Daniel's mind began racing.
The envelope.
The secret.
The argument.
And Lily's mysterious reference to a blue box.
Perhaps these things were connected.
"Thank you for calling," Daniel said.
"Please don't mention my name yet."
"I understand. But if the police need a witness, you should consider telling them the truth."
The waiter ended the call.
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
He had more questions than answers.
A little later, Lily woke up.
She looked around and noticed Daniel standing near the window.
"Uncle Daniel?"
He turned immediately.
"You're awake."
"Where's Mommy?"
"She's still with the doctors."
Lily sat up.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
She looked toward the corridor.
Then she leaned closer.
"Mommy told me to remember something."
Daniel sat beside her.
"What did she tell you?"
"She said that if someone ever tried to take me away, I should find you."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Did she say why?"
Lily nodded.
"She said you were a good person."
Daniel looked down.
"Your mother is a very good person."
Lily continued.
"She also told me about a little blue box."
Daniel remembered the words she had spoken earlier.
"The box in your mother's bedroom?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where it is?"
"In the drawer beside her bed."
"What's inside?"
Lily shook her head.
"Mommy said it was something important."
"Did she ever open it?"
"Sometimes."
"What did she do?"
"She looked at the papers and cried."
Daniel felt a knot form in his stomach.
"Did she say what the papers were about?"
Lily thought for a moment.
"She said they were proof."
"Proof of what?"
The little girl looked confused.
"I don't know. But she said that bad people don't like proof."
Daniel remained quiet.
Then Lily added:
"Mommy said I must never give the box to the lady in the pink dress."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"The lady at the party?"
Lily nodded.
"She said the lady might smile at me, but I shouldn't believe her."
Daniel slowly leaned back.
He had assumed Vanessa and Elena were involved in a personal disagreement.
But this was something else.
Why would Elena specifically warn her daughter about Vanessa?
What was inside the blue box?
And why had Elena been carrying an envelope to the gala?
Daniel looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart, did your mother ever tell you anything about Richard?"
Lily shook her head.
Then, after a moment, she said:
"Mommy doesn't like talking about him."
"Why?"
"Because when I ask about him, she gets sad."
Daniel's expression softened.
"Did you ever meet him?"
Lily nodded.
"Once."
"Where?"
"At a big house."
Daniel waited.
Lily continued.
"There were many stairs. Mommy wore a pretty dress. I remember because she held my hand very tightly."
"Was Vanessa there?"
Lily nodded.
"She was wearing a pink dress."
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
"Was Richard there too?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Lily lowered her voice.
"Mommy was crying."
Daniel gently asked:
"Do you remember why?"
Lily shook her head.
Then she said something that changed everything.
"Richard told Mommy that I wasn't his problem."
Daniel stared at her.
The words were simple.
But their meaning was devastating.
"Are you sure that's what he said?"
Lily nodded.
"Mommy started crying. Then she took me outside."
Daniel looked away.
He suddenly understood why Elena had been so determined to reach Richard tonight.
There was something about Lily.
Something about her past.
Something that the Sterling family had been desperately trying to keep hidden.
At nearly two in the morning, Daniel received another phone call.
This time, the caller did not hide his identity.
"Daniel."
It was Richard Sterling.
Daniel immediately stood.
"Richard."
"I heard you're at the hospital."
"Yes."
"How is Elena?"
"She's receiving treatment."
Richard paused.
"And Lily?"
"She's with me."
"Good."
Daniel's voice became colder.
"Why are you calling?"
"I need to speak with you."
"About what?"
"About tonight."
Daniel looked through the glass window toward Lily.
"Then start by telling me why Elena came to the gala."
Richard sighed.
"She shouldn't have been there."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Daniel, you don't understand the situation."
"Then explain it."
Richard lowered his voice.
"Elena has been making accusations."
"What accusations?"
"About my family."
Daniel almost laughed.
"Your family seems to be very concerned about accusations tonight."
"Listen, I want to avoid unnecessary trouble."
"Then tell the truth."
Richard became silent.
Finally, he asked:
"Has Elena mentioned a blue box?"
Daniel froze.
He did not answer.
Richard continued.
"Daniel, if you find anything belonging to Elena, don't touch it. Don't open it. And don't give it to anyone."
Daniel stared at the phone.
"Why?"
"Because you have no idea what is inside."
"Then perhaps you should tell me."
Richard's voice became tense.
"Some things are better left buried."
Daniel felt anger rising inside him.
"That is exactly the kind of sentence people use when they know they've done something wrong."
Richard exhaled.
"You're making a mistake."
"No. I think someone made a mistake a long time ago, and now an innocent child is paying the price."
"Stay out of this, Daniel."
Daniel ended the call.
He stood quietly for several seconds.
Then he looked at Lily.
The child was watching him.
"Was that Richard?"
Daniel nodded.
Lily moved closer.
"Did he ask about the box?"
Daniel looked down.
"Yes."
Lily's little face became frightened.
"Please don't give it to him."
Daniel knelt in front of her.
"I won't give anyone anything until we understand what is happening."
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you."
Daniel held her gently.
He knew he could no longer treat this as a simple family disagreement.
A child was frightened of a powerful family.
A woman had been found unconscious at a public event.
And someone was desperately trying to locate evidence hidden inside a blue box.
He needed to act carefully.
By morning, the first signs of daylight had begun appearing through the hospital windows.
Daniel had not slept.
He had spent the night answering questions, speaking with hospital staff, and trying to understand what had happened.