Chapter 3 - THE SILVER STARKaren sat beside Mia.
She spoke softly about ordinary things.
Rain.
Books.
Animals.
Anything that didn't demand an answer.
Slowly, Mia's breathing returned to normal.
Then the little girl reached into her cardigan pocket.
She pulled out a tiny silver star sticker.
"My brave sticker," she whispered.
Karen smiled.
"That's beautiful."
Mia took Karen's hand.
Very carefully, she pressed the silver star onto her palm.
Karen's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
Across the room, Lorenzo froze.
His face changed.
The intimidating billionaire disappeared.
For one terrible second, he looked like a grieving husband instead of a powerful businessman.
"My wife used to carry those exact same stickers everywhere."
Karen looked at him.
Lorenzo swallowed.
"She died three years ago."
The words seemed to drain all the air from the room.
Mia leaned against her father's chest.
"Mommy always said the bravest people in the world are the kindest people."
Karen looked down at the silver star.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Lorenzo wasn't cold.
He was wounded.
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And Mia wasn't a burden.
She was the last piece of the woman he had lost.
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