Daniel shook his head, but smiled.

“Okay, since you brought it, let’s try it. Only if there are cockroaches in it, I’m taking it back.”

They carried the chair into the room. Daniel took his tools and began carefully removing the old fabric. Emma, ​​meanwhile, took out some thick, light-colored fabric, some thread, and set the sewing machine on the table.

“Who even assembled this?” Daniel grumbled, ripping out the staples. “It’s firmly attached, but it’s done haphazardly. It’s clear the work wasn’t done by a professional.”

He removed the upholstery from the backrest and moved on to the seat. When the fabric was almost gone, he suddenly froze.

“Emma… come here. Quickly.”

There was something strange in his voice. Emma walked over and leaned toward the chair.

What they saw inside sent a chill through them. 

He pulled back the stuffing, revealing a package. Then a second. And a third.

They were neatly folded wads of hundred-dollar bills, tied with rubber bands.

Emma and Daniel looked at each other silently.

“Where are they from?” Emma asked quietly.