PART 2

Richard Bennett didn’t yell.

That was what made him dangerous.

He stared at the photos for almost a full minute.

Then he quietly placed his wine glass on the table.

The crystal shattered beneath his hand.

The entire ballroom fell silent.

“Cancel the announcement.”

His assistant hesitated.

“Sir?”

“I said…”

His voice remained calm.

“…cancel everything.”

Guests watched in confusion as Richard walked out without another word.

Across Manhattan…

Claire and Evan had just reached her apartment when six black SUVs stopped outside the building.

Nearly a dozen private security officers stepped out.

Richard entered the lobby like a storm.

His expensive suit was spotless.

His face wasn’t.

The employees immediately stepped aside.

Nobody dared speak.

Richard looked directly at Evan.

“So…”

“This is the man who thought he could steal my daughter.”

Claire stepped forward.

“I married him.”

“No one forced me.”

Richard ignored her.

He walked until he stood inches from Evan.

“Tell me.”

“How much?”

Evan frowned.

“What?”

“My daughter.”

“Name your price.”

Claire’s face flushed.

“Dad!”

Richard pulled a checkbook from his jacket.

“Five million.”

Evan didn’t move.

“Ten.”

Still nothing.

“Twenty.”

The lobby had gone completely silent.

Residents watched from the elevators.

Even the receptionist stopped breathing.

Richard smiled coldly.

“Everyone has a number.”

Evan looked at the blank check.

Then…

he took the pen.

Claire felt her stomach drop.

She had known this was impossible.

No ordinary man would refuse twenty million dollars.

Richard smirked.

“I knew it.”

But instead of writing a number…

Evan slowly tore the check into tiny pieces.

They drifted onto the marble floor like snow.

“You can’t buy your daughter’s freedom.”

Richard’s expression hardened.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

“No.”

Evan answered quietly.

“I know exactly who you are.”

For the first time…

Richard looked unsettled.

Before he could answer…

the revolving door opened again.

An elderly man walked inside wearing an expensive navy overcoat.

The moment Evan saw him…

all the color disappeared from his face.

“Mr. Whitmore…”

he whispered.

The old man stopped walking.

His eyes filled with emotion.

“It really is you.”

Richard turned sharply.

“You know this man?”

The old billionaire looked from Richard…

to Evan…

then back again.

Finally he said the one sentence that made everyone in the lobby freeze.

“Richard…”

“You’ve spent twenty-three years pretending this young man disappeared.”

“But the truth is…”

“…he’s the only witness still alive.”