He recoiled as if the idea physically hurt him. “I cannot accept that. It is too much. It is not right. You work for us. This is not your responsibility.”
Dalia looked him in the eyes. “It is not charity. It is a chance. I see you trying. I see the way you love your children. Some people deserve help because they would never ask for it.”
Her voice was so sure that he felt his resistance weaken. He accepted only part of the offer. She insisted on the rest. They rebuilt in slow steps. They sold furniture. They renegotiated contracts. They contacted clients who still believed in the company. They shifted from luxury imports to Florida artisans, focusing on sustainable materials. Monroe Design House began to breathe again.
During those months, Braylen learned about Dalia. She had studied early childhood education. She once dreamed of becoming a teacher before life redirected her path. She worked three jobs when she was younger to care for her ill mother. She had lost so much, yet she carried an unwavering softness with her.