Chapter 5: The Test Nobody Knew About
I stared at the document.
Then at Walter.
Then back at the document.
“No.””
The word came out before I could stop it.
Walter looked surprised.
“No?””
“I can’t do this.””
He sat down.
“Why?””
“Because I’m not a businesswoman.””
“That’s not why I chose you.””
I shook my head.
“Walter, you’re talking about controlling a global company.””
“Yes.””
“And you want me?””
“Yes.””
I stood up.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Walter watched me carefully.
“Do you know why I spent three weeks sitting outside?””
I frowned.
“You said you wanted to see who noticed you.””
“That was part of it.””
“Part of it?””
He nodded.
“I wasn’t only testing strangers.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who else?””
“My family.””
I sat back down.
Walter looked exhausted.
“For years, everyone around me knew my name. They knew my money. They knew my position.””
He touched the document.
“But I needed to know who would respect me when all of that disappeared.””
“And you chose me?””
“I found you.””
“That sounds like luck.””
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“It wasn’t.””
I looked confused.
Walter continued.
“Six months ago, I changed my original will.””
“Why?””
“Because I realized my family had started treating me like a problem to solve.””
He opened another folder.
“I created a test.””
“A test?””
“Yes.””
He showed me reports.
“I told my security team to remove all visible signs of my identity. No assistants. No drivers nearby. No expensive clothing.””
I stared at him.
“You planned this?””
“I needed the truth.””
“And you sat outside restaurants?””
“Different places.””
He looked down.
“Different cities.””
My eyes widened.
“How many people helped you?””
“None.””
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“That’s the point.””
The room felt heavy.
“You were the only person who stopped.””
I didn’t know how to feel.
Part of me was honored.
Another part was uncomfortable.
“Walter, I appreciate what you’re saying, but I still don’t understand why you would leave this to me.””
He smiled slightly.
“Because you don’t want it.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“You heard what I said, and your first reaction wasn’t excitement.””
He leaned back.
“Everyone else asks, ‘How much?’”
“You asked, ‘Why me?’”
I looked away.
“That doesn’t mean I’m qualified.””
“Qualification can be learned.””
He pointed to my heart.
“Integrity cannot.””
Before I could answer, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t respond.
Then he answered.
“Victoria.””
A few seconds passed.
His face became serious.
“What do you mean?””
I watched him listen.
Then his hand tightened around the phone.
“Where?””
Another pause.
“I’m coming.””
He ended the call.
“What happened?””
Walter stood.
“Someone broke into my home.””
My heart dropped.
“Daniel?””
“I don’t know.””
“But you think it was him.””
Walter didn’t deny it.
An hour later, we arrived at Walter’s mansion.
It was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Huge gates.
Perfect gardens.
A house that looked more like a museum than somewhere people lived.
But when we entered, I noticed something strange.
It didn’t feel rich.
It felt empty.
Broken glass covered the floor.
A painting had been pulled from the wall.
Drawers were open.
Someone had searched the place.
Victoria stood near the staircase.
She looked angry.
Not scared.
Angry.
“Dad.””
Walter walked toward her.
“Are you okay?””
“I’m fine.””
Then she looked at me.
Her expression immediately changed.
“You brought her?””
Walter ignored the comment.
“What was taken?””
Victoria hesitated.
“Nothing valuable.””
“That’s impossible.””
She looked away.
Walter noticed.
“Victoria.””
Finally, she said:
“The old documents.””
Walter went still.
“What documents?””
“The ones from your first company.””
His face changed.
“Why would someone want those?””
Nobody answered.
Then I noticed something on the floor.
A photograph.
I picked it up.
It was old.
Walter and his wife.
Daniel as a child.
And another person standing beside them.
A man I didn’t recognize.
“Walter?””
He turned.
“What?””
I handed him the photo.
His face lost color.
“Where did you find this?””
“On the floor.””
He stared at the stranger in the picture.
Then whispered:
“That’s impossible.””
“Who is he?””
Walter didn’t answer.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Dad.””
But Walter was already looking at the back of the photograph.
There was writing.
A date.
And a name.
His hand started shaking.
Because whoever this man was…
May you like
He was connected to the beginning of Madden Global Holdings.
And he was connected to a secret Walter had hidden for thirty years.
