His body wasn’t the only thing paralyzed.
His spirit was too.
And Julia couldn’t ignore that.
So she didn’t.
She talked to him. Laughed near him. Told stories about her kids, about her daughter’s pink-hair phase and Liam’s disastrous attempt to impress a girl on his bike.
A week later, Landon gave her a small, quiet laugh.
Julia treated it like gold.
From then on, every joke, every request, every “game” was strategically disguised therapy.
Little stretches.
Core engagement.
Weight-shifts.
Micro-movements.
All hidden behind warmth, humor, and patience.
Landon slowly changed—stronger muscles, steadier hands, brighter eyes.
But not everyone welcomed change.
THE WOMAN WHO WANTED CONTROL
Enter Katherine Hale.
The polished, calculating VP who joined Donovan Builders and quickly noticed Caleb’s loneliness. She flattered him, charmed him, slid into his life with practiced ease. Soon she was visiting the mansion regularly—always with a smile too cold for Landon, too dismissive toward the staff.
Landon shrank whenever she entered a room.
Julia noticed.