“Because I know what it’s like,” she said quietly. “My mom raised me alone. There were days she pretended she wasn’t hungry so I could eat. Someone helped us once. I guess I’m just passing it on.”
Lucas stood and wrapped his small arms around her waist before Adrian could stop him.
Sophia froze for a second—then gently hugged him back.
Adrian felt something shift inside him.
“Miss Sophia,” Lucas said, looking up at her, “if we had a house… would you come have dinner with us?”
Adrian blinked in surprise.
Sophia laughed softly. “If you had a house?”
Lucas looked at his father, unsure whether he’d said too much.
Adrian made a decision.
“Sophia,” he said carefully, standing now, his posture unconsciously straighter. “What if I told you this wasn’t exactly what it looks like?”
She frowned slightly.
He pulled out his phone and made a quick call.
Within minutes, a black SUV pulled up. A driver stepped out respectfully.
Sophia stepped back, confused.
“Michael?” she asked.
“My real name is Adrian Caldwell.”
Her eyes widened slightly at the name—recognition flickering. The Caldwell family was well known in Chicago.