And that moment marked the beginning of everything that would change for both of them.
Inside a small diner nearby, the air was warm, filled with the scent of coffee and pancakes. The children—Maya, Lucas, and Ben—ate quietly but hungrily, while Elena held her cup of tea with shaking hands.
“When you left for San Francisco,” she began, “I found out I was pregnant. I tried to call you, but your number had changed. I even sent letters, but they came back unopened.”
Liam felt a knot tighten in his chest. “Elena, I never knew. I would have helped you.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t expect anything. You had your dream, and I had to survive. I worked wherever I could—cleaning offices, waiting tables. Then the pandemic came, and I lost everything. We’ve been moving from place to place ever since.”
Tears filled her eyes, and Liam felt his throat close. While he had been buying luxury cars and traveling the world, she had been fighting to keep their children alive.
He paid for their meal and reserved a room for them in a nearby hotel. That night, while they slept in warmth for the first time in months, Liam made phone calls to everyone he knew. By morning, he had arranged a job interview for Elena and found a small apartment for her and the children.
