The Poor Boy Brought a Millionaire's Baby Back

CHAPTER 1 — The Stranger Who Heard the Dead

The doctors had already declared the baby dead.

No heartbeat.

No breath.

Nothing but a flat green line across the monitor.

William Carter, the owner of one of Europe's largest luxury hotel groups, stood outside the intensive care room with his wife, Claire.

His money had brought twelve specialists to the hospital.

It could not bring back his son.

Then an unfamiliar boy entered the room.

He appeared to be eight years old. No one noticed him slip through the door after the medical team left.

Claire struck the glass.

"No! Please, don't take him away from us!"

William shouted at the boy.

"Stop! He's just a baby!"

But the child did not touch any of the tubes.

He placed one small hand on the baby's chest and closed his eyes.

The room became unnaturally quiet.

The boy's lips moved as if he were answering someone only he could hear.

Then his body trembled.

A thin stream of blood ran from his nose.

The monitor beeped.

Once.

Twice.

A green heartbeat appeared.

The boy opened his eyes.

"Wait... he's breathing."

Dr. Mason rushed back inside and examined the infant.

"He has a pulse! He's coming back!"

Claire collapsed against William as the medical team surrounded their son.

But the strange boy remained beside the incubator.

His face had turned white.

"What's your name?" William demanded.

The boy tried to answer, but his knees buckled.

He fell beside the incubator.

A nurse pressed her fingers against his neck.

Her expression changed.

"I can't find a pulse."

William stared from his living infant to the motionless stranger on the floor.

One child had returned.

The other had taken his place.

Then the boy's eyes opened for one final second.

"His life wasn't finished," he whispered. "So I gave him the way back."