“One million dollars. All yours. If you can make me walk again.”
Loud laughter erupts. Mark slaps the table. Daniel lifts his phone. Steven’s laugh echoes off marble.
MARK
“Does she even know what a million means?”
Maria steps forward. Mop shaking.
MARIA
“Mr. Cole… please… we’ll leave. Lily won’t touch anything. I promise—”
Silence drops. Cold. Absolute.
ETHAN
“Did I ask you to speak?”
Maria freezes. Tears well. Steps back.
Ethan gestures lazily.
ETHAN
“Come here.”
Lily hesitates. Looks at her mother. Small nod.
Bare feet step forward on marble. Soft. Almost silent.
She stops in front of him.
ETHAN
“Can you read?”
LILY
“Yes, sir.”
ETHAN
“Can you count to a hundred?”
LILY
“Yes, sir.”
Ethan smiles faintly.
ETHAN
“Then you understand what a million dollars is.”
Lily pauses. Just a moment.
LILY
“It’s… more money than we’ll ever have in our life.”
The laughter softens. Something cuts through.
Ethan’s eyes sharpen.
ETHAN
“Good. Then let’s see what you can do.”
Garden holds its breath. Men lean in. Phones ready.
Lily takes one small step closer. Hands trembling. But she doesn’t step back.
She looks at him. Really looks at him.
Something shifts.
Then—
She moves.
Camera PUSHES IN on Ethan’s face.
His expression changes.
Just slightly.
For the first time—
