Leo, still beaming, was the first to find his voice.
“We were just dancing, Dad,” the boy said excitedly. “Natalie showed me how I can move even in the chair. It was awesome!” But Michael’s gaze remained fixed on Natalie, his expression unreadable and stern, ignoring his son’s enthusiasm.
In his world, everything had a protocol, and this wasn’t it. He felt a strange mix of gratitude and a defensive need to reassert order. She tried to explain, her voice trembling slightly, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture. “That’s enough. Please, leave the room. Now.” Leo’s smile vanished.
“Dad, no! Don’t be mad at her, she’s my friend!” But Michael had already turned on his heel and walked out, the heavy door clicking shut behind him. He didn’t understand why the scene had rattled him so deeply, but he knew that one moment had shifted the foundation of his house.
That night, sleep wouldn’t come. Michael lay in his king-sized bed, staring at the ceiling of his darkened suite. The silence of the house felt heavy, almost suffocating. He kept seeing the image of his son’s face—the pure, unadulterated joy. It was something all his millions hadn’t been able to buy.
He got up, paced the floor for a moment, and then headed down to his home office. He sat in his leather chair and pulled up the security system archives. He knew every inch of the house was monitored for safety, and he needed to see it again. He scrolled through the footage until he found the Great Room from earlier that afternoon.
He watched Natalie enter with her cleaning supplies. He saw Leo call out to her. He watched her smile—a warm, genuine expression that wasn’t part of any job description. He saw her set aside the vacuum, pull out her phone, and start the music. She didn’t look like an employee; she looked like someone who actually cared.
The footage hit him harder the second time. He saw the tenderness in her movements, the way she treated Leo not as a patient or a “special needs” case, but as a person. She wasn’t pitying him; she was playing with him. Michael clenched his jaw, a sharp sting of regret hitting him. He had spent a fortune on the best medical staff, the most expensive equipment, and the most prestigious therapists…
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