A New Beginning
Richard gave Clara and Noah a small apartment, warm and safe, with food and clean clothes. Noah ran through every room, wide-eyed.
“Is this… ours?”
“For as long as you need,” Richard said.
He arranged for Noah to attend school and even hired a tutor. Slowly, Noah began to smile again.
Richard visited often — bringing groceries, helping with homework, telling stories about Leo. He found himself laughing again, something he hadn’t done in years.
Clara was cautious at first, but over time she began to trust him.
“I’m not used to accepting help,” she admitted one night.
“Then think of it not as help,” Richard said. “Think of it as family.”
