CHAPTER 3: THE SECRET HIS EMPIRE BURIED
CHAPTER 3: THE SECRET HIS EMPIRE BURIED
Jonathan couldn't move.
The silver watch had belonged to his late wife.
She had repaired the broken strap herself before disappearing seven years earlier.
Only two people knew that.
Him...
...and the woman he had spent years believing was dead.
His voice barely escaped.
"Where did you get that?"
The little girl looked down.
"My mommy kept it."
"She said if we ever couldn't find food anymore..."
"...I should bring it to you."
The lobby fell silent.
Jonathan knelt until he was eye level with her.
"What's your mother's name?"
The girl hesitated.
Then answered.
"Emily."
The name struck him harder than any business failure ever had.
Emily Carter.
The woman everyone told him had died in a flood after disappearing with their unborn child.
His hands began to tremble.
"How old are you?"
"Six."
Jonathan closed his eyes.
The dates aligned perfectly.
His daughter.
Alive.
The manager stared in disbelief.
"But... we were told..."
Jonathan slowly stood.
"Who told you?"
Nobody answered.
Then a familiar voice echoed across the lobby.
"I did."
Every head turned.
Walking calmly through the revolving doors came Richard Collins.
Chairman of Hayes Holdings.
The man who had managed Jonathan's affairs after Emily disappeared.
He smiled politely.
"I hoped we'd never have this conversation."
Jonathan looked at him with growing horror.
"You knew."
Richard sighed.
May you like
"I protected your company."
"You stole my family," Jonathan whispered.
