Grace recovered slowly, and Michael stayed beside her throughout her treatment.
For the first time in years, he cancelled business meetings without feeling guilty. He helped her eat, listened to her stories, and accompanied her to the garden she had once tended.
One afternoon, they sat beneath the mango tree.
"Do you remember your promise?" Grace asked.
Michael nodded, his eyes filling with tears.
"I promised to build you a beautiful house."
Grace smiled.
"And you have done well, my son. But tell me something. If you had lost me before returning, what would all your money have meant?"
Michael had no answer.
That evening, he sat alone and reflected on his life. He realised he had spent years building a successful business while neglecting the person who had sacrificed everything to give him a future.
He also began questioning Patrick's advice.
Was success really about distancing himself from his past? Was wealth valuable if it made him forget the people who mattered most?
Michael decided to change.
He continued running his businesses, but he made time for his family. He began supporting struggling families in his village, helping children access education, and providing small grants to local traders.
He eventually built his mother a comfortable home, but he made sure it stood near the mango tree where his dreams had begun.
On the day she moved in, Grace held his hand and smiled.
"This house is beautiful," she said.
Michael hugged her.
"But you were right, Mum. The most important thing was never the house. It was being here with you."
Chapter Six: The Greatest Wealth
Years later, Michael became known not only for his businesses but also for his generosity and humility.
He learned that success was not about pretending to come from nothing or hiding the people who helped him rise. It was about remembering his beginnings and using his opportunities to improve the lives of others.
Whenever young entrepreneurs asked him for advice, he shared the lesson his mother had taught him.
"Work hard for your dreams," he would say. "Build your business, pursue your ambitions, and celebrate your achievements. But never become so busy chasing tomorrow that you forget the people who love you today."
And whenever Michael returned to his village, he sat beneath the old mango tree with his mother, grateful for the time they still had together.
He had once believed that becoming a millionaire would make him rich.
Now he understood that money could buy comfort, but it could never purchase lost time, genuine love, or a second chance at yesterday.