Victor Kane smiled.
"Now the real game can begin."
His words echoed through the quiet office before he turned away from the window.
Miles away, the Ashford Mansion was beginning a new morning.
The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the dining room as Kai prepared breakfast. He wasn't used to having chefs cook for him, so he insisted on making something simple himself.
Liam sat on the kitchen counter, swinging his small legs happily.
"Papa Kai," he said with a bright smile, "can I have pancakes?"
Kai froze for a second.
"Papa...?"
Liam blinked innocently.
"Can I call you that?"
Kai's cheeks warmed with surprise before he smiled.
"If it makes you happy."
Liam laughed and wrapped his little arms around Kai.
At that moment, Adrian walked into the dining room.
He stopped when he saw Liam hugging Kai.
For the first time in years, the mansion felt... alive.
Without saying anything, Adrian quietly took a seat at the table.
After breakfast, Ethan entered carrying a small file.
"Sir, we checked the boy's fingerprints."
Adrian looked up.
"And?"
"No records."
"No school?"
"No hospital records."
"No birth certificate."
It was as if Liam had appeared out of nowhere.
Kai frowned.
"That's impossible."
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly."
Adrian closed the file.
"Someone erased his identity."
A heavy silence filled the room.
While the adults talked, Liam sat on the floor with his drawing book.
His crayons moved quickly across the page.
Kai walked over.
"What are you drawing?"
Liam proudly held up the picture.
It showed a large black mansion.
Behind it stood a tall tree.
Near the tree...
A hidden door beneath the ground.
Kai smiled.
"That's a wonderful drawing."
Before he could put it down, Adrian suddenly stood up.
His chair scraped loudly across the floor.
"Where did you see this?"
Liam looked confused.
"I... I don't know."
Adrian took the drawing into his hands.
His face lost all color.
Kai had never seen him look so shocked.
"What is it?" Kai asked.
Adrian stared at the paper.
"The hidden door..."
Kai looked closer.
"What about it?"
Adrian spoke so quietly that only Ethan heard.
"It really exists."
Kai's eyes widened.
"What?"
Ethan stepped closer.
"There is an underground passage beneath this mansion."
Kai blinked.
"But no one told Liam."
"They couldn't have," Adrian answered.
"Only three people know about it."
Kai looked from Adrian to Liam.
"Then... how did he draw it?"
No one had an answer.
That evening, Adrian walked alone into his private office.
He unlocked a hidden safe behind a bookshelf.
Inside lay old photographs and confidential files.
One picture caught his attention.
It had been taken eight years ago.
In the corner of the photo stood the same ancient tree Liam had drawn.
Adrian slowly turned the picture over.
Written on the back were four words.
"Protect him at all costs."
Before Adrian could think further, his office phone rang.
Ethan's voice came through immediately.
"Sir..."
"We have another problem."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"What happened?"
"The underground passage..."
A brief silence followed.
"...has been opened."
End of Episode 4 🖤
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