Noah looked toward Emily.
“Mom said you were very busy.”
Daniel almost laughed through his tears.
“Your mother was being kind.”
Noah smiled faintly.
For the first time in nine years, Daniel saw something he hadn’t felt in decades.
Shame.
Not because he was poor.
Not because his company was struggling.
Because he had spent years building an empire while his own son grew up without him.
Then Daniel noticed the condition of the house.
There was almost no furniture.
A small refrigerator stood in the corner.
The kitchen cabinets were nearly empty.
The heater appeared to be broken.
A stack of medical bills sat on the table.
Daniel picked them up.
“What are these?”
Emily immediately reached for them.
“Nothing.”
“Emily.”
She hesitated.
“They’re Noah’s medical bills.”
Daniel looked at the amount.
His face went pale.
“This much?”
Emily nodded.
“He has needed treatment for years.”
