On a bright summer morning, a young man in his early thirties stood quietly on the terrace of his luxurious mansion, a glass of whisky resting in his hand. The warm sunlight reflected off the city skyline, but his expression remained distant, as if his thoughts were far away.
The man was strikingly handsome. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a sharp, well-defined jawline, he carried a natural aura of confidence. His dark hair fell carelessly across his forehead, giving him a dangerously charming appearance. His piercing eyes, deep and intense, held a quiet mystery that seemed to pull people in. With his calm elegance and powerful presence, he was the kind of man no one could ignore.
Women admired him everywhere he went. Many secretly wished they could have even a moment of his attention. Yet rumors had long spread that after the tragic death of the woman he once loved, Travis had completely lost interest in love. He had become extremely cold and difficult to deal with. He showed no interest in women and often treated them with harsh indifference. Since that day, he had never allowed any woman to come close enough for anything serious.
His name was Travis Smith, the only heir and CEO of Golden Smith's Fashion House, the largest and most powerful fashion empire in the country. The brand was famous for producing the finest luxury clothing, elegant shoes, and exquisite accessories crafted from real gold and diamonds. No competitor had ever managed to surpass them. Year after year, Golden Smith's remained at the very top of the fashion industry.
"Daddy!!!"
A tiny cheerful voice called from behind.
Travis immediately recognized the voice and turned around, a rare smile appearing on his face. Standing there was his son, Eddy, a lively five-year-old boy who had just returned from school.
"Come here, little one," Travis said softly, bending down and placing a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead.
Travis loved his son deeply. Eddy had inherited most of his facial features from his late wife, Annie, and that made Travis even more fond of him. Looking at Eddy always reminded him of the love he once shared with Annie. Because of that, he cherished the boy more than anything in the world. He gave Eddy everything he ever asked for, surrounded him with luxury, and enrolled him in the best school in the state.
Still, Travis could never forget Annie's last words before she died.
"Take care of our baby… and give him the best life ever."
The memory made Travis' eyes sting slightly.
"Daddy, are you okay?" Eddy asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Oh yes, my dear. Daddy is fine," Travis replied quickly, forcing a reassuring smile. "Now tell me, how was school today?"
He gently lifted Eddy into his arms and carried him toward the couch.
"It was fine, Daddy. I made a new friend today. His name is Damian."
"Oh really?" Travis said, ruffling the boy's soft blonde hair. "He better be a good boy, huh?"
Eddy nodded but then looked down sadly.
"Daddy… Damian told me a lot about his mum. I wish I had my own mum too."
The words pierced Travis' heart like a sharp blade. He had always fulfilled every request Eddy made,except the one thing his son truly wanted: a mother. And that was the one thing Travis felt completely incapable of giving.
"Come on, champ," Travis said after a moment, forcing a playful smile. "Why didn't you tell him about your dad? You should tell him you have a superhero for a father."
He raised his fist dramatically in the air like a comic-book hero.
Eddy burst into laughter, his sadness instantly forgotten. He always loved it when his father did that.
Travis smiled with quiet relief, glad he had managed to distract him,at least for now.
"Eddy, it's time to wash up and have your siesta," Ma'am Nana said as she approached from a distance.
Ma'am Nana, a woman in her late forties, was Eddy's nanny. She had managed to stay in the house for eight months,longer than any other employee. Travis was known to be strict with his staff and never hesitated to fire anyone who made the slightest mistake, especially when it involved his son, Eddy. Because of that, most workers rarely lasted long, but Ma'am Nana had proven herself dependable and caring.
Eddy frowned stubbornly. "No, I don't want to. I want to stay with daddy."
Just then, Travis' phone rang. He glanced at the screen,it was his personal assistant and childhood friend, Dante. The call was urgent. Dante informed him that he was needed at the office immediately.
Travis sighed but knew he had no choice.
"Come on, little champ," he said, bending down and ruffling Eddy's hair. "Get up and go with Ma'am Nana, okay? I'll be back soon. And I promise I'll bring you all your favorite treats on my way home."
Eddy pouted but slowly stood up, still looking upset. He followed Ma'am Nana inside, muttering under his breath.
Travis watched them go for a moment, then hurried off to the car, already thinking about the urgent matters waiting for him at the office.