Fifteen long years passed after that painful afternoon at the bright airport terminal.
Leo grew into a tall young man, but his mother's voice never left his mind.
He lived in a big mansion with his wealthy uncle Richard across the country.
Richard controlled a major family business and held total charge over Leo's life.
Leo always felt like a stranger living inside that quiet and icy house.
Richard: You should focus on your business studies, Leo.
Leo: I want to know where my biological mother lives now.
Richard: She left you behind because she did not care about you.
Leo: I do not believe your words anymore, Uncle Richard.
Richard: I paid for your school and gave you a comfortable life here.
Leo: Money cannot replace the truth about my real family, Uncle.
Leo walked out of the study and went straight up to his private bedroom.
He pulled a small wooden box from under his bed and opened it carefully.
Inside was the old black passport his mother had kept safe long ago.
He carried it with him through every move and every lonely school year.
He traced his mother's legal name printed on the clean second page inside.
Leo: I know you loved me, Mom. I will find the truth.
The next morning, Leo visited a local legal office in the city downtown.
He hired a quiet investigator to search official court records from fifteen years ago.
He wanted to check the original child custody papers and real family estate files.
Investigator: This custody case was filed under very strange circumstances back then.
Leo: What do you mean by strange circumstances, sir?
Investigator: Your father left a huge trust fund for you before he passed.
Leo: A trust fund? Richard said my parents had no money left.
Investigator: Someone lied to you about the family court documents, young man.
Leo felt a cold chill run down his back as he heard those words.
He realized that his entire youth had been built upon a massive lie.