Liam felt a knot tighten in his chest. “Elena, I never knew. I would have helped you.”
She shook her head. “I did not expect anything. You had your dream, and I had to survive. I worked where I could, cleaning offices, waiting tables. Then the pandemic came, and I lost everything. We have been moving from place to place ever since.”
Tears filled her eyes, and Liam felt his throat close. He had been buying luxury cars and traveling the world while she had been fighting to keep their children alive.
He paid for their food and reserved a room for them in a nearby hotel. That night, while they slept in warmth for the first time in months, Liam made phone calls to everyone he knew. By morning, he had arranged a job interview for Elena and found a small apartment for her and the children.
The days that followed were full of small but meaningful moments. Liam began visiting often, bringing food, helping with documents, and spending afternoons with the children at the park. Slowly, laughter returned to their lives.
One evening, Elena said softly, “You have done so much already. You do not owe me anything.”