Homeless Boy Shouts ‘Don’t Eat That!’ Billionaire Freezes When He Finds Out Why
Chapter 3
Ethan Vale had been Daniel’s closest friend.
Once.
They had built Mercer Holdings together.
Two young men with no money, no connections, and impossible ambitions.
Daniel handled investments.
Ethan handled operations.
For twelve years, they were inseparable.
Then everything changed.
Ethan was accused of stealing millions from the company.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Bank transfers.
Fake accounts.
Signed documents.
Daniel had confronted him.
Ethan denied everything.
Three days later, Ethan disappeared.
His car was found abandoned near Lake Michigan.
Police eventually declared him dead.
Daniel never believed the story.
But he had no proof.
Over the years, rumors surfaced.
Some said Ethan had fled the country.
Others said he had been murdered.
Daniel stopped looking.
He built his company.
Built his fortune.
Built a life that had everything except peace.
Now a homeless boy was telling him a man wearing Ethan’s ring had handed a bottle to the chef who poisoned his dinner.
Daniel looked at Detective Harris.
“I need to see the security footage.”
They watched it in the restaurant’s security room.
At 7:42 p.m., Robert Ellis entered the kitchen.
At 7:47, a man in a black coat appeared through the rear entrance.
His face was hidden.
But his right hand was visible.
A silver ring.
Black stone.
Daniel leaned closer.
“Pause it.”
The image froze.
His stomach tightened.
The hand was unmistakable.
Harris looked at him.
“Do you recognize him?”
Daniel nodded.
“Ethan Vale.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
Martin stepped closer.
“Daniel, Ethan is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then it can’t be him.”
Daniel turned.
“You weren’t there when we found his car.”
Martin frowned.
“You think he’s alive?”
“I don’t know what I think.”
Sam suddenly pointed at the screen.
“That’s him.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You’ve seen him before?”
Sam nodded.
“Several times.”
“Where?”
“Near the shelter.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“What shelter?”
“The church on Madison.”
Sam explained that he sometimes slept behind a church shelter downtown.
For weeks, he had seen the man in the black coat meeting different people.
Sometimes Robert Ellis was there.
Sometimes other men.
Sam didn’t know what they discussed.
But he remembered the ring.
Daniel immediately ordered his security team to investigate.
Then he looked at Sam.
“How long have you been watching these people?”
Sam shrugged.
“I notice things.”
Daniel smiled slightly.
“Apparently you do.”
The police searched the shelter area.
They found something hidden behind a loose brick.
A small metal case.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
And a list of names.
Daniel’s name was at the top.
Underneath it was a date.
Tomorrow.
Martin looked at the list.
“What does this mean?”
Harris didn’t answer.
Daniel did.
“It means whoever is behind this wasn’t planning to stop tonight.”
Sam stared at the paper.
Then whispered:
“I told you.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What?”
Sam’s eyes filled with fear.
“They’re going to kill you tomorrow.”
Daniel knelt beside him.
“Why?”
Sam shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Sam, you have to tell me everything.”
The boy hesitated.
Then reached into his backpack.
He pulled out a folded photograph.
Daniel took it.
His blood ran cold.
The photograph showed Ethan Vale standing beside a little girl.
The girl was about six years old.
Daniel knew her.
It was Daniel’s daughter.
Except Daniel didn’t have a daughter.
At least, that’s what he’d believed for ten years.
The photograph was dated twelve years earlier.
And written on the back were six words:
She was never supposed to survive.
