Chapter 3: The Son They Buried
Leo did not move at first.
The gate stood open in front of him, but he remained frozen on the other side.
For most of his life, doors had closed when he approached them.
People had looked at him and seen a problem they did not want to solve. Teachers saw the quiet kid who kept to himself. Neighbors saw the boy with the tired mother who worked too many hours. Other children saw someone who wore old clothes and carried a sadness they could not understand.
Now the most intimidating man he had ever seen was holding the gate open.
Waiting for him.
Edward Brangnown looked down at the boy.
“Come inside, Leo.””
The boy glanced toward the road.
His small shoulders tightened.
“My mom said I had to come back before dark.””
Edward studied him.
“Did she tell you why?””
Leo shook his head.
“She just said if I found you, I would know the truth.””
Those words bothered Edward more than anything else.
Because Anna had known.
She had known enough to send her son here.
She had known enough to keep the watch hidden for eight years.
She had known enough to stay away from the one man who had spent those same years believing his son was gone forever.
Edward stepped aside.
“Bring him in.””
The security guard opened the gate fully.
Leo walked through slowly.
Every step felt unreal.
The driveway seemed longer from the inside. The mansion rose above him with tall windows and elegant stone walls. Everything looked expensive, untouched, perfect.
But Leo noticed something strange.
Nobody looked happy.
The staff moved quietly.
The guards watched carefully.
The butler, James, followed behind them with a face that looked like he was carrying a secret too heavy for his body.
Edward noticed Leo staring.
“Have you ever been here before?””
“No.””
“Has your mother?””
Leo hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
Edward stopped walking.
“You don’t know?””
Leo looked uncomfortable.
“My mom doesn’t talk about before.””
Before.
One word.
But Edward understood.
There was a before and after in every broken family.
Before the accident.
After the accident.
Before the lie.
After the lie.
They entered the mansion.
The inside was even larger than Leo expected. Marble floors reflected the lights above. Paintings covered the walls. Furniture sat perfectly arranged, like nobody was allowed to actually live there.
Edward watched Leo take everything in.
The boy was not impressed.
He was overwhelmed.
“Are you hungry?”” Edward asked.
Leo looked surprised.
“A little.””
Edward turned toward the staff.
“Get him something to eat.””
The butler immediately moved.
“Yes, sir.””
Then Edward stopped him.
“James.””
The butler froze.
“Yes?””
“You stay.””
The man slowly turned around.
Edward’s voice remained calm.
“You’re going to answer some questions.””
James looked down.
“I understand.””
“No,” Edward said.
“You don’t.””
The room became silent.
Leo sat at the long dining table while a plate was placed in front of him. He ate slowly, carefully, like he was afraid someone might tell him he had taken too much.
Edward noticed.
“You don’t have to rush.””
Leo looked up.
“I’m used to it.””
That sentence hurt more than Edward expected.
A child should not have to be used to eating like the food might disappear.
A child should not have to be used to fear.
Edward sat across from him.
“What was your father’s name?””
Leo looked at the pocket watch sitting on the table.
“I don’t know.””
Edward’s expression changed.
“You don’t know?””
“My mom always called him ‘your father.’”
“Why?””
Leo shrugged.
“She said names could bring people back.””
Edward stared at him.
There was grief in that answer.
Deep grief.
The kind that came from someone who had lost something but refused to explain what.
Edward leaned back.
“Tell me about him.””
Leo looked confused.
“I never met him.””
The room went quiet.
Edward felt the words like a physical blow.
Eight years.
Eight years, and this child had grown up without knowing his father.
Without knowing his family.
Without knowing the man Edward had loved more than anything.
“What did your mother tell you?””
Leo thought.
“She said he was kind.””
Edward looked down.
“He was.””
“She said he fixed things.””
A small smile almost appeared on Edward’s face.
“He did.””
“She said he made promises.””
The smile disappeared.
Edward looked at the boy.
“What promises?””
Leo lowered his eyes.
“I don’t know.””
The answer lingered.
Then Edward slowly looked toward James.
The butler looked away.
That was when Edward knew there was more.
Much more.
“James,” Edward said.
The butler swallowed.
“Yes, sir.””
“My son’s name.””
James closed his eyes.
Like hearing it spoken was painful.
“Daniel.””
Leo looked up.
For the first time, he heard the name.
Daniel.
His father’s name.
Edward watched the boy’s reaction.
There was no recognition.
No memory.
Just a child finally receiving a piece of his own history.
“Daniel Brangnown,” Edward said quietly.
Leo repeated it.
“Daniel.””
Edward nodded.
“Yes.””
The boy touched the pocket watch.
“My dad had this?””
Edward looked at the watch.
“Yes.””
“Then why did my mom have it?””
Edward had no answer.
Because every answer led to another question.
Why had Anna hidden Leo?
Why had James lied?
Why had everyone accepted a death that apparently never happened?
Edward stood.
“James, my office.””
The butler followed.
Edward stopped at the doorway.
“Leo.””
The boy looked up.
“You stay here.””
“Are you leaving?””
“No.””
Edward paused.
“I’m finding out why you were kept from me.””
Leo nodded.
But as Edward walked away, he saw the boy’s expression.
Hopeful.
But afraid.
May you like
And Edward knew something terrible.
Whatever truth waited behind that office door was not going to be easy.
