Julian stood over Clara and Noah with his hands clenched into fists by his sides.
His face was red with frustration, but his eyes showed deep fear for his little nephew.
He reached down to grab Noah by the arm, but the boy pulled away in terror.
Noah hid his face right against Clara's neck, gasping for breath.
Clara looked up into Julian's dark eyes with quiet courage.
Clara: Please give him a second, Mr. Vance.
Julian: He needs to get away from that mess before he gets hurt.
Clara: He is not hurt, but he is terrified.
Clara lowered her voice to a gentle whisper and shifted her weight on the cold floor.
She looked down at the boy in her arms and smoothed back his messy brown curls.
Clara: Noah, look at me.
The boy kept his face hidden against her soft yellow uniform.
Clara: You're scared, aren't you?
Noah slowly lifted his tear-stained face from her shoulder.
His big hazel eyes were filled with tears that spilled down his red cheeks.
No one in the mansion had heard Noah make a sound for six long months.
Noah: Don't send me away!
The small voice echoed softly in the big, empty mansion entryway.
Julian froze in his tracks, his eyes opening wide with sudden shock.
He stared down at his nephew as if he were looking at a ghost.
Clara gently cupped the boy's warm cheek with her hand.
Clara: I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart.
Noah: Uncle Richard said bad boys get sent away when they break things.
Clara: You are not a bad boy, Noah.
Clara: You just lost your balance, and that statue was not safe.
Julian stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Clara's face.
Julian: He's never let anyone touch him like that.
Clara: Then maybe nobody ever asked what he was afraid of?
Julian swallowed hard, feeling a lump rise in his throat as he listened to her words.
He had spent thousands of dollars on child specialists over the past few months.
None of them had been able to make the boy speak or smile.
Yet here was a young maid, kneeling on a cold floor, holding the boy like a mother would.
Julian sat down right on the marble step near them, his pride completely washed away.
Julian: Who told you that you were going to be sent away, Noah?
Noah looked at Julian with fear in his eyes and pointed toward the front door.
Noah: Uncle Richard said it yesterday when you were at the office.