Daniel shook his head. “No. I’m staying.”
Weeks passed, and Daniel’s world turned upside down. Investor meetings felt trivial compared to 3 a.m. feedings and pediatric appointments. The sleek penthouse that once felt like a museum filled with the sounds of crying—and eventually, laughter.
Jacob, once guarded, began to ask endless questions. “Did you build all your companies yourself? Do rich people ever get scared? Do you ever feel lonely?”
That last question lingered.
“Yes,” Daniel admitted. “More than you’d expect.”
Meanwhile, Olivia and Grace grew stronger. Their tiny fingers gripped his thumb with surprising force. Daniel learned how to warm bottles, soothe colic, and rock them until they slept against his chest. He found himself canceling meetings without hesitation.
The legal process was exhausting. Social workers scrutinized his motives. Headlines questioned him: “Tech Billionaire Rescues Homeless Children—Publicity or Compassion?” But Daniel remained steady, Jacob beside him at every hearing.
At the final court date, the judge studied him carefully.