“Thank you.”

Sofia blinked, confused. “Sir?”

But before she could say more, Lucas and Maya ran to their father, throwing their arms around him. Nathan knelt and hugged them tight — tighter than he had in years. His eyes burned with tears.

For the first time, his children saw their father cry.

That evening, Nathan didn’t go back to his office. He stayed home for dinner.

Sofia served a simple meal — roasted chicken and mashed potatoes — and they all ate together at the same table. The children talked nonstop, telling stories about school, about their cake, about everything he’d missed.