CHAPTER 3 — The Secret the Children Never Forgot
Adrian canceled every meeting.
Instead of flying to New York...
the jet returned to the mansion.
Nothing inside looked the same.
Lucas led Emma upstairs.
"I kept something."
He opened his bedroom closet.
Hidden behind old books...
sat a small cardboard box.
Inside were dozens of childish treasures.
A broken crayon.
A seashell.
A birthday ribbon.
And...
a folded napkin.
Emma slowly opened it.
Her own handwriting.
"For Lucas and Lily—
No matter where life takes me...
Kindness will always bring us back together.
Love, Emma."
She covered her mouth.
"I forgot this."
Lucas smiled through tears.
"I didn't."
Lily reached into the box again.
"There was another thing."
She handed Emma a tiny silver key.
Emma frowned.
"Where did this come from?"
"Daddy said it belonged to Mommy."
Adrian walked into the room.
The moment he saw the key...
his face changed.
"I've been looking for that."
Emma turned it over.
A number was engraved on the back.
417.
Adrian whispered,
"That's a bank vault."
Neither of them realized...
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Victoria had just learned Emma was back.
And she was already driving toward the mansion.
