Chapter 13: Castle Builders

Monday afternoons were usually chaotic, but today, Nora had brought Aiden with her to the office. He sat on a soft rug near her workstation, stacking wooden blocks with grave concentration.

Nora worked on her laptop while keeping one eye on him—until a deep voice interrupted the quiet.

"That tower is structurally unsound."

Julian stood at the doorway, one eyebrow raised.

Nora stood quickly. "President Zhao—I didn't expect—"

He waved a hand. "I wasn't here for business."

To her shock, he crouched beside Aiden, gently rotating a crooked pillar. "If you want height, you need stability."

Aiden blinked up at him, then copied the move.

Nora watched, frozen, as Julian calmly helped her son build a castle out of colorful blocks.

It was the first time she'd seen him this way—patient, quiet, almost tender.

When he finally stood, he glanced her way and said simply, "He learns fast."

And then he was gone.

But the image of them, side by side, lingered long after.