The Hidden heir’s revenge

CHAPTER 10 TEN MINUTES TO CHOOSE

The countdown continued.

09:42.

09:41.

09:40.

Varek stared at Jonathan Thorne.

“My real father ordered my execution?”

Jonathan nodded.

“Cassian Vale has wanted you dead for years.”

“Then why am I still alive?”

“Because the people who were supposed to kill you discovered something unexpected.”

“What?”

Jonathan smiled without answering.

Varek glanced toward the two doors.

His brother was behind one.

His mother was behind the other.

And somewhere beyond the walls of the mausoleum, a man who supposedly had been dead for decades was manipulating everyone like pieces on a chessboard.

Varek had spent his life being controlled by people who believed they knew what was best for him.

He was finished playing their game.

“Open both doors.”

Jonathan laughed.

“You haven’t understood the situation.”

“No. You haven’t understood me.”

Varek pulled the black case from beneath his jacket and placed it on the marble table.

“You want this? Take it. But open both doors first.”

Jonathan studied the case.

For the first time, greed flickered across his face.

“You brought the original documents?”

“Every document you want.”

“And the flash drive?”

“Everything is inside.”

Jonathan approached the table.

Varek watched his hands carefully.

The older man opened the case and examined the contents.

Then he looked up.

“Where is the second key?”

“What second key?”

Jonathan’s expression darkened.

“Your grandfather’s inheritance requires two keys. One belongs to the rightful heir. The other belongs to the child whose identity was erased.”

Varek’s mind raced.

The letter Eleanor had given him mentioned a second key.

But she had never explained where it was.

“You said I was the rightful heir.”

“You are.”

“Then the other key belongs to Damian.”

Jonathan smiled.

“Now you’re thinking.”

Varek glanced at the countdown.

08:31.

“Open the doors.”

“Not until you tell me where the second key is.”

“I don’t know.”

Jonathan’s face twisted with anger.

“Your mother gave it to you.”

“No, she gave me this case.”

“Search it!”

Varek opened the case and emptied its contents onto the table.

Documents scattered across the marble surface.

The original birth certificate.

The bank authorization records.

The flash drive.

The photograph of three newborns.

And the small envelope containing Eleanor’s handwritten letter.

Jonathan snatched the photograph.

His expression changed.

“Where did you get this?”

“My mother.”

“Impossible.”

He stared at the three infants.

Then he looked at Varek with an expression bordering on horror.

“She kept it.”

“What is so important about that photograph?”

Jonathan ignored him.

He turned it over.

His fingers began to tremble.

Written beneath the three names was a sentence Varek hadn’t noticed before.

THE THIRD SON HOLDS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING.

Jonathan slowly raised his eyes.

“Where is Damian?”

Varek stared at him.

“You tell me.”

Jonathan grabbed him by the collar.

“Where is he?”

Varek struck his hand away.

“You have less than eight minutes to explain why you’re threatening my family. Start talking.”

Jonathan stepped back, breathing heavily.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Then Jonathan laughed.

It wasn’t a happy sound.

It was the bitter laugh of a man watching a carefully constructed plan collapse.

“Your grandfather made the same mistake I did,” he said. “He believed the truth could be buried.”

He pointed at the photograph.

“Three boys were born that night. Varek Vale, Adrian Thorne, and Damian Mercer. Each was connected to a different branch of the same conspiracy.”

“Who was the third boy’s father?”

Jonathan’s expression hardened.

“Cassian.”

Varek frowned.

“You already told me Cassian was my father.”

“I told you what your mother wanted you to believe.”

The words struck Varek like a punch.

“Are you saying I’m not Cassian’s son?”

Jonathan shook his head.

“No. I’m saying that being someone’s biological son doesn’t mean you understand who they are.”

Varek stepped forward.

“Stop playing games!”

Jonathan pointed toward the photograph again.

“Look closely at the babies.”

Varek picked it up.

The photograph was old and faded, but he could clearly distinguish the three infants.

One had a small birthmark near his left ear.

Another wore a bracelet bearing the name Adrian Thorne.

The third wore a bracelet with the name Damian Mercer.

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

The baby with the birthmark looked familiar.

He had the same mark.

A small, faint mark just behind his left ear.

He touched it instinctively.

Jonathan noticed.

“Yes,” he whispered. “Now you understand.”

Varek’s stomach tightened.

“Understand what?”

“The boy registered as Varek Vale was never supposed to inherit the Thorne fortune. Your grandfather selected you because he believed you were the only child capable of exposing the conspiracy.”

“Then why did he hide my identity?”

“Because the truth would have destroyed everything he built.”

The countdown continued.

07:14.

Varek looked toward the two doors.

“Enough. Open them.”

