He had built hotels and factories and a name known across a nation.

And what had saved his grandson, in the end, was none of it — not the surname, not the fortune, not the empire.

It was the hours a hungry boy had once given freely to other people’s children, come back around at last to save his life.

Chapter 30 — Grandma

Days later, Santiago opened his eyes.

Aurelio had fallen asleep in the chair beside the bed.

Magdalena was knitting by the window in the early light.