Chapter 76 - The Man Behind the Wooden Door
No one reached for the handle.
The voice beyond the door had spoken Daniel's name with unsettling familiarity.
Not loudly.
Not urgently.
As if the speaker had known this meeting would happen all along.
Samuel quietly positioned himself beside the frame.
"If this is another trap..."
Daniel nodded.
"I know."
He wrapped his fingers around the brass handle.
The latch turned effortlessly.
The room beyond resembled an old study.
Shelves lined every wall.
A fireplace burned gently despite the absence of smoke.
Near the window sat a middle-aged man wearing a dark sweater instead of a suit.
His hair was streaked with gray.
His expression carried neither fear nor surprise.
He simply closed the book he had been reading.
"You took longer than Victor predicted."
Daniel remained standing.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Elias Rowan."
Samuel immediately reacted.
"I searched every archive for that name."
"I'm aware."
"You don't officially exist."
Elias smiled faintly.
"That was intentional."
He looked toward Lily.
"I'm glad you made it here."
Lily frowned.
"You know me?"
"I've known about you since the day you were born."
Daniel's patience finally broke.
"Enough."
"My daughter lost fifteen years."
"My family was destroyed."
"I don't care about more riddles."
Elias nodded.
"Neither do I."
He reached into a drawer and removed a thick folder.
Across the front someone had written:
Project Return
Daniel stared at the title.
"I've never heard of it."
"No," Elias replied.
May you like
"You were never supposed to."
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