Daniel carried Lily downstairs and locked the front door.<\/p>\n
The headlights outside disappeared.<\/p>\n
For several seconds, the house was completely silent.<\/p>\n
Then someone knocked.<\/p>\n
Three times.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked through the window.<\/p>\n
A woman stood outside, holding a white umbrella.<\/p>\n
Emily.<\/p>\n
He opened the door, but she remained on the other side of the threshold.<\/p>\n
“Daniel, listen carefully. We don’t have much time.”<\/p>\n
He reached for her hand.<\/p>\n
His fingers passed through hers.<\/p>\n
Daniel stumbled backward.<\/p>\n
Emily looked at Lily with unbearable sadness.<\/p>\n
“I wanted to raise her with you. I wanted her to grow up knowing her father. But I couldn’t let him find her.”<\/p>\n
“Who?” Daniel demanded. “Who are you protecting her from?”<\/p>\n
Emily looked toward the road.<\/p>\n
A second figure appeared beneath the streetlight.<\/p>\n
Michael.<\/p>\n
He walked toward the house, smiling as if he had been expected.<\/p>\n
Emily’s expression changed.<\/p>\n
“Daniel, you must never let him take Lily.”<\/p>\n
Michael stopped outside the gate.<\/p>\n
“Brother,” he called softly. “You’ve had your chance to raise my daughter.”<\/p>\n
Daniel turned toward Lily.<\/p>\n
The little girl was crying.<\/p>\n
Michael lifted his hand.<\/p>\n
Every light in the house went out.<\/p>\n
When Daniel could see again, Lily was gone.<\/p>\n
Only her wooden box remained on the floor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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