Chapter 5 - THE SHADOW OF THE SYSTEM
The next morning, the reality of the situation hit like a heavy hammer. Child Protective Services (CPS) arrived at the hospital.
A strict, overworked social worker named Mrs. Vance explained the procedure. "Mr. Fischer, we appreciate what you did. You saved these children. But legally, they are state wards now. They will be placed in emergency foster care as soon as they are discharged."
"Foster care?" Nathan frowned, standing up to his full height. "They'll be separated! Leo is a newborn and Mia is seven!"
"We try to keep siblings together, but given Leo's medical needs, he will likely go to a specialized nursery while Mia goes to a temporary home," Mrs. Vance said calmly. "It's standard procedure."
Nathan looked through the glass window into the room, where Mia was clutching a stuffed bear a nurse had given her, looking terrified every time a stranger walked past. She had spent months surviving in a cardboard box just to keep her brother safe. Separating them now felt like a cruelty greater than the winter cold.
"How do I stop them from being separated?" Nathan asked sharply.
May you like
Mrs. Vance looked at him, surprised. "Unless you are a certified foster parent or a legal guardian, you can't. And fostering requires background checks, home visits, and months of evaluation. You're a single, wealthy businessman, Mr. Fischer. This isn't how it works."
"Then I'll change how it works," Nathan said quietly.
