Julian felt the weight of his son’s words like a hammer. All the wealth and protection he had provided meant nothing compared to the simple companionship of a friend.
Mara wiped her eyes and spoke gently. “He is brave and kind. He tells me stories, he helps me learn, and he makes me laugh. Isn’t that what matters?”
Elena tried to pull her daughter back, but Julian raised a hand and stopped her. For the first time, he truly looked at Mara, not as a servant’s child, but as the girl who had returned his son’s laughter.
“You have given him something I forgot how to give,” Julian said quietly. “You have given him back his joy.”
Oliver’s face lit with hope. “So Mara can stay?” he asked.
Julian nodded, swallowing his pride. “Yes,” he said, “but on one condition. You must allow me to join your games sometimes. I have forgotten how to play, and perhaps you two can teach me.”
For the first time in years, Julian laughed freely. Oliver hugged him tightly. “Really, Father? You will play with us?”
“Really,” Julian whispered. “I want to live with you, not just protect you. I want to see the world through your eyes again.”
As the sun set over the Hawthorne estate, painting the room in warm amber light, Julian realized that no fortune could replace this. Laughter, love, and the courage to let a child simply be free were worth more than all the riches in the world.
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