His eyes… filled with a kind of fear no one had ever seen before.
He rushed forward, dropping to his knees, holding his son’s face with shaking hands.
“What happened?!”
But before anyone could answer—
The boy pointed.
Straight at Maria.
Standing there—injured, exhausted, holding her crying baby.
“It was her,” he said, his voice breaking. “She saved me, Dad…”
Victor’s eyes met hers.
And for a moment…
Something shifted.
Something he couldn’t explain.
Not pity.
Not obligation.
Something deeper.
But just as quickly—
His expression hardened again.
Pride took over.
Without a word of thanks…
He turned away.
Took his son.
Got into the car.
And left.
Maria stood there alone.
Her body aching.
Her heart racing.
And with a strange feeling…
That this wasn’t over.
Not even close.
That night…
While the city slept…
One powerful man couldn’t.
Because the words of his son kept echoing in his mind:
“She saved me…”
And in the darkness of his office…
Victor Hayes made a decision.
A decision that could change everything.
Or destroy it.
