Chương 5
“Start from the beginning.”
Richard slowly nodded.
“Years ago, my son made choices that hurt many people.”
Maya looked away.
Richard continued.
“He was young, reckless, and convinced that he could fix every mistake later.”
Daniel looked at Maya.
“And Noah’s mother?”
Richard’s expression softened.
“Maya was the one person who believed he could become better.”
Maya closed her eyes.
She remembered those years.
The promises.
The plans.
The disappointment.
“He changed,” Richard said.
“But not fast enough.”
The room remained silent.
Richard looked at the baby.
“When my son died, I thought I had lost my entire family.”
Maya’s expression changed slightly.
Daniel noticed.
He realized this was not simply a story about villains and victims.
It was a story about people who had all lost something.
Richard continued.
“I searched for Maya because I wanted to know if my son had left anything behind.”
“And you found out about Noah,” Daniel said.
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
“But why wait until now?”
Richard looked down.
“Because I was not the first person searching for him.”
Everyone became still.
Daniel immediately understood.
“The person you mentioned.”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
Richard looked toward the hallway.
His voice became lower.
“Someone who has been watching this family for a long time.”
Maya’s face became pale.
“No.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“You know who?”
Maya hesitated.
Then she slowly nodded.
“I think I do.”
The room seemed to stop.
“Who?” Daniel asked.
Maya looked at the floor.
“Someone from my childhood.”
Daniel waited.
Maya swallowed.
“His name is Victor.”
Richard’s expression changed.
“You know him?”
Maya nodded.
“He was my father’s business partner.”
Eleanor looked surprised.
“But he disappeared years ago.”
Maya looked at her.
“Not completely.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What does he want with Noah?”
Maya shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Richard answered.
“I do.”
Everyone looked at him.
Richard took a breath.
“Victor believes Noah has access to something that belonged to his father.”
Daniel frowned.
“A baby has access to something?”
“Not Noah himself,” Richard explained.
“His identity.”
Nobody understood.
Richard continued.
“There are documents connected to my son’s family.”
Eleanor looked at the papers.
“Financial records?”
Richard nodded.
“More than that.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“And Victor thinks a child is the key?”
“Yes.”
Maya whispered.
“That is why he contacted me.”
Daniel looked at her.
“He wanted you to cooperate.”
“Yes.”
“And when you refused?”
Maya looked away.
“He threatened to expose everything.”
Daniel felt anger rising again.
But this time it was different.
It was not anger toward Maya.
It was anger toward someone who had frightened her.
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
Maya looked at him.
“Because I thought if Victor knew about you, he would use you too.”
Daniel’s expression softened.
“You thought protecting me meant keeping me away.”
“Yes.”
He nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
Those words surprised her.
She had expected more anger.
Instead, she saw someone trying to rebuild trust one piece at a time.
Claire stepped forward.
“So what do we do now?”
Richard looked serious.
“We need to leave this hospital.”
Maya immediately looked worried.
“Why?”
“Because if Victor knows we are all together, he will not wait.”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Are you saying he could come here?”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
At that exact moment, the hospital hallway lights flickered.
Everyone looked up.
It was only for a second.
But the timing made the room feel colder.
The medical worker in the background moved toward the hallway.
She stepped outside.
A few seconds passed.
Then she returned with a concerned expression.
“There is someone asking for this room.”
Daniel looked at Richard.
“Victor?”
Richard did not answer.
He did not need to.
The fear on his face was enough.
Daniel moved closer to Maya.
“Who is outside?”
The medical worker looked uncertain.
“He says he is a family member.”
Maya’s breathing became uneven.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“I know his voice.”
The door handle moved slightly.
Everyone froze.
Daniel positioned himself between the door and the bed.
Marcus stood beside him.
Richard moved closer to Maya.
For the first time, they were not divided by the past.
They were united by the danger in front of them.
The door opened slowly.
A man stood outside.
He was dressed professionally.
His face appeared calm.
Almost too calm.
He looked into the room.
His eyes immediately found Maya.
Then Noah.
Then Daniel.
A small smile appeared on his face.
“After all these years,” he said quietly.
“I finally found everyone in one place.”
Maya whispered his name.
“Victor.”
The man smiled.
“I see you remember me.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You need to leave.”
Victor ignored him.
Instead, he looked at the baby.
“So this is the child everyone has been hiding.”
Maya stepped forward.
“You have no right to be here.”
Victor tilted his head.
“Actually, I have more right than you think.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Victor looked around the room.
“You all believe this is about a family secret.”
He smiled faintly.
“But you are wrong.”
He pointed toward the documents on the table.
“This is about something much bigger.”
Eleanor tightened her grip on the papers.
“What do you want?”
Victor looked directly at Noah.
“I want what was promised to me.”
Daniel’s voice became cold.
“And what exactly was that?”
Victor smiled.
“The truth.”
Victor’s words hung in the hospital room like a warning.
Daniel stared at him, trying to understand how someone could walk into a room with a newborn child and speak as if he owned the truth itself.
“You are not taking anything from this room,” Daniel said.
Victor looked at him calmly.
“You still do not understand what you are standing in the middle of.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then explain it.”
Victor smiled slightly.
“I was hoping you would ask.”
Maya immediately shook her head.
“Do not listen to him.”
Victor turned toward her.
May you like
“You always did that.”
“Did what?”
