He laughed at the boy’s impossible promise—until a baby’s tiny hand touched his leg.

I spent the rest of the morning making phone calls.

First, I called my lawyer. Told him I needed him to run a full background check on GenSys and Richard Voss. Told him to dig up everything—every lawsuit, every complaint, every shady deal.

Then I called my head of security. Told him to double the guards at the gate. To install more cameras. To make sure the perimeter was completely secure.

Then I called my doctor. Told him I needed to see him immediately.

While I made calls, the children played in the living room. Mia and Tommy had discovered my old collection of board games—games I'd bought years ago, thinking maybe my niece and nephew would visit, but they never had. They were sitting on the floor, playing Candy Land, laughing for the first time since I'd met them.

Lucas sat on the couch, holding Ella, watching them play. But his eyes kept darting to the windows. To the door. He couldn't relax.

I understood.

My driver arrived to take me to the doctor. I told Lucas I'd be back soon, that the children were safe with the security guards. He nodded, but I could see the fear in his eyes.

The drive to the doctor's office was surreal. I sat in the backseat, watching the world go by, feeling my legs move when I shifted position. For twenty years, I'd been invisible to the world—just a man in a wheelchair. Now I was whole again.

Dr. Chen had been my doctor for fifteen years. He'd seen me at my worst. He'd told me a hundred times that I'd never walk again.

When I walked into his office—actually walked—his jaw dropped.

"Arthur?" he said, standing up from his desk. "Is that... are you...?"

"I'm walking," I said, smiling. It felt good to say it out loud.

He rushed over to me, his hands moving over my legs, checking reflexes, pressing on muscles. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

"This is impossible," he said. "Your spinal cord was completely severed. There was no nerve activity. Nothing."

"I know," I said. "But here I am."

He ran test after test. X-rays, MRIs, nerve conduction studies. Each time, he stared at the results like he was looking at a miracle.

"Everything is normal," he said, shaking his head. "Not just normal—perfect. Your spinal cord looks like it was never injured. It's... it's medically impossible."

I thought about Ella. About her tiny hand touching my knee. About the way life had flooded back into my dead legs.

"Maybe not impossible," I said.

On the drive back to the house, my lawyer called.

"Arthur," he said. His voice was serious. "You were right about GenSys. There's a lot here."

"Tell me," I said.

"Richard Voss built GenSys from nothing into a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company," he said. "But his methods... they're questionable at best. There have been multiple lawsuits alleging that he's conducted illegal human trials. That he's stolen research from competitors. That he's used intimidation and violence to get what he wants."

"Any connection to the family I told you about?" I asked.

"I found the police report," he said. "Husband and wife killed in a home invasion three months ago. Three children and an infant missing. The case is still open, but... there's something strange about it."

"What?"

"The police haven't made any progress. No suspects. No leads. It's like they're not even trying."

My jaw tightened. "Voss has them in his pocket."

"That's what I'm thinking," my lawyer said. "Arthur, if what you're telling me is true—if Voss is hunting these children for the baby's gift—this is dangerous. He's a powerful man. He doesn't play by the rules."

"I know," I said. "But neither do I."

I hung up as the car pulled through the gates of my house. I could see children playing in the front yard—Mia and Tommy chasing each other, laughing. Lucas was sitting on the porch, holding Ella, watching them.

For a moment, everything looked perfect. Peaceful.

But I knew better.

I got out of the car and walked toward them. Lucas stood up when he saw me, his face tight with worry.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Everything's fine," I said. "The doctor says my legs are perfect. Completely healed."

Lucas smiled—a real smile, the first I'd seen from him. "I told you Ella was special."

"That you did," I said. "Lucas, we need to talk. About GenSys. About Richard Voss."

His smile faded. He nodded.

We went inside to my study while Mia and Tommy continued playing outside, supervised by one of the security guards. I sat behind my desk—my legs under the desk, not in a wheelchair beside it—and looked at Lucas.

"My lawyer found some information," I said. "Voss is dangerous. He has a history of violence and corruption. The police are probably on his payroll."

Lucas swallowed hard. "I told you. He won't stop."

"But we have something he doesn't," I said. "We have the truth. And we have Ella."

I leaned forward across the desk.

"Lucas, I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your siblings. I have the money and the resources to fight Voss. But I need you to be strong. I need you to trust me."

Lucas looked at me. For a long moment, he just stared. Then he nodded.

"I trust you," he said.

"Good," I said. "Because tomorrow, we're going to make a move. We're going to take the fight to Voss."

Before Lucas could respond, a security guard burst into the study. His face was pale.

"Mr. Arthur," he said. "You need to see this."

He handed me a tablet. On the screen was security camera footage from the front gate. A black SUV was parked outside. Two men in suits were standing by the gate, looking up at the house.

One of them was holding a phone to his ear.