Daniel barely heard him. What shook him was the realization that Elena had worked in his home for nearly a year—and he knew nothing about her life. Not where she lived. Not that she was raising a child alone.
“Where’s his father?” Daniel asked quietly.
Elena swallowed.
“He left when I was pregnant.”
Daniel nodded slowly. Different story. Same abandonment.
Lily clutched Mateo’s hand.
“Can he stay for dinner? Please? I don’t want to be alone.”
Once, Daniel would have said no. There were rules. Boundaries. Appearances.
Instead, he crouched to Mateo’s level.
“Do you like soccer?”
“A little… sir,” the boy whispered.
“There’s a ball in the backyard. I think you two should use it before dinner.”
Lily squealed and dragged Mateo toward the garden.
Silence settled between the adults.
Daniel looked at Elena. “You don’t need to be afraid of losing your job.”
Her eyes filled anyway.
“I’m behind on rent. I didn’t know what else to do.”
That was the moment something shifted inside him.
At the far end of the property sat a small guest cottage, empty for years.
“You and Mateo can move into the cottage,” Daniel said. “No rent. And starting tomorrow, your salary doubles.”