Chapter 1 - The Kitchen Warning
Elena Lin’s grip on Maya’s arm was tight, dragging her through the swinging doors into the sweltering heat of the industrial kitchen. The gala roared on in the distance, but in here, it was a war zone of clinking pans and shouting sous chefs.
"What were you thinking?" Elena hissed, her voice trembling. "Mr. Vance is not a man who tolerates the help mingling with his family. If you upset Leo, if you cause a scene, we are on the streets, Maya. Do you understand?"
Maya looked down at her scuffed Mary Janes. He wasn't upset, she wanted to say. He was lonely. But she just nodded.
Upstairs, the gala ended. Julian Vance loosened his silk tie and poured himself a scotch in his sprawling mahogany study. He expected Leo to go straight to bed, as he always did, like a well-trained ghost. But tonight, Leo stood in the doorway.
Julian sighed, barely looking up from his phone. He pointed to the ceiling—go to bed.
Leo didn't move. For the first time in years, the boy pulled a notepad from his pocket, scribbled something, and slid it across his father's desk.
Julian frowned, reading the messy scrawl: I want to learn more ASL.
May you like
Julian’s jaw tightened. "We've been through this, Leo. You have the best lip-reading tutors in the world. You don't need hand signals. You need to fit in."
Leo stared at him. The mask was back. He turned and walked into the dark hallway, leaving Julian alone with his scotch and a sudden, inexplicable sense of failure.
