Chapter 7: The Forgotten Wallet
Benny didn't stop running until he reached the banquet hall.
The moment he stepped inside, he leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Calm down... calm down..."
"What happened to you?"
Daisy's voice made him jump.
"Huh?"
She walked over with a puzzled expression.
"Weren't you just getting a drink? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Benny forced a laugh.
"N-Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You can't lie to me."
"..."
"Benny."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"I... accidentally walked to another hallway."
"You got lost?"
"...Maybe."
Daisy sighed helplessly.
"I leave you alone for five minutes and you still manage to get lost."
Benny laughed awkwardly.
"I told you my sense of direction is terrible."
She shook her head before handing him another glass of orange juice.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Benny gratefully accepted it.
He decided not to mention Nathan.
Whoever that man was, he wasn't someone Benny wanted to meet again.
An hour later, Clara's birthday celebration finally came to an end.
Guests began saying their goodbyes one after another.
Clara hugged Benny before smiling warmly.
"I'm really happy you came."
"Thank you for inviting me," Benny replied sincerely. "I had a wonderful time."
"You'll have to visit us again."
"I'd love to."
Daisy grabbed her car keys.
"Ready?"
Benny nodded.
"Let's go."
The two walked toward the parking lot, chatting casually about the party.
"I told you everyone would like you."
"I was nervous for nothing."
"You were."
Benny smiled sheepishly.
As they reached Daisy's car, he instinctively slipped a hand into his pocket.
His smile disappeared.
"...Huh?"
He checked his other pocket.
Then his jacket.
Then every pocket again.
His face turned pale.
"My wallet..."
Daisy frowned.
"What about it?"
"...It's gone."
"What?"
"My wallet isn't here."
He searched frantically, but it was nowhere to be found.
"I must have dropped it!"
"Think carefully. Where did you last use it?"
Benny closed his eyes.
"The café... No..."
He suddenly remembered paying for a small snack before entering the building.
Then...
The hallway.
The collision with Nathan.
His eyes widened.
"I know where it might be."
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
He shook his head.
"It'll only take a minute."
Daisy hesitated.
"...Be careful."
"I will."
With that, Benny hurried back inside the building.
Meanwhile...
Nathan was preparing to leave.
The meeting had ended, and Victor had been taken away for further questioning.
His assistant handed him a tablet.
"Tomorrow's schedule, sir."
Nathan skimmed through it briefly.
"Move the morning meeting to ten."
"Yes, sir."
As they walked toward the elevator, something lying on the marble floor caught Nathan's attention.
A worn brown wallet.
He stopped.
One of the bodyguards quickly picked it up.
"It probably belongs to one of the guests."
Nathan extended his hand.
The bodyguard placed it in his palm.
The leather was old and slightly faded.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing remarkable.
He opened it only to identify the owner.
Inside were a university identification card, a few folded bills, and several carefully organized receipts.
His eyes settled on the ID.
Benny Miller.
Nathan paused.
"So..."
"It belongs to him."
Before he could close the wallet—
A small photograph slipped onto the floor.
Nathan bent down and picked it up.
It wasn't a family photo.
Instead, it showed a much younger Benny, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old, standing beside an elderly woman in front of a tiny neighborhood bakery.
The smile on Benny's face was brighter than anything Nathan had seen all evening.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
Nathan looked at the photograph for several moments.
"Sir?"
His assistant's voice broke the silence.
Nathan placed the picture back inside the wallet.
"Find him."
The assistant blinked in surprise.
"The owner?"
Nathan nodded once.
"Return it."
"Yes, sir."
At that very moment, the elevator doors opened.
Benny stepped out, slightly out of breath from running.
He looked around nervously.
"I hope it's still here..."
Nathan lifted his gaze.
Across the spacious lobby...
Their eyes met once again.
This time...
Neither of them looked away first.