Chapter 6: The Truth Buried Three Years Ago
Nobody spoke.
The words seemed impossible.
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“Daddy?””
Daniel couldn’t answer.
Natalie watched him carefully.
The man who always had an answer.
The man who controlled every room he entered.
Now stood frozen, holding a single piece of paper.
Claire covered her mouth.
The stranger smiled.
“Finally.””
Daniel slowly looked up.
“You.””
The stranger shrugged.
“Yes.””
Natalie’s eyes widened.
“You’re saying he is Lucas’s father?””
The stranger looked at her.
“No.””
He paused.
“I’m saying Daniel isn’t.””
Lucas looked terrified.
“I don’t understand.””
Natalie pulled him closer.
“Neither do I.””
Daniel crushed the letter in his hand.
“You came here to hurt a child.””
The stranger shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Lucas.
“I came to take back my son.””
Lucas immediately shook his head.
“No.””
The answer surprised everyone.
The stranger frowned.
Lucas held onto Natalie tighter.
“I don’t know you.””
The man’s expression changed.
“You will.””
“No.””
Lucas’s voice became stronger.
“I don’t want you.””
Silence.
Even Daniel looked surprised.
The boy who attacked people because he was afraid had just stood against the person everyone feared.
Natalie gently touched his shoulder.
The stranger stared at him.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
Lucas looked at Natalie.
Then at Daniel.
“I know.””
His voice trembled.
“Because she stayed.””
Natalie felt tears forming.
Daniel looked away.
The stranger’s face darkened.
“You think this maid can replace your family?””
Lucas answered immediately.
“She didn’t leave.””
The sentence hit harder than anything else.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Because he knew his son was right.
Natalie looked at Daniel.
“What happened three years ago?””
No one answered.
Finally, Daniel spoke.
“I don’t know.””
Everyone looked at him.
His voice was quieter.
“I thought I knew.””
He looked at the photograph.
“I believed my wife left because she hated me.””
Claire whispered:
“She didn’t.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why?””
Claire hesitated.
Because the answer was worse.
“She found out someone inside your organization was using Lucas.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?””
The stranger’s smile disappeared.
“Enough.””
Daniel turned toward him.
“You weren’t after my son.””
The stranger said nothing.
“You were after something else.””
Silence.
Natalie noticed.
The man’s confidence had changed.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You don’t want Lucas.””
The stranger’s jaw tightened.
“You want what Lucas knows.””
Nobody understood.
Except Claire.
Her face became pale.
“No…”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
Claire whispered:
“His mother told him.””
“Told him what?””
Claire looked at Lucas.
“She hid the information inside his memory.””
Natalie frowned.
“He was five.””
Claire nodded.
“She knew nobody would believe a child.””
The stranger suddenly moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He reached toward Lucas.
Daniel reacted instantly.
He grabbed the man’s arm before he could touch the boy.
The hallway exploded into chaos.
Security rushed forward.
Lucas screamed.
Natalie pulled him back.
The stranger struggled against Daniel.
“You have no idea what you’re protecting!””
Daniel pushed him away.
“I know exactly what I’m protecting.””
He looked at Lucas.
“My son.””
The stranger stared.
“But he isn’t yours.””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“No.””
He looked at Natalie.
Then at Lucas.
“But he is the boy I raised.””
For the first time, the stranger looked uncertain.
Then he smiled.
“Ask Natalie.””
Everyone turned.
Natalie froze.
“What?””
The stranger stepped back.
“Ask her why Lucas stopped crying when she touched him.””
Natalie felt a strange chill.
Daniel looked confused.
Claire looked terrified.
The stranger whispered:
“Because she wasn’t just his mother’s friend.””
He pointed at Natalie.
“She was there the night Lucas was born.””
Natalie’s breath caught.
A memory flashed.
A hospital room.
A newborn baby crying.
A woman whispering her name.
Then a voice behind her saying:
“Take her away.””
Natalie stumbled backward.
Because she finally remembered.
May you like
The person who erased her memories…
Was standing in front of her. :::
