Lily pressed her lips to his ear and whispered, as if sharing something precious.
“Daddy, this is Mateo. He’s my friend. He came to play because I was alone again.”
Again.
The word landed like a punch.
He knew Lily spent too much time alone in this enormous house. Nannies came and went. Tutors rotated in shifts. Expensive toys sat unopened. Her mother had left when Lily was a baby—leaving behind a letter that said she was never meant to be a mother. Daniel had buried the humiliation and poured himself into building his empire, convincing himself it was all for Lily.
He looked at the boy again. Mateo stood slightly in front of his mother now, protective in a way no five-year-old should have to be.
Elena spoke softly.
“He’s my son. I had no one else today. I promised he’d stay in the staff quarters, but Lily heard us… and asked him to play.”
Her voice trembled at the edges. She was bracing herself to be fired.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Sir, Elena’s one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had.”