Chapter 4: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Edward closed the office door behind him.
The room had always been his place of control.
A place where deals were made.
A place where enemies became partners.
A place where no one entered without permission.
But today, the walls felt different.
Because the biggest betrayal of his life had happened inside this house.
And the person standing in front of him had helped hide it.
James stood near the desk, hands folded tightly.
He looked smaller than he had ten minutes earlier.
Edward noticed.
“Tell me everything.””
The butler remained silent.
Edward walked toward the window.
From there, he could see the front gate.
The same gate where a little boy had been sitting alone.
The same gate where his past had come back to find him.
“Eight years ago,” Edward said, “you told me Daniel died.””
James looked down.
“Yes.””
“Was that true?””
The silence lasted too long.
Edward turned around.
“Answer me.””
James took a shaky breath.
“No.””
The word landed harder than any confession Edward had imagined.
For years, Edward had replayed the worst day of his life.
The phone call.
The hospital.
The paperwork.
The empty feeling afterward.
He had built his grief around a lie.
“You knew?””
James nodded slowly.
“I knew Daniel was alive.””
Edward stared at him.
“Then why?””
James looked toward the closed door.
Toward where Leo was waiting.
“Because I was told there was no other choice.””
Edward’s jaw tightened.
“Who told you?””
James said nothing.
Edward stepped closer.
“Who?””
The butler’s eyes filled with regret.
“Your family.””
That answer only made Edward angrier.
“My family?””
James nodded.
“Your brother.””
The room went still.
Edward’s face hardened.
“My brother has been dead for three years.””
“I know.””
“And you’re telling me he was involved?””
James looked away.
“I’m telling you that the people closest to you knew more than they admitted.””
Edward clenched his fists.
His brother.
The one person he trusted after losing Daniel.
The one person who stood beside him during the worst years.
Another lie.
“How did Daniel disappear?””
James hesitated.
“Sir, I don’t know every detail.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
The butler swallowed.
“Daniel discovered something.””
“What?””
James looked afraid.
Not nervous.
Afraid.
“Something about the company.””
Edward’s eyes narrowed.
“What kind of something?””
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I saw documents. I heard arguments. Daniel was angry.””
Edward looked toward the desk.
His company.
His legacy.
The empire he had spent decades building.
“You’re saying my son was threatened?””
James did not answer.
He didn’t need to.
Edward understood.
A cold feeling moved through him.
“My son wasn’t killed.””
“No.””
“He was forced to disappear.””
James looked down.
“I believe so.””
Edward turned away.
The idea was almost impossible to accept.
But then he remembered Leo.
The watch.
The engraving.
The fear on James’ face.
The pieces were finally connecting.
“Where is Daniel now?””
James went silent.
Edward slowly turned.
“James.””
“I don’t know.””
“Don’t lie to me again.””
“I’m not.””
The butler’s voice cracked.
“I swear.””
Edward studied him.
After decades, he knew the difference between fear and deception.
James was hiding something.
But he was not hiding because he wanted power.
He was hiding because he was scared.
“Anna,” Edward said.
James looked up.
“What about her?””
“Why did she keep Leo from me?””
The butler’s face changed.
A mixture of sadness and guilt.
“Because she believed you were dangerous.””
Edward stared.
“Dangerous?””
“She thought telling you the truth would put Leo at risk.””
Edward laughed once.
But there was no humor in it.
“My own son’s mother thought I would hurt him?””
James looked down.
“She didn’t know who to trust.””
The words cut deeper than anger.
Because somewhere inside, Edward knew the truth.
He had spent years so focused on losing Daniel that he never asked why someone would go so far to hide him.
Someone had been afraid.
Very afraid.
A knock came at the door.
Edward opened it.
Leo stood there.
His eyes were wide.
“I’m sorry.””
Edward softened slightly.
“What happened?””
Leo held the pocket watch.
“It stopped.””
Edward took it from him.
The watch had stopped years ago.
But as he examined it, something caught his attention.
A tiny movement.
A loose piece inside the back cover.
Edward carefully opened it.
Behind the family crest was something hidden.
A small folded piece of material.
Not paper.
Something thinner.
Something protected.
James stepped forward.
Then stopped.
Because he knew.
Edward looked at him.
“You knew this was there.””
James’ face turned pale.
Edward opened the hidden compartment.
Inside was a single engraved message.
Five words.
Five words that changed everything.
*Trust no one in the house.*
Edward stared at the message.
Then slowly looked around his office.
At the walls.
At the mansion.
At the place he had always believed was safe.
The house where his family had lived.
The house where his son vanished.
The house where someone had buried the truth.
And behind him, James whispered the words Edward feared most.
“Sir…”
Edward looked up.
“Yes?””
James’ voice trembled.
“Daniel didn’t leave this for you.””
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A pause.
“He left it for Leo.””
