Chương 4
"Thomas."
The name carried a painful memory.
Margaret's expression changed.
"I remember him."
Daniel looked at her.
"You knew him?"
She nodded slowly.
"He was your father's assistant."
Daniel stared at the photograph.
"Everyone told me he disappeared."
Margaret looked toward the window.
"He did."
"After your accident, he was gone."
Daniel looked back at the records.
"But he was listed as Lily's emergency contact."
The room became silent again.
A pattern was beginning to appear.
Someone had planned everything carefully.
Someone had access to their lives.
Someone knew exactly how to separate them.
Daniel turned another page.
There was a handwritten note attached.
The handwriting was the same as the message on the photograph.
His breathing stopped.
"What does it say?" Lily asked.
Daniel read the words quietly.
"She is safer if he never finds her."
Margaret covered her mouth.
The sentence was not a warning.
It was a decision.
Someone had decided Daniel did not deserve to be in his daughter's life.
Someone had decided Lily would grow up without knowing her father.
Daniel closed the folder.
"I need to find Thomas."
Margaret looked at him.
"If he is involved, he may not want to be found."
Daniel looked at Lily.
"I spent nine years searching for my daughter."
His voice became firm.
"I am not afraid of searching for anyone else."
Ethan stepped closer from the corner.
"I know where he might be."
Everyone turned toward him.
Margaret looked surprised.
"Ethan, what are you talking about?"
The boy hesitated.
"I saw him."
Daniel's expression changed.
"When?"
"Last year."
"Where?"
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
"Near Grandma's house."
Margaret stood immediately.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought you knew."
Margaret looked hurt.
"Ethan, I would have told you if I knew."
The boy lowered his eyes.
"He asked about Lily."
Daniel moved closer.
"What did he ask?"
Ethan swallowed.
"He asked if she still remembered her father."
Daniel felt a chill move through him.
"What else?"
"He said someone made a mistake."
Margaret's face went pale.
"What mistake?"
Ethan looked at her.
"He said they were supposed to keep you apart forever."
Nobody spoke.
The words hung in the room.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
For the first time, they both understood the same thing.
This was never just a misunderstanding.
This was planned.
The hospital room door opened again.
A nurse entered carefully.
"Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"There is someone here asking to speak with you."
Daniel immediately became alert.
"Who?"
The nurse looked toward the hallway.
"He said his name is Thomas."
Margaret froze.
Lily grabbed Daniel's hand.
Daniel looked at the doorway.
After nine years of unanswered questions, the person connected to the beginning of his nightmare was finally standing on the other side.
"Do not let him near Lily," Margaret whispered.
Daniel looked at her.
"Why?"
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Because if he is here now..."
She paused.
"It means he knows the truth is coming out."
Daniel walked toward the door.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
He opened it slowly.
A man stood in the hallway wearing a dark coat.
He looked older than the photograph.
His face showed regret, but also fear.
"Daniel."
Daniel stared at him.
"Thomas."
Neither man moved.
Years of anger and confusion stood between them.
Finally, Thomas spoke.
"I know you hate me."
Daniel's voice was cold.
"You should know that."
Thomas nodded.
"I deserve it."
"Then tell me why."
Thomas looked past him toward the hospital room.
Toward Lily.
His eyes filled with sadness.
"Because I made the worst mistake of my life."
Daniel stepped closer.
"What did you do?"
Thomas looked down.
"I believed I was protecting her."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You stole my daughter."
Thomas shook his head.
"No."
His voice broke.
"I helped someone hide her."
Daniel felt his entire body go still.
"Who?"
Thomas looked at him with fear.
"The person who started all of this."
A long silence followed.
"Who?" Daniel repeated.
Thomas whispered the name.
And the moment Daniel heard it, he realized the secret was closer to him than he ever imagined.
A useful next step is to continue with the next segment so the identity of the person behind the separation can be revealed while keeping the same emotional arc.
Thomas looked at Daniel with fear.
"The person who started all of this."
A long silence followed.
"Who?" Daniel repeated.
Thomas swallowed hard.
"The person who started all of this was your father."
Daniel felt the hallway disappear around him.
For several seconds, he could not understand the words.
"My father?"
Thomas nodded slowly.
"I know how impossible it sounds."
Daniel stared at him.
"My father died twelve years ago."
"Yes," Thomas said quietly.
"But before he died, he made choices that changed all of your lives."
Daniel stepped closer.
"What choices?"
Thomas looked toward the hospital room.
"Not here."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"You came to a hospital where my daughter is recovering after nine years of lies."
"You do not get to tell me when and where I hear the truth."
Thomas lowered his eyes.
"You are right."
"I owe you that much."
Daniel turned toward Lily.
She was watching from the bed, her expression filled with worry.
He walked back inside.
"I need answers."
Thomas followed slowly but stopped near the doorway.
Margaret stood when she saw him.
Her face was filled with anger and disbelief.
"You knew."
Thomas looked at her.
"Yes."
"You knew Daniel was alive."
"Yes."
"You knew Lily was his daughter."
"Yes."
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Then why did you let me carry this guilt alone?"
Thomas looked away.
"Because I was afraid."
Daniel laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
"Everyone was afraid."
"Everyone made decisions."
"And everyone forgot the one person who had no choice."
He looked at Lily.
"My daughter."
Lily looked down.
Daniel immediately softened.
"I'm sorry."
She looked back at him.
"Don't apologize for being sad."
May you like
Her voice was small.
"I'm just trying to understand why everyone kept secrets from me."
