THE SON THEY BURIED WAS THEIR ONLY HEIR

Chapter Sixty Two:The Voice Beneath the Manor

The darkness swallowed the vault.

Damian heard Eleanor gasp.

Margaret whispered something he couldn't understand.

Then—

Click.

The sound came again.

A lock.

Somewhere inside the darkness.

Damian reached for Benedict.

“Stay close.”

“I am.”

“Can you see anything?”

“No.”

A faint metallic sound followed.

Then a light appeared.

Not above them.

Behind them.

A thin line of white light shows under the door of the vault.

Someone was standing outside.

Damian's breathing tightened.

The voice came again.

“You wanted the truth.”

Benedict stepped forward.

“Show yourself.”

A quiet laugh answered him.

“You still sound like her.”

Benedict froze.

Damian noticed.

“Benedict?”

He didn't respond.

The voice continued.

“Your mother had the same arrogance.”

Benedict's eyes hardened.

“Don't speak about her.”

“Why? You spent years believing she abandoned you.”

“She didn't.”

“You're certain?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Benedict stared toward the door.

“Because I remember.”

Silence.

The voice became quieter.

“Then tell me what you remember.”

Benedict said nothing.

Damian looked at him.

“What do you remember?”

Benedict's jaw tightened.

“A storm.”

Margaret slowly raised her head.

Benedict continued.

“Rain against the windows.”

His breathing became slower.

“A woman carrying me.”

Eleanor covered her mouth.

“And another child crying.”

The voice outside went silent.

Benedict closed his eyes.

“She wasn't taking me away from my family.”

He opened them.

“She was saving me from it.”

The vault door suddenly opened.

Light flooded the chamber.

Victor stood outside.

Damian immediately moved toward him.

“Father.”

Victor raised both hands.

“Wait.”

Damian stopped.

Something about Victor was different.

His suit was soaked.

His face was pale.

And there was blood on his collar.

Benedict stared at him.

“You're hurt.”

Victor looked down.

“It's not mine.”

Damian's eyes narrowed.

“Then whose?”

Victor didn't answer.

Instead, he looked into the vault.

He looked at the picture that Benedict had in his hand.

Evelyn.

Victor's expression broke.

For the first time, Damian saw genuine grief on his father's face.

“She warned me.”

Benedict stepped forward.

“About what?”

Victor looked at him.

“That one day you will come back.”

“And?”

She warned me to keep you out of this room.

Benedict's voice hardened.

“You failed.”

Victor nodded.

“Yes.”

Damian looked between them.

“Who attacked you?”

Victor's face became serious.

“Magnus.”

Benedict frowned.

“Where is he?”

“I don't know.”

“Then how did you get here?”

Victor looked toward the corridor.

“He wanted me to bring you a message.”

“What message?”

Victor stared directly at Benedict.

“He knows about the second succession.”

The words silenced everyone.

Damian stepped forward.

“What is the second succession?”

Victor shook his head.

“Not here.”

Benedict's eyes hardened.

“You've been hiding this for twenty-five years.”

“I've been trying to keep you alive.”

“You failed.”

Victor flinched.

Benedict continued.

“You let them erase my name.”

“Yes.”

You let someone else's kid pretend to be someone he's not.

“Yes.”

“You helped destroy my mother's legacy.”

Victor lowered his head.

“Yes.”

Damian stared at his father.

“Why?”

Victor looked at him.

I thought your grandfather was looking out for the family.

“And now?”

Victor's voice broke.

“Now I know he was protecting himself.”

Margaret stepped forward.

“Where is the original Architect record?”

Victor looked at her.

“You shouldn't have come.”

“I've waited twenty-five years.”

"And now it's possible that you've led them right to our doorstep."

“Who?”

Victor didn't answer.

Benedict looked toward the vault entrance.

“The person who was speaking to us.”

Victor's expression changed.

“You heard him?”

“Yes.”

Victor's eyes darkened.

“Then we're already too late.”

