Chapter 3: The Secret Hidden In The Scholarship
Daniel stared at the message for a long time.
The words seemed impossible.
Keep him away from Daniel Cross.
Someone had known.
Someone had known Noah existed.
Someone had known the connection between this boy and his family.
But they had hidden it.
“Who submitted this application?”” Daniel asked.
His assistant shook her head.
“We’re still investigating. The information was incomplete. The contact number is fake.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“Find out.””
“Yes, sir.””
“And quietly.””
The assistant nodded.
Daniel looked toward Noah.
The boy was sitting on the edge of the chair, holding his backpack like it was the only thing keeping him steady.
Daniel remembered Lily at that age.
The same careful eyes.
The same habit of hiding fear.
“Are you hungry?”” Daniel asked.
Noah looked surprised.
“A little.””
Daniel pressed a button on his desk.
“Bring food.””
A few minutes later, Noah stared at the meal in front of him.
“You don’t have to do this.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Do what?””
“Be nice because you feel bad.””
The honesty caught Daniel off guard.
Noah continued quietly.
“I know people feel sorry for me.””
Daniel leaned back.
“Is that what you think I’m doing?””
Noah shrugged.
“Maybe.””
Daniel studied him.
Then he said:
“Noah, I don’t know what happened to your mother.””
A pause.
“But I know one thing.””
He placed the photograph carefully on the desk.
“You matter.””
Noah looked away.
“My mom says people with money don’t always mean what they say.””
Daniel almost laughed.
“That sounds like Lily.””
The boy looked up.
“You knew her?””
Daniel’s chest tightened.
Before he could answer, the office door opened.
A woman entered.
She was one of the academy administrators.
“Mr. Cross, we found something else.””
Daniel stood.
“What?””
She handed him a small envelope.
“It was hidden in Noah’s scholarship file.””
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The handwriting was familiar.
Too familiar.
His hands shook as he read the first line.
*Daniel, if you are reading this, it means Noah has found his way back to you.*
His breathing stopped.
Noah watched him carefully.
“What does it say?””
Daniel couldn’t answer.
The letter continued.
*I wanted to come home. I wanted you to know about him. But someone made sure I stayed away.*
Daniel’s eyes moved faster.
Every sentence was a piece of the life he had lost.
*Protect my son. Do not trust anyone who claims they are helping you.*
Then came the final line.
The line that made Daniel’s blood turn cold.
*The person who separated us is closer to you than you think.*
Daniel slowly lowered the letter.
Noah looked frightened.
“Is my mom in trouble?””
Daniel looked at the boy.
For fourteen years, he had searched for his daughter.
Now he had found her son.
But someone had spent years hiding them.
Someone close enough to know his every move.
Daniel walked to the window overlooking the academy grounds.
Students moved below.
Teachers walked through the halls.
Families arrived for the ceremony.
Everything looked normal.
But Daniel knew better.
A secret had been living inside his own world.
He turned back.
“Noah.””
“Yes?””
Daniel’s voice became serious.
“Before today, did anyone ever ask you about this school?””
Noah frowned.
“Once.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who?””
Noah looked nervous.
“A man.””
“What man?””
“He came to our apartment months ago.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“What did he look like?””
Noah stared at the photograph.
“He looked like you.””
The room went silent.
Daniel felt a chill run through him.
Because Noah had just described the one person he trusted most.
His own family.
May you like
And then Noah whispered the name.
“Your brother.””
