A newspaper Emily found among collected cardboard carried a headline about a missing billionaire CEO.
The photo showed Daniel… beside his elegant wife Victoria and his business partner Marcus Hale.
Everything came rushing back.
Daniel Carter—owner of a massive construction company.
Victoria—his wife.
Marcus—his closest partner.
They had drugged him, beaten him, and dumped him in the landfill to steal his empire.
“Are they bad people?” Emily asked softly.
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “But I won’t let them hurt you.”
Before he could plan anything, tragedy struck.
One afternoon Rose collapsed in the kitchen clutching her chest.
“Grandma!” Emily screamed.
Daniel lifted her in his arms and ran to the nearest road. He flagged down a taxi and rushed her to the hospital with Emily crying beside him.
Doctors worked for hours.
Finally one came out.
“Her heart is very weak. She needs surgery and medication.”
Daniel looked at the gold watch on his wrist—the only link to his past.
Without hesitation, he left the hospital and sold it at a pawn shop.
He returned with cash and an empty wrist.
Emily noticed immediately.
“You sold it?”
Daniel smiled gently.