Damian looked around.

“Too late for what?”

Victor reached inside his jacket.

He removed a small envelope.

Benedict recognized the seal immediately.

The same symbol from the vault.

“The Architect's seal.”

Victor handed it to him.

Benedict didn't take it.

“What is this?”

“The last instruction.”

“From whom?”

Victor looked at him.

“Your mother.”

Benedict finally took the envelope.

His fingers trembled slightly.

Damian noticed.

“What does it say?”

Benedict opened it.

Inside was a single sheet.

He read silently.

Then stopped.

“What?”

Damian stepped closer.

Benedict handed him the page.

Damian read the first line.

His face changed.

If my son returns, do not tell him the truth about the Architect.

Damian looked up.

“Why would she say that?”

Benedict took the page back.

There was another line beneath it.

The person they are looking for is not the Architect.

Margaret's eyes widened.

Eleanor whispered,

“Then who are they searching for?”

Benedict continued reading.

The final sentence was written in darker ink.

The person in charge has to keep a low profile until the real leader decides to come forward.

Silence.

Damian looked at Benedict.

“What does that mean?”

Benedict folded the letter.

“It means my mother expected this.”

Victor's face tightened.

“She expected everything.”

“No.”

Benedict looked at him.

“She expected someone to survive.”

Victor said nothing.

A sudden sound came from above.

Glass shattered.

Everyone looked up.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Several people.

Moving quickly.

Victor's face changed.

“They found us.”

Damian reached for his phone.

“How many?”

Victor shook his head.

“Enough.”

Benedict looked at the vault.

“There's another exit.”

Victor stared at him.

“How do you know?”

Benedict didn't answer.

He walked toward the far wall.

His fingers moved across the stone.

He pressed one section.

A hidden panel opened.

Damian stared.

“You knew that was there?”

Benedict looked at his hand.

“I don't know how.”

Margaret whispered,

“You remember.”

Benedict turned toward her.

“Not enough.”

He opened the passage.

“Move.”

They entered.

Victor was the last to leave.

He glanced back at the vault before stepping inside.

His eyes settled on the empty pedestal.

Then he whispered,

“I'm sorry, Evelyn.”

The door closed.

Nobody noticed the figure sneaking into the vault right behind them.

The man walked slowly toward the empty pedestal.

He put his hand where the Architect's first plans used to be.

Then he smiled.

“Finally.”

He removed a small device from his pocket.

A screen illuminated.

One message appeared.

THEY FOUND THE SECOND SUCCESSION.

A reply came almost immediately.

GOOD.

The man looked toward the hidden passage.

Another message appeared.

NOW BRING THEM TO BENEDICT.

The man smiled.

“They already have.”

He turned off the device.

For the first time, the reader was able to catch a glimpse of the face that had been hidden in the shadows until now.

It was not Magnus.

It was someone Damian had trusted.

The secret passage was so narrow that only two people could squeeze through it at a time.

Damian moved first.

Eleanor followed.

Margaret walked behind Benedict, and Victor followed last.

Behind them, the sound of footsteps grew louder.

“They're coming,” Victor said.

Damian looked back.

“How do you know?”

“Because I know this house.”

Benedict glanced at him.

“You helped build its defenses.”

Victor's expression tightened.

“I helped build its secrets.”

They continued down the passage.

After several turns, Damian noticed something strange.

The walls were covered with old photographs.

Family photographs.

Ashcroft weddings.

Business celebrations.

Birthdays.

Funerals.

But one face appeared repeatedly.

Evelyn.

Damian stopped.

“Mother.”

Eleanor turned.

“What?”

He pointed.

“Look.”

Several photographs showed Evelyn standing beside Victor.

You can see it in every picture, a gap between them.

Not affection.

Not hatred.

Something more complicated.

Benedict stared at the photographs.

“She knew.”

Eleanor nodded.

“She knew your grandfather was changing the succession.”

“Then why didn't she stop him?”

“She tried.”

