Derek Lawson stepped out first, dressed in a crisp suit, polished shoes that had clearly never touched soil. Another man followed closely behind, holding a leather briefcase. Without hesitation, they headed straight toward the poorest house in the village, where two children were playing beside a thin, tired-looking dog.
At the doorway, Mrs. Elena sat shelling corn. The moment she saw him, her hands froze mid-motion. Her chest tightened. Eight years. Eight years without a word from the man who had vanished—who hadn’t even called when his wife was dying.
Derek didn’t greet her. He simply scanned her from head to toe, his expression distant and cold.
“I’m here for my kids,” he said flatly.
She slowly stood, her hands trembling. “What are you talking about? You abandoned them. For eight years, you were nothing to them.”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he walked straight toward the children and grabbed Sofia by the arm.
She screamed instantly. “Grandma! Grandma!”
“No!” Mateo rushed forward, throwing himself at his father, punching his chest with all his strength. Derek shoved him aside effortlessly.
“Don’t touch me. Let’s go.”