CHAPTER 3 — THE MAN WHO COULDN'T BUY THE TRUTH
Richard Ashcroft smiled as Daniel entered the penthouse.
"You finally came."
Daniel quietly placed the old photograph on the table.
Then the blue ribbon.
Then the court documents.
Finally...
The payment records.
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Where did you get these?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he asked one question.
"Did she ever stop looking for me?"
Richard remained silent.
That silence became the confession.
Daniel felt something inside him die.
"You destroyed her life."
Richard stood.
"I protected you."
"You would have grown up in poverty."
"I gave you everything."
Daniel laughed.
For the first time in years.
Not from happiness.
From disbelief.
"You gave me money."
"You stole my childhood."
Richard's voice hardened.
"Without me..."
"You'd be nobody."
Daniel slowly removed the chairman's ring from his finger.
The symbol of the Ashcroft empire.
He placed it on the table.
"No."
"Without you..."
"I would've had a mother."
Richard reached toward him.
Daniel stepped back.
"Don't."
"For once in your life..."
"You don't get to choose what belongs to you."
May you like
He walked out.
Leaving behind the empire that had been built on one stolen little boy.
