She let out a long breath. “After you left, I found out I was pregnant. I tried calling you, but your number was disconnected. I didn’t know where you were. I was scared and completely alone.”
Ryan’s stomach twisted as he glanced at the children again. His children.
“I worked two jobs,” she continued, “but when the pandemic hit, everything fell apart. I lost my job. We got evicted. Since then… I’ve just been trying to survive.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Ryan felt numb. While he’d been celebrating record profits and buying properties, she had been fighting to keep their children fed.
“Megan… I didn’t know,” he said hoarsely. “I would’ve helped.”
She shook her head slowly. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m just grateful they’re warm tonight.”
But it mattered to him. More than any deal he’d ever closed.
He paid for the meal, reserved a suite at a nearby hotel, and spent the rest of the night making calls. By morning, he had arranged an interview for Megan at one of his partner companies and secured school placements for the kids.