“Let me learn. Please.”
After studying him for a long moment, she nodded. “One chance. My rules. Hurt them once, and you disappear. Understood?”
He nodded. He wouldn’t fail.
The first visits were awkward. Ethan, energetic and curious, warmed to him quickly. Noah, thoughtful and always carrying a book or chessboard, observed him carefully. Lucas—the sensitive musician—kept his distance, watching him like a temporary guest who would soon vanish.
Slowly, Alejandro changed. He skipped executive dinners to eat pizza at Isabella’s modest home. He traded tailored suits for jeans so he could sit on the floor building Lego sets. He learned Ethan dreamed of space, Noah excelled at chess, and Lucas played piano with a tenderness that broke his heart.
But his old world wasn’t ready to release him.
The crisis hit on a Friday. The Singapore deal was collapsing. Investors demanded an urgent video conference at 6:00 p.m. to secure their €300 million commitment.
At 6:30 p.m., Lucas had his first piano recital. The night before, he had asked, “You’ll come, right? Promise?” And Alejandro had promised.