Benedict's eyes hardened.

“How?”

Eleanor looked away.

“She built another path.”

“The second succession.”

“Yes.”

Damian stared at her.

“What exactly does the second succession control?”

Eleanor hesitated.

"The things your grandfather wasn't allowed to pass on to you through the Ashcroft Group."

Damian frowned.

“Which assets?”

“Land.”

“That's all?”

“No.”

She swallowed.

“Trusts. Private holdings. International accounts. Intellectual property.”

Damian's expression changed.

“So there is another empire.”

“Not another empire.”

Eleanor looked at Benedict.

“A foundation.”

Benedict understood immediately.

“Vandross.”

“Yes.”

Damian looked confused.

“What does the Vandross family have to do with Ashcroft?”

“Everything.”

Victor finally spoke.

Your grandfather didn't marry into the Vandross family because he was in love, it was something else entirely.

Eleanor closed her eyes.

“He married for access.”

Benedict's face remained still.

“My mother was the key.”

Victor nodded.

“Evelyn inherited something your grandfather could never possess.”

“What?”

“Authority.”

Benedict stopped walking.

“Over what?”

Victor looked directly at him.

“Over the Vandross succession.”

Silence.

Damian slowly understood.

“So Benedict wasn't just connected to Ashcroft.”

“No,” Victor said.

“He was connected to both.”

Benedict's eyes hardened.

“That explains why my grandfather wanted me erased.”

“Yes.”

“And why the Architect system was created.”

Victor shook his head.

“Not entirely.”

Benedict stared at him.

“What are you still hiding?”

Victor looked toward Margaret.

She answered instead.

“The second succession wasn't created for Benedict.”

Benedict's expression changed.

“Then who was it for?”

Margaret lowered her voice.

“Your brother.”

Silence.

Damian frowned.

"You just mentioned that Benedict is linked to both families, didn't you?"

“He was.”

But what's the point of giving the second inheritance to the other kid?

Your grandfather had a unique reason for wanting the kids to be complete opposites.

Benedict stared.

“Explain.”

“One child would carry the Ashcroft claim.”

“The other?”

“The Vandross claim.”

Damian's eyes widened.

“And whoever controlled both…”

“Would control everything.”

The passage became silent.

Benedict finally understood.

“My grandfather separated us deliberately.”

“Yes.”

“He wasn't trying to protect the family.”

“No.”

“He was creating leverage.”

Victor nodded.

He had two kids, one who relied on Ashcroft and the other on Vandross.

Benedict's voice became colder.

“And he believed he could control both.”

“He believed he could control everyone.”

A faint sound came from behind them.

Damian turned.

“Someone's in the passage.”

Victor immediately pushed Eleanor forward.

“Keep moving.”

Benedict remained still.

“I'm not running anymore.”

Victor looked at him.

“This isn't about courage.”

“Then what is it?”

“Survival.”

Benedict stepped forward.

“After twenty-five years, I deserve more than survival.”

Victor stared at him.

Then something changed in his expression.

Regret.

“You do.”

He dug into his jacket and pulled out a tiny key.

“There is another room beneath the east wing.”

Damian looked at him.

“You never told me about it.”

“I never told anyone.”

Benedict took the key.

“What is inside?”

Victor hesitated.

“Your grandfather's private records.”

Margaret's eyes widened.

“The original records?”

“No.”

Victor looked at Benedict.

“Something more dangerous.”

“What?”

“The names of everyone who helped him.”

A loud gunshot rang out in the passageway, cutting off Benedict's chance to reply.

Everyone froze.

Victor pushed Eleanor down.

Another shot struck the wall.

Damian pulled Margaret behind him.

“Move!”

Benedict grabbed Eleanor's arm.

They ran.

At the end of the passage, Victor opened a concealed door.

They spilled into a dark storage room.

Victor shut the door.

The footsteps passed outside.

Nobody spoke.

Then Damian looked at his father.

“You knew there was another room.”

“Yes.”

