Chapter 10: Shadows of Doubt
Despite their new life of comfort, the scars of poverty didn't vanish overnight. One evening, Julien returned home from his corporate office to find Leo missing from his bedroom.
Alarmed, Julien searched the villa until he found the eight-year-old sitting in the corner of the dry pantry downstairs, hoarding dry bread rolls and boxed crackers inside an old cardboard shoebox.
Julien quietly stepped inside and sat on the floor opposite the boy.
"Leo," Julien said gently.
The boy flinched, hiding the shoebox behind his back, looking down in shame. "I'm sorry. I know we have food here. I just... I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and Mom will be sick again, and the kitchen will be empty."
Julien reached out and pulled the boy into a secure embrace. Leo’s small shoulders shook as he buried his face in Julien’s sweater, sobbing away months of terrifying survival stress.
"Listen to me, Leo," Julien spoke softly into his hair. "You don't have to be the man of the house anymore. You did an incredible job saving your mom and your brother. But your shift is over. It's my job now to protect this family. You are allowed to just be a kid."
May you like
Leo nodded against his chest, finally letting go of the shoebox.
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