Homeless Boy Shouts ‘Don’t Eat That!’ Billionaire Freezes When He Finds Out Why
Chapter 4
Daniel couldn’t breathe.
He stared at the photograph.
The little girl stood beside Ethan.
She had dark brown hair.
A small birthmark beneath her left eye.
And eyes that looked strangely familiar.
Daniel had never seen her before.
Yet something about her felt impossible to ignore.
“Where did you get this?”
Sam shook his head.
“Found it.”
“Where?”
“Under the church.”
Daniel looked at Harris.
“Can you verify the date?”
The detective examined it.
“Looks genuine.”
Daniel’s hands trembled.
He had been married once.
His wife, Laura, had died eleven years earlier.
They had been together for seven years.
When she died, Daniel had been told she was never pregnant.
At least, not successfully.
Their doctors had said Laura suffered a miscarriage during the first year of their marriage.
Daniel had believed that child was gone.
He had buried the memory.
But now a photograph suggested something else.
The girl looked like him.
Too much like him.
Daniel called an old family doctor.
Dr. Margaret Lewis answered.
“Daniel?”
“I need you to tell me something.”
“What?”
“Was Laura ever pregnant?”
Silence.
Daniel’s heart sank.
“Margaret?”
She sighed.
“There was something I never told you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“What?”
“Laura asked me not to.”
“Tell me.”
“She gave birth.”
Daniel couldn’t speak.
“When?”
“Ten years ago.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Laura was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Your business.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“She believed someone was watching your family.”
Daniel stood.
“Who?”
“I never knew.”
“Where is the child?”
Margaret started crying.
“Laura gave her to someone she trusted.”
“Who?”
“Ethan.”
Daniel’s knees nearly gave way.
The room became silent.
Laura had secretly given their daughter to Ethan.
Ethan had disappeared.
The child had vanished.
And now a homeless boy had found a photograph proving she had survived.
Daniel looked at Sam.
“Do you know where the girl is?”
Sam nodded slowly.
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“Where?”
“She’s close.”
“How close?”
Sam pointed toward the restaurant.
“She works there.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
Sam pointed toward the kitchen.
“Her.”
A young waitress stood near the doorway.
She was about twenty years old.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
A tiny birthmark beneath her left eye.
Daniel stared at her.
The world seemed to stop.
The waitress looked back.
She seemed frightened.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel?”
He couldn’t answer.
She stepped forward.
“My name is Lily.”
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.
“Who told you my name?”
Lily looked at Sam.
Then back at Daniel.
“My mother.”
Daniel’s heart pounded.
“Who is your mother?”
Lily’s lips trembled.
“Laura.”
Daniel stepped backward.
No.
It couldn’t be.
Laura was dead.
His wife was dead.
And yet this young woman stood before him carrying her name.
Lily reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“My mother told me to give you this if something happened.”
Daniel took it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Laura’s.
Inside were only three sentences.
Daniel, I’m sorry.
I never stopped loving you.
Our daughter is alive. Protect her.
