Chapter 12: A Secret in the Workshop
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Julien brought Leo and Theo to his private basement workshop. The room was filled with antique magnifying loupes, brass gears, glass display cases, and precision watchmaker tools.
On the central workbench sat a velvet box.
"Come here, boys," Julien called out.
Leo and Theo hurried over and climbed onto the high wooden stools. Julien opened the velvet lid. Inside lay two exquisite, handcrafted wristwatches made of rose gold and sapphire glass. But instead of standard gold balance wheels, the exposed mechanical movements in the back were crafted from polished fragments of the rusted tin toy car.
Engraved on the sapphire casebacks were the words:
*To Leo — A brave heart who protected his family.* *To Theo — A bright light that guided us home.*
"You made these from the little car?" Leo whispered, his hazel eyes wide with wonder.
May you like
"A part of it," Julien smiled, fastening the leather strap around Leo's wrist. "So you never forget that the most valuable treasure in this world isn't gold or diamonds. It's time, and the people you choose to spend it with."
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