“LILA!” he shouted.

The terrified woman grabbed Lila’s arm immediately.

“We have to go!”

But Leo stepped in front of them.

“You know her,” he said. “Why are you scared of him?”

The woman’s eyes filled with panic.

“You don’t understand.”

The man finally reached them, breathing heavily. The second he saw the star-shaped birthmark on Lila’s wrist, tears filled his eyes.

“It’s really you…”

Lila stared at him in confusion.

“Do I know you?”

The woman suddenly screamed:

“She can NEVER remember!”

Everyone on the staircase turned toward her.

Leo looked between them, confused and frightened.

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

In it was a little girl with the same eyes.
The same birthmark.
The same music box.

“You were stolen from me,” he whispered.

Lila’s hands trembled.

The woman broke down crying.

“I had no choice! They told me they would kill her if anyone found out she survived the fire!”

The crowd gasped.

Leo stepped backward slowly.

“What fire…?”

The man’s face darkened.

“The Ashcroft Theater fire,” he said quietly. “The one your father started.”

Leo froze.

Because his father owned the theater.

And suddenly everything made sense.

The lies.
The secrets.
The fear.

Lila looked at Leo with tears in her eyes.

“You knew?”

“No!” Leo shouted. “I swear I didn’t!”

But before anyone could speak again—

A black car suddenly screeched to a halt beside the staircase.

Several armed men stepped out.

And one of them pointed directly at Lila.

“Take the girl.”