Chapter 1: The Bracelet of Memories
Chapter 1: The Bracelet of Memories
The hotel lobby fell into complete silence.
Every guest stopped talking.
The security guards froze as the billionaire gently held the little girl's trembling wrist.
His eyes weren't on the expensive Rolex.
They were locked on the tiny faded tattoo.
Forever.
The word had been written in delicate cursive, almost invisible beneath years of faded skin.
His hands began to shake.
"No..."
His voice cracked.
"This... this can't be possible."
The little girl instinctively pulled away.
"I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't steal anything."
Tears filled her eyes.
"My mommy said never take things that don't belong to us."
The billionaire knelt until they were eye level.
For the first time in years, people saw the powerful CEO with tears running down his face.
"Sweetheart..."
"What is your name?"
The girl hesitated.
"Lily."
"And... where is your mother?"
Lily looked down.
"She's very sick."
"She can't work anymore."
"So I collect cans every day."
"I wanted to buy bread before going home."
The billionaire's heartbeat became painfully loud.
"What's your mother's name?"
"Emma."
The name hit him harder than any bullet ever could.
Emma.
His Emma.
The woman everyone believed had drowned during a ferry accident eight years earlier.
The woman whose body had never been found.
He stared again at the Rolex.
"I gave this watch to my wife on our first wedding anniversary."
Lily blinked.
"Mommy said it belonged to someone who loved her very much."
The lobby erupted into whispers.
One executive recognized the watch immediately.
"It was custom-made."
"There isn't another one like it."
The billionaire stood so quickly the chair behind him tipped over.
"Take me to your mother."
Lily hesitated.
"Our house is... ugly."
"I don't want you to laugh."
He smiled through tears.
May you like
"I promise."
"I'll never laugh."
