Chris lay sprawled across his bed, face turned toward the ceiling as the fan above spun in slow, rhythmic circles. He could still feel his mother’s arms wrapped around him—a rare gesture of tenderness that brought back memories of better times, simpler days when the weight of a legacy wasn’t strapped to his shoulders. But now, the burden was his to carry, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for the miles ahead.His phone buzzed beside him.He ignored it.Another buzz. This time, a call.“Arturo,” he muttered, eyes closed. “He’s probably still trying to drag me out.”The buzzing stopped, only to resume seconds later. Chris groaned and finally answered.“What?”“Boss,” Arturo's voice crackled through the speaker, unusually cautious, “you might want to come down to the office. Now.”Chris rubbed his temple. “Arturo, I’m exhausted. I told you I’m taking a day.”“I know, but it’s not about business,” Arturo continued. “Someone’s been snooping around. And I think they broke into your private

Chris stared at the photo for a long moment, the words seared into his mind. “The place you buried the truth.” He felt a rush of memories, places and moments from his past, all connected to his family’s legacy. He gripped the photo tightly, his knuckles white.“Chris, we have to move quickly,” Gabriel said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “We don’t know how much time we have. If they’ve taken her—”“I know.” Chris’s voice was tight. “I’m not stupid. But what the hell is going on? What do they want from me? From her?”Gabriel exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting toward the hallway as if he were hearing something in the distance, something only he could sense. “I wish I could tell you everything, Chris. But there are things your father kept from both of us. Things that were buried so deep, even I didn’t know they existed until recently.”Chris’s frustration boiled over. “I’m not interested in the past. My mother is gone, and I need to find her. Now.”Gabriel placed a hand on Chris