“You knew about the second succession.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Benedict survived.”

Victor closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Damian's voice broke.

“What else?”

Victor looked at him.

I was aware that your grandfather had altered the identities of both kids.

Benedict stared at him.

“Both?”

Victor nodded.

“Yes.”

So we were back in that old bedroom, and then we met this guy...

“Was not your brother.”

Benedict's face hardened.

“Then where is my brother?”

Victor looked at him.

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

“I wish I were.”

Benedict stepped closer.

“Then what happened to him?”

Victor's voice dropped.

The night you vanished, something happened to your brother, he was taken away to a different place.

“By whom?”

Victor looked toward the door.

“The person who became the Architect after Evelyn.”

Everyone went silent.

Damian whispered,

“After Evelyn?”

Victor nodded.

“Your grandfather replaced her.”

Benedict's eyes narrowed.

“With whom?”

Victor shook his head.

“I never learned the name.”

Margaret suddenly spoke.

“I did.”

Everyone turned.

Margaret's face had gone pale.

Benedict stared at her.

“You know who replaced my mother?”

Margaret nodded.

“I saw the appointment.”

“Who?”

She hesitated.

Then said,

“Someone inside the Ashcroft family.”

Damian's expression changed.

“Who?”

Margaret looked at him.

I'm not sure if my response will be accepted.

“Tell me.”

She slowly raised her eyes.

The new person who took Evelyn's place was only given one thing to do.

Benedict waited.

“To protect the Ashcroft succession at any cost.”

Damian's voice hardened.

“And did they?”

Margaret shook her head.

“No.”

“What did they do?”

“They rewrote it.”

Benedict's eyes narrowed.

“And that person is still alive.”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Margaret looked at him.

“Inside this family.”

Silence.

Then Damian's phone vibrated.

Everyone jumped.

The screen showed an incoming message.

There was no number.

Only a name.

ELEANOR.

Damian looked at his mother.

Her face went white.

He opened the message.

There was one photograph.

It showed Eleanor twenty-five years earlier.

She was standing outside the manor.

Beside her was Benedict's grandfather.

And behind them stood a third person.

The face had been deliberately blurred.

Underneath the photograph was a single sentence:

ASK YOUR MOTHER WHO SIGNED THE SECOND SUCCESSION.

Damian slowly looked at Eleanor.

“Mother.”

She couldn't speak.

Benedict watched her.

“Who signed it?”

Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.

“I did.”

The room went completely silent.

Damian stared at her.

“You?”

Eleanor nodded.

“I was young.”

“You signed the document that divided the inheritance?”

“I thought I was protecting you.”

“Protecting me from what?”

Eleanor looked at Benedict.

“From becoming the next victim.”

Benedict's expression hardened.

“And did it work?”

Eleanor shook her head.

“No.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

“It only changed which child they came for.”

Benedict stepped toward her.

“Which child?”

Eleanor closed her eyes.

Just as she was about to respond, the door to the storage room swung open, having been unlocked from the other side.

Everyone froze.

The handle slowly turned.

Benedict grabbed the weapon that Victor had handed over to him.

The door opened.

Damian raised his hand.

Then stopped.

The man standing outside was someone he knew.

Someone he trusted.

The person who had stood by his side all along, even during the tough times of the Ashcroft crisis.

Damian's face went pale.

“No…”

The man looked at him.

“I tried to warn you.”

Benedict stared.

The man stepped inside.

"I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised you figured it out so fast."

Damian whispered his name.

“Jonathan.”

Jonathan closed the door behind him.

Then looked directly at Benedict.

“You need to come with me.”

Benedict didn't move.

“Why?”

Jonathan's expression was grim.

“Because Magnus has found your brother.”

Silence.

Damian's heart stopped.

Benedict's voice became dangerously quiet.

“Where?”

Jonathan looked at him.

“Not where you think.”

Then he added:

"If we can't get to him before Magnus does, he'll make sure you two never find out the truth about yourselves."