THE SON THEY BURIED WAS THEIR ONLY HEIR

Chapter Sixty Eight: The Grave That Wasn't Empty

The rain had become heavier by the time they reached the Ashcroft cemetery.

Damian parked beside the iron gate.

Samuel remained in the car.

“I won't go inside.”

Benedict looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because if I'm right, the person we're looking for already knows we're coming.”

Daniel opened his door.

“Then we should hurry.”

They entered the cemetery together.

Rows of Ashcroft graves disappeared into the darkness.

Damian switched on his flashlight.

“Where are we going?”

Samuel had given them only one instruction.

Find the grave with no name.

Benedict remembered something from childhood.

A section of the cemetery his grandfather had forbidden anyone to enter.

“The old family crypt.”

Daniel looked at him.

“You've been there?”

“Once.”

“How old were you?”

“Seven.”

“What happened?”

Benedict stopped walking.

“I don't remember.”

Daniel studied his face.

“Maybe you do.”

Benedict looked at him.

“What?”

“You've been remembering pieces all night.”

Benedict said nothing.

They continued.

At the far end of the cemetery stood a small stone building.

Its entrance was covered in vines.

Damian pulled them away.

Behind them was a metal door.

No lock.

Benedict pushed it open.

Inside, the air smelled of dust and damp stone.

Several old coffins rested along the walls.

Daniel looked around.

“This place feels wrong.”

Damian nodded.

“Very.”

Benedict noticed a narrow staircase.

He descended.

At the bottom was another corridor.

Then he saw it.

A grave.

No name.

No date.

Nothing.

Daniel stood beside him.

“This is it.”

Benedict knelt.

His fingers brushed the stone.

A hidden panel opened.

Inside was a small envelope.

Benedict removed it.

His name was written across the front.

BENEDICT.

He opened it.

There was a single photograph.

A much younger Evelyn stood beside a man.

Benedict stared.

“Edmund.”

Daniel leaned closer.

Behind them stood a child.

Benedict's breathing stopped.

“That's me.”

Daniel looked at him.

“No.”

Benedict turned the photograph over.

A date was written on the back.

Twenty-five years ago.

The child was not Benedict.

It was Daniel.

Daniel stared at the image.

“I don't remember this.”

Benedict looked at him.

“You were six.”

“So?”

“You were supposed to have been taken before this photograph.”

Daniel's expression changed.

“That means the timeline was false.”

Damian looked between them.

“Someone changed the records.”

Benedict nodded.

“Someone wanted us to believe Daniel disappeared earlier than he actually did.”

A second paper fell from the envelope.

Benedict picked it up.

Three words were written on it.

HE CHOSE YOU.

Daniel frowned.

“Who?”

Before Benedict could answer, footsteps echoed above them.

Damian reached for his weapon.

“Someone followed us.”

The footsteps stopped.

Then a man's voice came from the corridor.

“You should have stayed away.”

Benedict stood.

“Who are you?”

Silence.

Then the figure appeared.

An elderly man stood at the entrance.

Daniel froze.

Benedict stared at him.

He knew that face.

The same face from the photograph.

The same man from the old family portraits.

Edmund Ashcroft.

The man everyone believed had died decades ago.

Edmund looked at the two brothers.

His expression broke.

“My God.”

His eyes filled with tears.

“You're both alive.”

Benedict stepped forward.

“You're the Witness.”

Edmund nodded.

“Yes.”

Daniel's voice was cold.

“Then tell us the truth.”

Edmund looked at him.

“I've been waiting twenty-five years to do exactly that.”

A distant explosion shook the cemetery.

Edmund's expression changed.

“They found us.”

Damian looked toward the entrance.

“Magnus?”

Edmund shook his head.

“No.”

“Then who?”

Edmund looked at Benedict.

“Your mother.”

Benedict froze.

“What?”

Edmund's voice became quiet.

“She escaped.”

Benedict stared at Edmund.

“My mother is alive?”

Edmund nodded.

“She survived.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“Where is she?”

“I don't know.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“You just said she escaped.”

“From Magnus.”

“When?”

“Three days ago.”

Damian frowned.

“Then why didn't she contact us?”

Edmund looked at him.

“Because she was afraid someone was listening.”

Benedict looked toward the cemetery entrance.

“Who?”

Edmund didn't answer.

Instead, he walked toward the unmarked grave.

“There is something you need to understand.”

He touched the stone.

“Your grandfather never wanted either of you dead.”

Daniel's expression hardened.

“He separated us.”

“Yes.”

“He erased our identities.”

“Yes.”

