As James stood there, the man reached out and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. "Come on," he said, motioning for James to follow. James hesitated for a moment, ncing back at Sophie''s door, firmly shut. Finally, he decided to go with the man, making their way up to the fifth floor of the sprawling Burke mansion.


    The hallway was cloaked in darkness, with shadows stretching out like the secrets of time. The man opened a door, revealing a room that seemed untouched for decades, like a snapshot from the past. It was a master bedroom, and as they stepped inside, a massive portrait hanging on the wall immediately caught the eye.


    It was a wedding photo, the couple captured in a moment of bliss. The woman''s face was calm and gentle, her beauty timeless and serene. Beside her, the man stood with an expression that mirrored James''s own, a sternness etched into his features.


    The man took a few steps forward, stopping at a vase perched on a table. With a simple twist, the vase triggered a hidden mechanism, sliding a cab aside to reveal a retractable iron door. Behind ity a sleek, modern elevator.


    James had lived here all his life, yet he never suspected such a secret hidden in his parents'' room. The man entered the elevator first, with James trailing closely behind.


    As the elevator descended to the second basement level, James felt a weight settle in his chest. No matter how prepared he thought he was, the reality still hit hard.


    The room they entered was filled with photographs of a woman, capturing her in moments of grace and elegance. Her clothes were disyed, each piece a memory of her presence.


    "These are all your mother''s belongings," the man said, his voice softening as he looked around. His eyes grew tender when they fell upon the items.


    James moved closer, taking it all in.


    In this house traces of his mother were incredibly rare. Bea often dismissed her as restless, not the ideal wife or mother, iming she got what she deserved. But the woman in the photographs was different, her smile radiant, as if trying to share her warmth with the world.


    James had no real memory of his mother; she was just a name, a figure who had given him life but nothing more. He thought he wouldn''t feel anything seeing her things. Yet, the images of a woman so alive and vibrant tugged at his heartstrings.


    Then the man removed his mask, revealing a face lined by the years, rugged yet still holding a shadow of its forme intensity. He bore a resemnce to James, the years having carved lines into his features without erasing themanding presence he once had.


    Joseph looked at James, speaking slowly, "James, you''ve done a great job. Thepany''s thriving under your care, and you''ve looked after your grandmother well. I''m proud of you." "Proud?" James scoffed, a bitterugh escaping his lips.


    "Where were you during Burke International''s darkest days?" he challenged. "Where were you when we were being pushed to the brink?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "And now you say you''re proud?" he continued, stepping back, his voice turning cold, almost mocking, "Father? Weren''t you supposed to be dead? If you were gone, whye back now?" Joseph took off the voice changer from around his neck, his words steady as he replied, "I did it for your mother. Everything I''ve done was so we could be together again as a family." Listening to Joseph, James couldn''t help but find the notion absurd. "Together again?" he echoed, the words sounding hollow.