The entire ballroom went silent. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the Lawson family table. The stranger stood near the entrance, holding the sealed document in his hand. His finger remained pointed in their direction.Sophia slowly rose from her chair. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.The stranger looked at her. "You heard me. The Lawson family knows what happened to Ethan Carter's father."Kyle immediately stood. "Watch your mouth! You cannot walk into this room and accuse my family without evidence."The stranger smiled. "Evidence? I have spent twelve years collecting it." He lifted the document. "And this is only the beginning."Mrs. Lawson was nowhere to be seen, but Sophia felt as though every accusation was directed at her personally. She looked toward Augustus Ainsworth. "Mr. Ainsworth, do you know this man?"Augustus remained silent. That silence frightened her more than the stranger's accusation.Ethan stepped forward. "Stop talking about my family as if they're obje

The message remained on Ethan's phone.BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS CLOSER TO YOU THAN YOU THINK.Ethan read it several times. He looked around the room. Daniel was speaking with the security officer. Emily sat beside Sophia, still shaken by what had happened at the warehouse. Could one of them know more than they were saying? He quickly dismissed the thought. He had no reason to accuse the people who had stood beside him. But the warning bothered him."Are you alright?" Sophia asked.Ethan locked his phone. "I'm fine.""You're staring at that message as if you've seen a ghost.""Someone is trying to confuse me."Daniel approached them. "We need to leave. The police are on their way, and I've arranged somewhere safe for Emily to stay tonight."Emily stood. "I'm not going anywhere without knowing what's happening."Ethan looked at her. "Emily, you've already been threatened and kidnapped. You need to stay somewhere safe."She folded her arms. "And what about you? Are you going to keep walkin

Ethan stared at the photograph on his phone. The elderly man sat in a wheelchair outside a hospital. His grey hair was thin, his face looked tired, and one hand rested on a walking stick. But there was something about him that Ethan recognised. He had seen that face before."Do you know him?" Daniel asked.Ethan shook his head slowly. "I don't know his name. But I've seen him somewhere."Augustus took the phone from Ethan and examined the photograph. His expression changed immediately. "Where did you get this?""An unknown number sent it to me."Augustus looked at the message beneath the picture.YOUR FATHER TRUSTED THIS MAN WITH THE CHILD. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON STILL ALIVE WHO KNOWS WHERE THE CHILD WENT.The chairman's fingers tightened around the phone. "Who is he?" Ethan demanded.Augustus returned the phone. "His name is Peter Ashford.""Why does that name sound familiar?""Because he once worked with your father. He was responsible for arranging safe transportation during the pro

"Your father wasn't only trying to protect one person that night."Margaret's words remained in Ethan's mind. There were two children. For twelve years, he had believed his father's disappearance was connected to a single mysterious child. Now he was being told that another child had been involved. Who were they? And why had his father gone to such lengths to protect them?Ethan released his mother's hands. "Mum, I need you to explain."Margaret wiped her tears. "I don't know everything. Your father never told me their identities. He only said that both children had to be kept apart until it was safe.""Why?""Because someone wanted to find them. If they were discovered together, both would be in danger."Daniel placed the bank document on the table. "That could explain why the protection arrangement involved several families."Augustus nodded. "Your father believed separating the children was the only way to keep them safe."Ethan turned towards him. "Where was the second child taken

The underground room had never felt so small. Ethan stood across from Daniel Grant, staring at the old man who had just admitted that someone close to his family had taken one of the children twelve years ago."You're telling me someone in my family took that child?" Ethan asked.Grant nodded slowly. "That's what I believe.""Believe?" Ethan's voice hardened. "You were there. You were responsible for taking those children to safety. How can you still be uncertain?"Grant looked down at the ring. "Because I arrived too late. The person who took the child had already left. I found only a message.""What message?"Grant reached into his coat and brought out a small piece of folded paper. He placed it on the table. Ethan opened it. There were only six words written on it.One child stays. One child disappears.Ethan read the sentence again. "Who wrote this?""I don't know.""Did you show it to my father?""Yes. He was furious when he saw it. He said the agreement had been broken."Augustu