The tension in Richard’s shoulders eased a fraction, but another emotion took its place. Guilt gnawed at him. He realized how little he knew about Oliver’s day-to-day life, how distant he had become amidst his relentless pursuit of success.

Oliver looked up at him, eyes still glassy. “I’m okay, Dad. Grace took good care of me.” The sincerity in his son’s voice was a balm to Richard’s conscience, yet it also underscored a painful truth.

Richard reached out, tousling Oliver’s hair gently. “I’m glad you’re alright, buddy.” He paused, glancing at Grace. “And thank you, Grace. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

Grace smiled, a gentle warmth radiating from her. “I’m just doing what needs to be done, Mr. Lawson. Oliver is like family to me.”

The word ‘family’ lingered in the air, heavy with implications. Richard realized that his life was filled with more than contracts and boardrooms; it was also filled with people who mattered deeply.

As Oliver stood, Grace rose too, smoothing her apron. “I’ll go prepare a snack. I’m sure Oliver could use something to eat.”

Richard watched her retreat to the kitchen, a silent gratitude welling up within him. He turned back to Oliver. “Hey, how about we do something together tonight? Just the two of us.”

Oliver’s eyes lit up, the earlier tears replaced by a sparkle of excitement. “Really? Can we watch the new superhero movie?”

“Absolutely,” Richard said, feeling a warm resolve in his chest. “And maybe we can order some pizza. What do you think?”

“With extra cheese?” Oliver asked, a grin breaking across his face.

“With extra cheese,” Richard confirmed, marveling at how easily the promise of a simple evening could transform his son’s demeanor.

As they settled onto the couch later, pizza boxes stacked on the coffee table, Richard realized he was learning an invaluable lesson. Money could buy many things—a lavish townhouse, a fleet of cars, the best education—but it could never replace the moments that truly mattered.

He glanced at Oliver, snug under his arm, absorbed in the movie. Grace’s words resonated in his mind: Oliver was family. And family was where he found his true fortune.

That day, standing on the staircase, Richard had been unprepared for the truth he would discover. It was a truth that no amount of wealth could shield him from: the realization that the most precious investment he could ever make was in the love and time he shared with those closest to him.