THE SON THEY BURIED WAS THEIR ONLY HEIR

Chapter Sixty Nine: The Bloodline

“Mom!”

Damian pressed his hand against Eleanor's shoulder.

“She's losing blood.”

Edmund immediately pointed toward the crypt.

“Bring her inside.”

Benedict helped Damian carry Eleanor into the old stone chamber.

Daniel followed, watching the cemetery entrance.

“They're gone.”

“For now,” Edmund said.

Benedict looked at him.

“Can you stop the bleeding?”

Edmund nodded.

“There are supplies inside.”

Within minutes, Eleanor was lying on an old wooden table.

The bullet had passed through her shoulder.

She was conscious, but pale.

Damian stayed beside her.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Because knowing the truth made you a target.”

“You kept me in the dark.”

“I was trying to keep you alive.”

Benedict stepped closer.

“You said Magnus knows about our children.”

Eleanor closed her eyes.

“I shouldn't have said that.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't mean that you already have children.”

Daniel frowned.

“Then what did you mean?”

Eleanor looked at both brothers.

“The succession protects the bloodline that comes after you.”

Benedict's expression tightened.

“So the document isn't about children who already exist.”

“No.”

“It's about future heirs.”

“Yes.”

Damian exhaled.

“Then why does Magnus care?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Because whoever controls the succession can determine who inherits the family power after your generation.”

Daniel's face hardened.

“So Magnus wants control of the future.”

“Exactly.”

Benedict looked toward Edmund.

“Who designed that clause?”

Edmund answered quietly.

“Evelyn.”

Benedict's eyes narrowed.

“My mother?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew your grandfather would try to destroy the succession.”

Edmund paused.

“She created a structure he couldn't easily erase.”

Daniel stared at him.

“And that's why he separated us.”

“He believed separating the brothers would make the succession useless.”

Benedict looked at Daniel.

“But he was wrong.”

Edmund nodded.

“The succession requires both bloodlines to stand together.”

A sudden sound came from outside.

Everyone froze.

Footsteps.

Damian reached for his weapon.

Edmund shook his head.

“Wait.”

The footsteps stopped.

Then a voice came from beyond the crypt.

“Benedict.”

Benedict recognized it.

Victor.

He stepped toward the entrance.

“Father?”

Victor appeared in the doorway.

His suit was torn.

Blood covered one side of his face.

Damian immediately moved toward him.

“What happened?”

Victor looked at Eleanor.

“She escaped.”

Eleanor stared at him.

“You followed me.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Protect me?”

Her voice shook.

“You helped them find me.”

Victor went still.

Damian looked between them.

“What is she talking about?”

Victor lowered his eyes.

“I made a mistake.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“Another one?”

Victor looked at him.

“I gave Magnus information.”

Silence.

Daniel stepped forward.

“What information?”

Victor swallowed.

“Your location.”

Damian's face changed.

“You betrayed us.”

“I thought I could control him.”

Benedict laughed bitterly.

“You couldn't even control your own family.”

Victor accepted the words without responding.

Then he looked at Edmund.

“You found the document.”

Edmund's expression hardened.

“No.”

Victor looked at Benedict.

“Then Magnus still has a chance.”

Benedict frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Victor reached into his coat.

He removed a small photograph.

He handed it to Benedict.

Benedict stared.

It showed a young Evelyn standing beside Magnus.

On the back was a date.

Twenty-five years ago.

Daniel looked over his shoulder.

“Why was Magnus with our mother?”

Victor's voice dropped.

“Because he wasn't working for your grandfather.”

Benedict looked up.

“Then who was he working for?”

Victor hesitated.

“Evelyn.”

The room went silent.

Eleanor closed her eyes.

Benedict stared at his mother.

“You knew Magnus.”

Eleanor didn't deny it.

“Yes.”

“And you trusted him?”

“No.”

Her voice was barely audible.

“I used him.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“For what?”

Eleanor looked at her sons.

“To make sure the succession survived.”

Outside, another vehicle approached.

Edmund looked toward the entrance.

“We have to move.”

Benedict folded the photograph.

“No.”

He looked at Eleanor.

“Not until she tells us everything.”

Eleanor met his eyes.

“Then you need to hear what happened the night you disappeared.”

Her voice trembled.

“Because Magnus wasn't the man who took you.”

Benedict froze.

“Who was?”

Eleanor looked at Victor.

Victor's face turned pale.

Then she whispered,

“Your grandfather.”

The words settled over the crypt.

Your grandfather.

Benedict stared at Eleanor.

“You're saying Grandfather took me?”

Eleanor nodded.

“He ordered the separation.”

Daniel's expression hardened.

“And me?”

“He ordered you taken too.”

“Why?”

Eleanor looked at Edmund.

“Because he believed the two of you together would eventually challenge everything he had built.”

Benedict's jaw tightened.

