The girl looked up. Her mother clapped her hands. The girl’s head turned toward the sound. Her mother’s legs gave out. The billionaire caught her, lowering her onto a chair.
“How?” she whispered.
He pulled the metallic object from his pocket. “This was blocking her hearing. It was lodged behind her device.”
His wife stared at it. “Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know yet, but someone put it there.”
Her face went from shock to rage. “Who?”
“I’m working on it.”
She looked at Skye. “Who are you?”
“That’s Skye,” the billionaire said. “She found it. She pulled it out.”
His wife stood up and walked over to Skye. Skye shrank back, scared. But the woman knelt down, tears streaming down her face.
“You did this?” Skye nodded. The woman pulled her into a hug so tight Skye could barely breathe. “Thank you,” she sobbed. “Thank you so much.”
Skye didn’t know what to say. So she just hugged her back. The woman pulled away, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“You don’t have to,” Skye said quietly.
“Yes, I do.” She looked at Skye’s mom. “What’s your name?”
“Angela.”
“Angela, your daughter is a miracle.”
Angela smiled softly. “She’s special. I’ve always known that.”
The billionaire’s wife stood up and looked at her husband. “We need to find out who did this.”
“I know.”
“Now, James. Not tomorrow. Now.”
He nodded. “I’ve already made calls.”
Marcus stepped forward. “I can help.”
She looked at him, surprised. “You knew?”
“I suspected. Nobody listened.”
Her face softened. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. What matters is she’s okay now.”
The girl got up from the couch and walked over to her mother. Her mother knelt down, pulling her close. The girl opened her mouth.
“Mama.”
The word was barely a whisper. Shaky. Uncertain. But it was there. Her mother broke down completely. She held her daughter, sobbing into her hair, whispering things no one else could hear. The billionaire watched them, tears sliding down his face. Marcus turned away, wiping his eyes. Skye grabbed her mom’s hand. Angela squeezed back, both of them crying now.
After a long moment, the billionaire’s wife stood up, still holding her daughter. She looked at Skye.
“You’re not leaving our lives, you understand?”
Skye nodded.
“I mean it. Whatever you need. School. College. Anything.”
“We’ll talk about it,” Angela said gently.
“There’s nothing to talk about. She saved our daughter.”
Angela didn’t argue. The billionaire walked over to the window, phone in hand. “I’m calling Dr. Brennan. He’s the last person who touched her device.”
His wife nodded. “Do it.”
He dialed. It rang three times. Then a man’s voice answered.
“Mr. Carter.”
“We need to talk. Now.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No, it’s not.” There was a pause. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
The billionaire hung up. He looked at Marcus. “When he gets here, I want you in the room.”
Marcus nodded. “You got it.”
The girl walked over to Skye and took her hand. Skye looked down at her. The girl smiled. And for the first time, Skye realized what she’d done. She hadn’t just removed an object. She’d changed a life. Maybe even saved it.
Twenty minutes felt like hours. Everyone sat in silence, waiting. The girl stayed close to Skye, holding her hand. Skye’s chest felt tight. She didn’t know why. Maybe because she was scared of what was coming. Maybe because she felt like she didn’t belong here.
A car pulled up outside. The billionaire stood. “That’s him.”
Marcus moved toward the door. Dr. Brennan walked in. Mid-fifties. Gray hair. Glasses. He looked calm. Too calm.
“Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter. What’s this about?”
The billionaire held up the metallic object. “This?”
Dr. Brennan squinted. “What is that?”
“You tell me. You were the last person to fit her hearing device.”
His face went pale. “I don’t understand.”
“This was lodged behind her device. Blocking her hearing.”
Dr. Brennan stepped closer, staring at the object. “That’s impossible. I would have noticed.”
“You didn’t. I ran every test.”
“You missed it.”
Dr. Brennan looked at the girl. “Is she okay?”
“She can hear now. After seven years.”
His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “How?”
The billionaire pointed at Skye. “A seven-year-old found what you couldn’t.”
Dr. Brennan looked at Skye. His expression shifted. Confusion. Shame. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Start with the truth. Did you put this there?”..
