“Hey there, kiddo,” he said softly, keeping his tone light and friendly. “I think you dropped this earlier.”

The girl’s eyes widened. She didn’t reach for the candy immediately, but she looked at him—really looked at him—with a flicker of hope. Then, carefully, she took it.

Michael crouched down so he was eye level with her. “It’s sweet,” he said, “kind of like a little secret.”

For a second, the room seemed to hold its breath.

The man at the table shifted. His jaw tightened, and he leaned forward. “She doesn’t need candy,” he said sharply, his voice thick with control.

Michael kept his posture relaxed, but inside, he was braced like a spring. “No harm done,” he replied calmly, offering a polite smile. “Just trying to make a little one’s day.”