Chapter 3 – The Truth Hidden for Twenty-Three Years
The six men in black suits moved with terrifying precision.
Within seconds, they surrounded Emma.
The little girl clutched her grandfather's hand so tightly that her tiny fingers turned white.
"Grandpa..."
"I'm scared."
The old man instinctively stepped in front of her.
"No one touches my granddaughter."
Richard sighed as if the entire scene had become inconvenient.
"You still think this is about family."
"It never was."
One of the men reached inside his jacket.
The bakery customers screamed, believing he was pulling out a weapon.
Instead...
He produced a thick brown envelope stamped with a government seal.
Richard handed it to the old man.
"Open it."
His hands trembled as he unfolded the first page.
Every drop of blood drained from his face.
ADOPTION RECORDS
LEGAL CHANGE OF IDENTITY
WITNESS PROTECTION ORDER
"What..."
"This isn't possible."
His daughter slowly lowered her head.
"I never abandoned you."
"I was forced to disappear."
Tears streamed down her face.
"The night of the fire..."
"I witnessed something I was never supposed to see."
The old man looked at her in disbelief.
"What did you see?"
She hesitated.
Then whispered...
"I saw Richard's older brother murder a government prosecutor."
Silence.
Even Richard closed his eyes for a moment.
"It wasn't supposed to happen that way," he muttered.
The old man stared at him.
"You knew?"
Richard nodded slowly.
"I knew."
"And I spent the next twenty-three years making sure no one ever found her."
The old man's fists tightened.
"You destroyed our family!"
"I saved it!" Richard shouted for the first time.
Everyone froze.
"If she had come back..."
"They would have killed her."
"They would have killed you."
"They would have killed every child she ever had."
Emma looked at her mother with frightened eyes.
"Mommy..."
"Who wants to kill us?"
Her mother couldn't answer.
Because another black SUV suddenly sped toward the bakery at full speed.
Its tires screamed across the pavement.
The vehicle stopped inches from the sidewalk.
A tall silver-haired man stepped out.
The moment Richard saw him...
His confident expression disappeared.
"No..."
"It can't be."
The newcomer smiled coldly.
"You've done well protecting them."
"But your job is over."
Richard immediately pushed Emma behind himself.
"Run!"
The old man blinked in shock.
Just seconds ago Richard had looked like the villain.
Now...
He was shielding Emma with his own body.
The silver-haired man laughed.
"You finally chose the wrong side."
He pulled a small remote control from his pocket.
A red light began flashing underneath the bakery owner's cupcake cart.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The old man looked down.
His heart nearly stopped.
A bomb.
Hidden beneath the very cart where Emma had bought cupcakes every single afternoon.
The timer read...
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00:29
To Be Continued...
