You died,” he whispered.

The old man shook his head slowly.

“They told you that because your grandfather paid them to.”

Daniel’s breathing became sharp.

“No… no, that’s impossible.”

The old man reached into his soaked coat and pulled out an old photograph.

A little boy.

A father.

The same watch.

Daniel’s knees nearly gave out.

“I searched for you for twenty years,” the old man whispered. “Every birthday. Every city.”

The salesman and customers watched in complete silence now.

Ashamed.

Daniel looked down at the engraving again.

Then his expression suddenly changed.

Fear.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?”

The old man’s eyes darkened.

“They didn’t just separate us.”

Daniel’s voice trembled.

“What do you mean?”

The old man leaned closer.

“Your grandfather murdered your mother the night he took you.”

The entire store stopped breathing.

Daniel dropped the watch.

CLANG.

“No…”

Tears filled his eyes as memories began crashing back.

The old man grabbed Daniel’s shaking hand.

“He’s still alive, Daniel.”

Daniel looked up slowly.

The boutique doors suddenly opened behind them.

A deep voice echoed through the showroom:

“You should’ve stayed buried.”

Daniel turned in horror.

His grandfather stood there.

Surrounded by armed security.