CHAPTER 3: THE SECRET THAT BUILT AN EMPIRE

Richard tried to leave.

He barely made three steps before Danny's security team blocked the hallway.

"Nobody leaves."

The gala guests slowly gathered near the entrance, whispering in confusion.

Danny faced Richard.

"My mother says you separated us."

Richard laughed nervously.

"She's an old woman."

"She doesn't know what she's saying."

But Danny's mother reached into the pocket of her faded uniform.

She removed a tiny silver music box.

Its paint had long faded away.

She wound the handle.

The same lullaby echoed through the hallway.

Inside the lid...

A photograph appeared.

A young woman holding six-year-old Danny.

Standing beside them...

Was Richard.

The date beneath the picture read:

May 14, 1996.

Richard's face turned white.

Danny looked from the photograph to Richard.

"You knew my family."

Richard lowered his eyes.

Finally...

He spoke.

"Your father wanted complete control of Crawford Development."

"He believed your mother would inherit part of the company after your grandfather died."

"So he paid me..."

"...to make her disappear."

The crowd gasped.

Richard continued, unable to stop.

"I forged documents."

"I bribed officials."

"I told your mother that Danny had died in a house fire."

"I told your father she had abandoned both of you."

"They believed the lies."

Danny's knees almost gave way.

Thirty years.

Thirty birthdays.

Thirty Christmases.

All stolen.

Not by fate.

Not by accident.

But by greed.

Police officers, who had been called by security after the confrontation began, quietly entered the hallway.

Richard didn't resist.

As handcuffs clicked around his wrists, he whispered,

"I thought the truth would die with me."

Danny answered softly,

"No."

"It only waited for my mother's song."