Michael Carter sat at the head of a long conference table in his sleek office in downtown Chicago, surrounded by executives, projections, and contracts worth millions of dollars. People were waiting for his decision, watching him like he held the future in his hands.
But in that moment… none of it mattered.
His daughter was crying.
And he wasn’t there.
The words hit him like a bolt of lightning. His chest tightened, and for the first time in years, he didn’t know what to do—not as a businessman, not as a man who was used to having control over everything.
“What happened, sweetheart?” he asked, forcing his voice to stay steady even as his heart pounded.
“I don’t know…” Emily sobbed. “It’s been hurting for days. Mom says it’s probably nothing, but… it doesn’t feel like nothing, Dad. It really hurts…”
Her voice broke on the last word.
Michael’s grip on the phone tightened.
Days?
It had been hurting for days… and he hadn’t known.
A wave of guilt rose so suddenly it made him dizzy.
“I’m coming right now,” he said. “Stay where you are. I’m on my way.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He stood up so abruptly that his chair scraped loudly against the polished floor.