The restaurant was glowing. Crystal glasses clinked under golden light. Soft jazz floated in the air. Wealthy guests laughed like nothing in the world could touch them. And in the center of it all sat Victor Hale. Perfect suit. Perfect smile. Perfect control. Until—everything broke.
A barefoot boy stepped into his world. Dirty. Thin. Out of place. Too close. The laughter started instantly. “Is this a joke?” someone whispered. “Who let him in?” another voice snickered. But the boy didn’t look at them. He looked only at Victor.
“Sir… I can fix your leg.”