“So he made us disappear.”

“Yes.”

“And Magnus?”

Eleanor shook her head.

“Magnus came later.”

Damian frowned.

“Then why was he working with Mother?”

“Because I needed someone outside the family.”

Eleanor's voice weakened.

“Someone who could move information without my father knowing.”

Benedict stared at her.

“You used Magnus to protect us?”

“I tried.”

“What went wrong?”

Eleanor looked down.

“I trusted him too long.”

Victor spoke quietly.

“And he became obsessed with the succession.”

Benedict turned toward him.

“You helped him.”

“I thought I could use his knowledge to recover the original documents.”

“You gave him our location.”

“I was desperate.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“You always say that.”

Victor lowered his head.

Before anyone could respond, Edmund moved toward the entrance.

“Someone is coming.”

Daniel drew his weapon.

“Magnus?”

Edmund listened.

“No.”

The footsteps stopped outside.

Then a woman's voice spoke.

“Edmund.”

Eleanor's eyes widened.

“No.”

Benedict looked at her.

“Who?”

Eleanor whispered,

“Grace.”

The door opened.

Grace entered alone.

She looked at Eleanor.

“You shouldn't have come here.”

Eleanor gave a tired smile.

“I didn't have a choice.”

Grace looked at Benedict and Daniel.

“You found the original Witness.”

Benedict frowned.

“You knew?”

“I knew he was alive.”

“Why didn't you tell us?”

“Because I wasn't sure who could be trusted.”

Damian looked at Victor.

“Apparently, nobody.”

Grace ignored him.

She looked at Benedict.

“Magnus has the original succession.”

Benedict's expression tightened.

“We have proof that the document exists.”

“You have a copy.”

“So he has the original.”

“Yes.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“Then why hasn't he used it?”

Grace's eyes darkened.

“Because he can't.”

Benedict stared at her.

“Why?”

“Because the document requires three things.”

She raised one finger.

“The original document.”

A second.

“The verification seal.”

Then a third.

“The two heirs.”

Silence.

Benedict understood.

“He needs us alive.”

Grace nodded.

“Exactly.”

Damian looked toward the entrance.

“Then why attack us?”

“To frighten you.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“He wants us to surrender.”

“No.”

Grace shook her head.

“He wants you to come willingly.”

Daniel looked at Benedict.

“There's a difference.”

“A dangerous one,” Benedict replied.

Grace stepped closer.

“Magnus has sent a location.”

Benedict looked at her.

“Where?”

She handed him a folded paper.

Benedict opened it.

His eyes narrowed.

“Ashcroft Tower.”

Damian frowned.

“That's abandoned.”

“Not anymore,” Grace said.

Benedict looked at Eleanor.

“Is he holding anyone there?”

Eleanor's face changed.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

She hesitated.

Then answered,

“Your grandfather.”

Everyone went silent.

Daniel stared at her.

“He's alive?”

Eleanor nodded.

“Magnus found him years ago.”

Benedict's grip tightened around the paper.

“So Magnus has the original succession and Grandfather.”

Edmund looked at him.

“And he wants the entire family gathered in one place.”

Benedict understood.

“A trap.”

“Yes.”

Daniel stepped beside him.

“Then we don't go.”

Benedict looked at his brother.

“We have to.”

Daniel shook his head.

“Why?”

“Because if Grandfather is alive, he knows where everything began.”

Eleanor looked at him.

“And he knows why you were separated.”

Benedict folded the paper.

“Then we're going.”

Damian stepped forward.

“I'm coming.”

Benedict shook his head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because this is bigger than Ashcroft Group.”

Damian's expression hardened.

“It's my family.”

Benedict looked at him.

“Exactly.”

He paused.

“And that's why you stay with Mother.”

Damian glanced at Eleanor.

She was still weak.

He reluctantly nodded.

Grace looked at Daniel.

“You should know something before you go.”

Daniel turned.

“What?”

“Magnus doesn't believe Benedict is the true heir.”

Daniel frowned.

“Why?”

“Because your grandfather told him otherwise.”

Benedict's expression changed.

“What did he tell him?”

Grace looked directly at him.

“That only one of you was ever meant to inherit.”

Daniel went still.

Benedict stared at his brother.

Then he smiled without humor.

“That's the lie that started everything.”

Edmund nodded.

“And tomorrow, you may finally learn who created it.”

Outside, thunder rolled across the city.

Benedict looked toward the dark sky.

“Ashcroft Tower.”

Daniel nodded.

“Together.”

Benedict extended his hand.

Daniel took it.

For twenty-five years, the family had used lies to keep them apart.

Now, for the first time, the brothers were choosing to face the truth together.

And somewhere across Aurelia City, Magnus watched the clock.

The final meeting had been arranged.

The heirs were coming.

But Magnus had one secret left.

A secret that could destroy everything Benedict thought he knew about his own birth.