A poor boy shouted, “Don’t eat that!” The millionaire wouldn’t have listened if he hadn’t seen it himself…

“My name’s William Thompson. I founded Thompson Development. We build homes, offices, schools. We also fund programs for young people. Ever heard of it?”

“I don’t read that stuff. Just newspapers from the trash. They don’t write about businessmen.”

William gave a faint smile.

“Fair enough. Want me to order you some dinner?”

Jake hesitated, then nodded. William waved over a waiter, who brought the boy a warm burger with fries. Jake ate carefully, not greedily, but with dignity, as if afraid to seem desperate. He wrapped half the burger in a napkin to take with him.

“You’ve got a sharp eye,” William observed, watching Jake tuck away the food. “Learned that?”

“On the streets, you have to watch everything. I noticed the capsule by its color. It wasn’t sugar or salt. Your wife… she’s beautiful, but nervous. Her hand shook. People doing something bad always make one extra mistake.”

William nodded. The boy’s words were precise, almost unnervingly mature.

“Why did you think she couldn’t be trusted?”

Jake was quiet for a long time.

“She had the same look as a guy I knew once. He hit me, but before that, he smiled too.”

William looked away. He thought of Emily’s smiles, her gestures, her touches. The small red flags, odd phone calls, petty irritations—he’d ignored them all. He hadn’t wanted to believe she was capable of betrayal. But the truth was undeniable.

“Are you scared she’ll come back?” he asked quietly.

Jake shrugged.

“Maybe. But if she does, you’ll be ready.”

William chuckled, then stood.

“Come on, I’ll drive you. Not to the police, don’t worry. I want to know where you stay. Maybe I can help.”

Jake froze. He wasn’t sure if he could trust him. But he’d taken a risk once today and hadn’t been wrong. He nodded. William paid the bill, and they left the restaurant. At the door, he paused, glancing back at the empty table. The soup remained untouched…