The tiredness in his face.
The old shoes.
The way he kept looking at the clock as if every minute represented another responsibility waiting for him.
Then Laura lowered her gaze.
Her Swiss watch gleamed beneath the sunlight coming through the window.
That watch was worth more than everything inside this house.
And for the first time in years, Laura felt ashamed.
Not because she was wealthy.
But because she had spent so much time judging people without ever asking what they were carrying.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she asked.
Carlos gave a weak smile.
“Because I didn’t want to lose my job.”
Laura stared at him.
“You thought I’d fire you?”
Carlos said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Something inside Laura broke.
For three years, she had seen Carlos almost every day.
Always punctual.
Always respectful.
Always quiet.
She had assumed his silence meant he had nothing to say.