“He destroyed our family.”

Edmund sighed.

“He was trying to prevent something he believed would destroy the entire Ashcroft legacy.”

Benedict shook his head.

“That doesn't excuse him.”

“No.”

Edmund looked at him.

“It doesn't.”

Daniel stared at the old man.

“Then why did Evelyn cooperate?”

“She didn't.”

Benedict froze.

“What?”

“Your mother fought him.”

Edmund reached inside his coat.

He removed a small envelope.

“She created the original succession to stop your grandfather from controlling everything.”

Benedict took it.

“What's inside?”

“Her final instructions.”

Daniel moved closer.

“Read it.”

Benedict opened the envelope.

A handwritten letter.

He recognized the handwriting immediately.

His mother's.

If my sons ever find this, then the separation has failed.

Benedict's hands trembled.

Do not seek revenge first.

He continued reading.

Find the original succession. Then find the person who betrayed it.

Daniel frowned.

“Betrayed it?”

Benedict read the final line.

The greatest danger will not come from outside the family.

Silence.

Damian looked at Edmund.

“You know who she meant.”

Edmund nodded.

“I suspected.”

“Who?”

Edmund's eyes moved toward Benedict.

“The person who helped Magnus locate your mother.”

Benedict's expression changed.

“Someone in the family.”

“Yes.”

Daniel stepped closer.

“Name them.”

Edmund shook his head.

“Not yet.”

Benedict's voice became cold.

“Why?”

“Because we need proof.”

A phone suddenly rang.

Damian looked at the screen.

Eleanor.

He answered immediately.

“Mom?”

Her voice was weak.

“Damian…”

“Where are you?”

“I don't know.”

He stepped away from the others.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Who has you?”

Silence.

Then Eleanor whispered,

“Don't trust Victor.”

Damian froze.

“What?”

“He's not the one you think he is.”

The call ended.

Damian stared at the phone.

Benedict noticed his expression.

“What happened?”

Damian looked at him.

“My mother said not to trust Father.”

Edmund's face changed.

“Then we're out of time.”

Daniel frowned.

“Why?”

Edmund looked toward the cemetery gate.

“Because if Eleanor is warning you about Victor, someone has forced her to say it.”

Benedict looked at the dark road.

“Magnus?”

“No.”

Edmund shook his head.

“Someone closer.”

A vehicle appeared beyond the gate.

Its headlights cut through the rain.

Damian reached for his weapon.

Benedict stepped forward.

The vehicle stopped.

The rear door opened.

A woman stepped out.

Benedict froze.

Daniel stared.

It was Eleanor.

She looked exhausted.

Her clothes were soaked.

She walked toward them alone.

Damian rushed forward.

“Mom!”

She grabbed his arms.

“Listen to me.”

“What happened?”

“I escaped.”

Benedict watched her carefully.

“From Magnus?”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

Edmund stepped forward.

“When?”

“An hour ago.”

Benedict's eyes narrowed.

“Then why did you call Damian?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Because I needed you to know the truth before they found me.”

“Who is they?”

Eleanor's eyes moved toward Edmund.

She stopped.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then her face changed.

“You found him.”

Benedict frowned.

“Found who?”

Eleanor looked at Edmund.

“The Witness.”

Edmund nodded.

Eleanor closed her eyes.

“Then the final secret is no longer safe.”

Benedict stepped closer.

“What final secret?”

Eleanor opened her eyes.

“The original succession was never meant to give control of Ashcroft Group to either heir.”

Damian frowned.

“Then what was it for?”

Eleanor looked at Benedict and Daniel.

“To protect the person who comes after you.”

Silence.

Daniel stared.

“Who comes after us?”

Eleanor's face tightened.

“Your children.”

Benedict's expression changed.

“Our children?”

“Yes.”

She looked toward the dark road.

“And Magnus knows.”

A gunshot suddenly cracked through the cemetery.

Eleanor fell.

Damian caught her.

“Mom!”

Benedict turned toward the darkness.

Another shot struck the stone grave.

Edmund shouted,

“Down!”

Daniel pulled Benedict behind the crypt wall.

Damian held Eleanor tightly.

She was alive.

But blood covered her shoulder.

Benedict looked toward the cemetery gate.

A black vehicle was disappearing into the rain.

On its rear window was a symbol.

The same symbol from the original succession.

Benedict stared at it.

Then he looked at Daniel.

“This isn't over.”

Daniel nodded.

“No.”

Benedict looked at Eleanor.

“Now we know what Magnus is really after.”

The future of the family.

Not just the inheritance.