Chapter 5: The Secret Inside the Walls
Edward stared at the message hidden inside the pocket watch.
Trust no one in the house.
Five words.
Simple.
Terrifying.
The old watch trembled slightly in his hand, not because his grip was weak, but because his entire understanding of the past had just collapsed.
His son had not only survived.
Daniel had known something was wrong.
He had known someone close to the family could not be trusted.
And somehow, before disappearing, he had made sure this message would one day reach his son.
Not Edward.
Leo.
The thought cut deeper than anything else.
Daniel had believed his own father might never find the truth.
Edward looked at James.
“What do you mean he left it for Leo?””
The butler remained silent.
Edward’s voice sharpened.
“Answer me.””
James lowered his eyes.
“Because Daniel knew if anything happened to him, the person who would need the truth most would be his child.””
Edward looked toward the door.
Toward the boy standing outside.
His grandson.
A child who had walked to his mansion carrying a piece of a mystery he never should have inherited.
“How long have you known about Leo?””
James took a breath.
“Since before he was born.””
Edward’s expression changed.
“You knew?””
“I knew Daniel had a son.””
“And you said nothing?””
James looked broken.
“I was trying to protect him.””
Edward stepped closer.
“You don’t get to decide that.””
“I know.””
The answer came so quickly that Edward almost stopped.
James had no excuse prepared.
No defense.
Only regret.
That somehow made it worse.
“Tell me what happened,” Edward said.
James looked at the watch.
“Daniel found out someone inside the company was stealing money.””
Edward’s eyes narrowed.
“My company?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
James hesitated.
Edward slammed his hand against the desk.
“Enough hesitation.””
James flinched.
“It was someone powerful.””
“Everyone in my company is powerful.””
James looked at him.
“Exactly.””
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Edward had spent years believing success meant control.
He had built an empire because he knew how to make decisions.
How to eliminate risks.
How to recognize threats.
But the greatest threat had lived under his roof.
James continued.
“Daniel started investigating quietly. He didn’t trust the board. He didn’t trust your executives. He told me he believed someone was using the company to hide something bigger.””
“What was bigger?””
“I don’t know.””
Edward stared.
“James.””
“I swear.””
The butler’s voice cracked.
“Daniel stopped telling me everything because he believed I was being watched.””
Edward looked toward the mansion around him.
The perfect walls.
The expensive furniture.
The quiet halls.
A place where everyone smiled while secrets rotted underneath.
“How did Daniel disappear?””
James looked away.
“That night, he came here.””
Edward froze.
“Here?””
“Yes.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“He came to the mansion?””
James nodded.
“He told me he had proof.””
“What proof?””
“I never saw it.””
“Why?””
“Because before he could show me, he received a call.””
Edward waited.
James swallowed.
“After that call, Daniel changed.””
“How?””
“He looked afraid.””
Edward had never heard those words connected to his son.
Daniel had been fearless.
As a child, he climbed trees too high.
As a teenager, he argued with Edward about everything.
As a young man, he challenged people twice his age.
Daniel had never been the kind of person who ran.
“He left that night,” James said.
“And you let him?””
James closed his eyes.
“I tried to stop him.””
“But he left.””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
James’ voice became quiet.
“The next morning, your brother told me Daniel was dead.””
Edward’s eyes darkened.
“My brother knew?””
“Yes.””
The anger that moved through Edward was different now.
Not explosive.
Cold.
Controlled.
The kind of anger that came when someone finally understood they had been betrayed for years.
“Where is my brother’s evidence?””
James shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
Edward looked at the watch.
“Then why was this hidden?””
James looked toward the door.
“Because Daniel knew the truth would eventually come out.””
A soft sound interrupted them.
Both men turned.
Leo stood in the doorway.
Edward immediately noticed something.
The boy was not crying.
He was listening.
“How long have you been there?”” Edward asked.
Leo looked down.
“Long enough.””
Edward’s expression softened.
“You should have stayed in the dining room.””
“I wanted to know about my dad.””
The honesty in his voice stopped Edward.
Leo stepped closer.
“Did he know about me?””
Edward looked at James.
Then back at the boy.
“Yes.””
Leo’s face changed.
A small crack appeared in the wall he had built around himself.
“He knew?””
Edward nodded.
“He knew you existed.””
“Then why didn’t he come?””
No one answered.
Because there was no easy answer.
Edward knelt down so he was closer to Leo’s height.
“I don’t know yet.””
Leo looked away.
“But you’re going to find out?””
Edward looked at him.
“Yes.””
For the first time, he made a promise without knowing if he could keep it.
“I’m going to find out everything.””
A loud sound came from outside.
The security system.
Everyone froze.
James immediately looked toward the windows.
“What is it?””
The security guard rushed into the room.
“Mr. Brangnown, someone entered the property.””
Edward stood.
“Who?””
The guard hesitated.
“We don’t know.””
Edward’s eyes narrowed.
“Impossible.””
The guard looked nervous.
“That’s why I’m concerned.””
Edward looked at Leo.
Then at the watch.
May you like
Someone had spent eight years hiding the truth.
Now that the truth had arrived at his gate, someone else wanted to make sure it disappeared.