Jonathan sighed.

“You still don’t understand. One of those doors doesn’t contain your brother.”

Varek went still.

“What?”

“The man you know as Adrian Thorne is not the person you think he is.”

“You told me he was Richard’s son.”

“He is.”

“Then what are you saying?”

Jonathan leaned closer.

“Adrian has spent his entire life believing he is the rightful heir. Richard encouraged that belief. Cassian exploited it. And your grandfather allowed it because he needed someone to keep the company stable while he prepared the real inheritance.”

Varek stared at him.

“Who is the real heir?”

Jonathan smiled.

“You.”

Varek’s expression became murderous.

“If you say that one more time without explaining anything, I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

For a moment, Jonathan looked almost impressed.

Then he walked toward the door on the left.

He placed his hand against the electronic lock.

“Your brother is inside.”

The lock clicked.

Varek immediately moved toward the door.

Jonathan caught his arm.

“But before you enter, you need to understand something.”

Varek pulled free.

“What?”

“Adrian didn’t arrange your execution alone.”

The room seemed to grow colder.

“Who helped him?”

“Your father.”

“Richard?”

Jonathan shook his head.

“Cassian Vale.”

Varek’s jaw tightened.

“You’re telling me my biological father ordered his own son’s death?”

“I’m telling you that Cassian has never cared about you the way you want to believe.”

Jonathan opened the door.

Inside, Adrian sat tied to a chair.

His head hung forward, and blood trickled from a cut above his eyebrow.

Varek rushed toward him.

“Adrian!”

His brother lifted his head.

When he saw Varek, his eyes widened.

“You idiot,” Adrian rasped. “You shouldn’t have come.”

Varek cut through the ropes binding his wrists.

“Can you stand?”

Adrian nodded weakly.

Then he grabbed Varek’s arm.

“Listen to me. Jonathan isn’t the person you should be afraid of.”

Varek looked toward the doorway.

Jonathan had disappeared.

“Who, then?”

Adrian swallowed.

“Richard.”

Varek froze.

“Richard is working with Jonathan.”

“No.” Adrian shook his head. “Richard is working against him. They both want the inheritance, but they don’t agree on who should control it.”

Adrian struggled to his feet.

“Jonathan wants the second key. Richard wants the entire company. And Cassian wants something worse.”

“What?”

Adrian looked directly into Varek’s eyes.

“He wants the three of us dead.”

A loud metallic crash echoed through the mausoleum.

The lights went out.

Varek grabbed Adrian and pulled him away from the doorway.

Emergency lights flickered on, bathing the room in red.

A voice sounded through the speakers.

SECURITY BREACH DETECTED.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Several men were approaching from the main entrance.

Adrian staggered.

Varek caught him.

“Can you fight?”

Adrian gave a weak, humorless smile.

“I’ve spent twenty-nine years fighting you. I think I can manage.”

Despite everything, Varek almost laughed.

Then a gunshot rang out.

The bullet struck the wall beside them.

Varek dragged Adrian behind a stone pillar.

Three armed men entered the mausoleum.

Their leader wore a black mask.

“Varek Vale!” he shouted. “Put the case down and step away from Adrian!”

Varek looked toward the marble table.

The black case was still there.

He had no intention of surrendering it.

“Who sent you?”

The masked man raised his weapon.

“Your father.”

Varek’s blood ran cold.

“Which one?”

The man laughed.

“The only one who matters.”

He fired again.

Varek pulled Adrian farther behind the pillar as stone fragments exploded around them.

Adrian whispered urgently.

“Varek, the second key isn’t in the case.”

“Where is it?”

Adrian hesitated.

Then he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out a thin silver chain.

A small metal key hung from it.

Varek stared at the object.

“Where did you get that?”

“Richard gave it to me when I was eighteen. He told me it was the key to my future.”

Varek took the chain.

The moment his fingers touched the key, his phone vibrated.

An incoming call.

Unknown number.

He answered without speaking.

A familiar voice came through.

“Varek.”

His mother.

“Mother?”

“Listen carefully. You have to get out of the mausoleum immediately.”

“What’s happening?”

“Cassian knows where you are.”

“I know. He sent armed men.”

“No.” Eleanor’s voice trembled. “You don’t understand. Those men aren’t there to kill you.”

Varek looked toward the approaching gunmen.

“Then what do they want?”

His mother took a shaky breath.

“They want to make sure you never discover who your third brother really is.”

Varek stopped breathing.

“Third brother?”

Before Eleanor could answer, the masked leader shouted from the other side of the pillar.

“LAST CHANCE, VAREK!”

Varek tightened his grip on the silver key.

Then his mother’s final words came through the phone.

“Your third brother has been standing beside you all along.”