Chapter 1: The Girl Who Carried the Past
Chapter 1: The Girl Who Carried the Past
The ballroom remained frozen.
No one dared interrupt the billionaire as he stared at the tiny tattoo on the little girl's wrist.
"Forever."
His fingers trembled.
He had watched his wife, Sophia, smile as she had that exact word tattooed on her wrist during their honeymoon.
Only three days later...
She vanished.
No ransom.
No body.
No goodbye.
Seven years of private investigators, police reports, and endless sleepless nights had produced nothing.
Until now.
The little girl nervously tried to pull her hand away.
"I-I'm sorry, sir..."
"I didn't steal the watch."
"I promise."
The billionaire slowly knelt in front of her.
His voice softened.
"What is your name?"
"Lily."
"Who gave you this watch?"
Lily looked toward the hotel entrance as if afraid someone might appear.
"My mommy."
A wave of silence swept across the ballroom.
The billionaire felt his heartbeat pounding inside his chest.
"Where is your mother?"
Lily lowered her eyes.
"She's very sick."
"We hide all the time."
"She said bad people are still looking for us."
Every word struck him harder than the last.
Security quietly stepped back.
The wealthy guests who had mocked the little girl minutes earlier now watched in complete silence.
The billionaire stood.
His expression turned cold.
"No one leaves this hotel."
Then he looked at Lily.
"Take me to your mother."
May you like
For the first time in years...
Hope returned to his eyes.
