over ten dollars a day now—enough to eat. Even if he's not my father, I still have somewhere to go. So you don't need to worry about me."
Refusing the money, Clara turned and left the hospital.
Miranda watched her small yet perfectly straight back and sighed deeply.
—
Back at his luxurious New York residence, Tony Stark removed his Iron Man armor. Waiting for him was his beautiful secretary—and girlfriend—Pepper Potts. Stark Tower was currently undergoing renovations and couldn't be used.
After a warm embrace and a kiss, Pepper asked how the ribbon-cutting ceremony had gone.
At the mention of the event, Tony's thumb gave a reflexive twinge of pain. He said nothing about what had happened.
"Of course it went smoothly," Tony said confidently. "With me around, what could possibly go wrong? I'm Tony Stark—the one and only Iron Man."
Pepper laughed and lightly punched his chest. "Tony, you're as narcissistic as ever."
"That's not narcissism," Tony replied smugly. "That's confidence."
—
That night, under a sky filled with stars, Clara returned to her small room at the same time as always. After eating some takeout she'd bought from a street vendor, she went to bed early.
No matter what the test results would be, in three days, she would be leaving this place.
With one burden finally lifted from her heart, Clara slept better than she ever had.
Deep.
Peaceful.
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