The footsteps stopped outside Ivy's door. She held her breath. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the door opened slowly. Ivy stepped backward. The man who entered was not Samuel. It was someone she had seen before. Her eyes widened. “You?” The man closed the door behind him. “I'm sorry, Ivy.” She stared at him in disbelief. “How did you get here?” He did not answer. “Are you working with them?” “I didn't have a choice.” Ivy's expression hardened. “Everyone keeps saying that.” The man looked down. “I know.” “Then tell me the truth.” He finally looked at her. “I was the one who gave them access to Richard's building.” Ivy's heart sank. “Why?” “They threatened my family.” “Who?” “I don't know.” “You expect me to believe that?” “I don't expect you to believe anything.” He reached into his pocket and placed a small device on the table. “They're listening.” Ivy stared at it. “What is that?” “A recorder.” “Whose?” “The

Richard's tears shocked everyone.Donald stared at him.“Richard?”Richard covered his face with both hands.“I am sorry.”Donald stepped closer.“You've been telling me you knew nothing.”“I didn't know everything.”“But you knew something.”Richard slowly lowered his hands.“Yes.”Alexander's voice was hard.“Then start talking.”Richard looked at Donald's father.His eyes were filled with shame.“I should have told you years ago.”Donald's father looked away.“You were protecting me.”“I was protecting myself,” Richard replied bitterly.The man standing at the staircase laughed.“At least you're finally honest.”Donald turned toward him.“Uncle, who are you working with?”The man's expression became serious.“I am not working with anyone.”“Then why did you bring us here?”“I didn't.”Donald frowned.“What?”The man looked toward the lower floor.“Barry brought you here.”Donald immediately understood.“Then where is he?”His uncle smiled.“Nearby.”Ivy tightened her grip on Donald

Richard's words seemed to freeze the entire room.Donald stared at him."My face?"Richard swallowed hard and nodded."Yes."Donald stepped closer."Richard, look at me carefully. Are you telling me that twenty years ago, you saw someone leaving the hospital with Samuel, and that person looked exactly like me?""I am telling you what I saw," Richard replied. "I have spent twenty years trying to convince myself that I was mistaken. But when I saw you for the first time years ago, I remembered that face."Alexander's eyes narrowed."How old was the man?"Richard paused."Young. Perhaps in his early twenties."Donald immediately shook his head."That is impossible.""I know.""I was a child twenty years ago.""I know that too.""Then how could a man in his twenties have my face?"Richard had no answer.The room fell silent.Ivy looked from Donald to Richard, her heart pounding."Could it have been Daniel?" she asked.Everyone turned toward her.Richard slowly shook his head."I cannot sa

Nobody moved.Donald stared at the stranger standing in front of him.It was like looking into a mirror.The same eyes.The same jawline.The same shape of the mouth.Even the slight crease that appeared between the eyebrows when Donald was confused was present on the stranger's face.Ivy slowly covered her mouth.Alexander remained completely still.Richard looked as though he had seen a ghost.Donald’s father could barely breathe."You..." he whispered.The stranger looked at him."Yes."His voice was steady."You remember me."Donald's father shook his head."I was told you were dead."The stranger gave a bitter smile."That's the lie you chose to believe."Donald stepped forward."Who are you?"The stranger looked directly into his eyes."My name is Michael."Donald frowned."Michael?""That was the name my mother gave me.""Then why did everyone say you were dead?"Michael looked toward Donald's father."Because someone wanted you to believe that."Donald glanced at his father."

Donald spun around."Samuel!"There was no answer.The chair where Samuel had been sitting was empty.Ivy immediately grabbed Donald's arm."He was here just seconds ago."Alexander was already moving."Lock every exit!"The security team rushed through the corridors.Donald looked around the room."How did he disappear?"Michael's face was tense."There must be another entrance."Richard pointed toward the wall."There."Everyone turned.A section of the wooden paneling was slightly open.Alexander pushed it aside.Behind it was a narrow passage.Donald's eyes narrowed."This building has a hidden passage?"Richard nodded slowly."It was part of the original structure.""Where does it lead?""Outside."Donald immediately moved toward it.Alexander stopped him."Wait.""I am going after Samuel.""That's exactly what they want."Donald stared at him."My father-in-law has been taken."Michael stepped forward."I'll go."Donald looked at him."No."Michael frowned."Why?""Because you'r