"I want to go home," he said softly, his words carrying clearly despite their gentle volume. "I want to see Mama and Papa."
The simple statement landed like a stone in still water, creating ripples of discomfort among the adults. Here was a child who had been showered with attention, given opportunities to showcase his remarkable talents, treated like the precious heir he was—and he still wanted to return to his complicated living situation.
"But darling," the Matriarch stepped in, kneeling down to his eye level, her voice carrying the weight of someone who had discovered treasure and couldn't bear to let it slip away. "Wouldn't you like to stay and learn more? I could teach you to play Go, and your grandfather could show you his business—"
