The Hidden heir’s revenge

CHAPTER 17 THE FATHER HE SWORE TO DESTROY

Varek stared at the photograph on his phone.

Richard Thorne stood beside Eleanor, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket. His expression was calm, almost tender, as he looked down at the child.

The date printed beneath the photograph was twenty-nine years earlier.

Varek read Naomi’s message again.

YOUR REAL FATHER IS THE MAN YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DESTROY.

Richard.

The man who had raised him.

The man who had taught him to call him Father.

The man who had tried to kill him.

Varek’s fingers tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white.

“No,” he whispered.

He enlarged the photograph.

Eleanor’s face was unmistakable. So was Richard’s.

But the child they were holding had a small birthmark near his left ear.

Varek reached up and touched the same mark on his own skin.

His breath caught.

Another notification appeared.

Naomi was calling.

He answered immediately.

“Tell me this is wrong.”

“I wish I could.”

“You said Richard was my biological father?”

“The DNA evidence is complicated. I found a laboratory report linking Richard to a child identified as Varek Vale. The sample was collected when you were a baby.”

“Who collected it?”

“Eleanor.”

Varek closed his eyes.

“Could the report have been forged?”

“Yes. But I compared it with another record from a separate laboratory. The results are consistent.”

He leaned against the wall.

“Then why did Richard spend my entire life treating me like I was nothing?”

“Because being your biological father doesn’t mean he wanted you.”

The words struck harder than Varek expected.

For years, he had imagined that discovering his real father would explain the cruelty, the rejection, and the attempts to erase him.

Instead, the truth made everything worse.

“Naomi, I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“Find out where Eleanor is. I want every movement she’s made since leaving the hospital. And I want the original DNA records, not copies.”

“I’ve already started.”

“Send everything to an account nobody knows about.”

“Varek, there’s another problem.”

He straightened.

“What?”

“The inheritance transfer you mentioned. I checked the trust records. Someone has initiated a transfer of controlling shares to Adrian Thorne.”

“Can they complete it?”

“Not without your authorization.”

“Then why is my name appearing on the approval screen?”

“Because someone has access to your identity credentials.”

Varek looked toward the control panel.

The inheritance transfer was still active.

BENEFICIARY: ADRIAN THORNE.

AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: VAREK VALE.

A countdown had appeared beneath the message.

TIME REMAINING: 01:42:17.

Varek’s stomach tightened.

“How do I stop it?”

“You need to access the original trust terminal and revoke the authorization.”

“Where is it?”

“According to the records, beneath the old Thorne headquarters.”

Varek stared at the screen.

“That’s where Richard operates.”

“Exactly. If he has control of the building, you can’t assume the security system will recognize you as the rightful owner.”

“Then I’ll take it back.”

“Varek, listen to me. If Richard is your biological father, he may have access to the same inheritance system. You need to understand what that means before you confront him.”

“I understand enough.”

“Do you? What if the transfer is a trap? What if the moment you enter the building, the system records you as having authorized it?”

Varek looked at the countdown.

“Then I’ll make sure I leave with the evidence.”

He ended the call.

Before leaving the control room, he checked the security monitors.

The feed from the hospital had returned.

Daniel was no longer in his bed.

Eleanor stood beside an open door, speaking to a man whose face was hidden from the camera.

The man handed her a small black case.

She accepted it, then looked directly toward the security camera.

For one brief second, Varek felt as though she were looking straight at him.

Then she smiled.

The screen went black.

A new message appeared.

COME HOME, SON.

It had been sent from Richard Thorne’s private number.

⸻

Varek reached the old Thorne headquarters forty minutes later.

The building rose above the city like a monument to everything he had lost. Its glass walls reflected the lights of passing vehicles, and the company logo gleamed above the entrance.

He had once stood outside this building, waiting for permission to enter.

Now he walked through the doors without slowing down.

The receptionist looked up.

“Sir, do you have an appointment?”

Varek placed his palm against the access scanner.

The system flashed green.

WELCOME, VAREK VALE.

The receptionist stared at the display.

“Mr. Vale?”

“Tell Richard I’m here.”

“Mr. Thorne is in a meeting.”

“Then interrupt him.”

He walked toward the elevators.

Two security guards stepped into his path.

“Sir, you’re not authorized to enter the executive floor.”

Varek glanced at their identification badges.

Both men worked for a security company he had personally hired after surviving the assassination attempt.

He looked at the first guard.

“Who gave you that instruction?”

“Mr. Thorne.”

Varek nodded.

“Call him.”

The guard reached for his radio.

Before he could speak, a voice came from the elevator.

“Let him through.”

Richard Thorne stepped out, wearing a charcoal suit and a silver tie.

His expression was almost welcoming.

“Leave us,” he ordered.

The guards stepped aside.

Varek approached him.

“Where is my mother?”

Richard smiled faintly.

“You haven’t asked how I’ve been.”

“Where is Eleanor?”

“Still alive, apparently.”

Varek’s fist tightened.

“You know where she is.”

Richard studied him.

“You’ve become very demanding lately.”

“You taught me to be.”

For the first time, Richard’s smile disappeared.

“Come to my office.”

“No.”

Richard raised an eyebrow.

“You would rather discuss our family matters in front of the entire company?”

“You stopped being my family when you tried to have me killed.”

Richard looked toward the security guards.

“Give us five minutes.”

They obeyed.

He turned back to Varek.

“You think you understand what happened, but you don’t.”

“Then explain it.”

Richard gestured toward the elevator.

Varek followed him to the executive floor, keeping a careful distance.

Richard’s office looked exactly as Varek remembered it. Dark furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows. A large desk covered with financial reports.

On the wall hung a photograph of Richard standing beside Varek as a child.

Varek stopped in front of it.

“Was any of it real?”

Richard removed his jacket.

“What?”

“The father-son act. The birthdays. The school fees. The years you spent telling me I was going to inherit this company.”

Richard poured himself a glass of water.

“I raised you.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

Richard drank.

“Do you want the truth?”

“Yes.”

“Then stop pretending you were an innocent child who never benefited from being my son.”

Varek stared at him.

Richard continued.

“You received the best education money could buy. You lived in a mansion. You had everything you needed.”

“I had everything except a father who loved me.”

Richard’s expression hardened.

“Love is an expensive weakness.”

Varek let out a bitter laugh.

“And you wonder why I became the man you tried to destroy?”

Richard placed the glass on his desk.

“I never wanted you dead.”

“Your men shot at me.”

“Those men were working for Jonathan.”

“You gave them access to the property.”

“I gave them access to a building. I didn’t order anyone to shoot you.”

Varek stepped closer.

“Did you know I was your biological son?”

Richard looked away.

The silence answered him.

Varek’s chest tightened.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

The single word seemed to drain the air from the room.

“Why did you hide it?”

“Because your existence complicated everything.”

“Everything?”

“The inheritance. The family. The agreement I made with your grandfather.”

Varek shook his head.

“You let me believe I was your heir while you secretly worked to replace me with Adrian.”

“Adrian was easier to control.”

“Because he wasn’t your son?”

Richard looked directly at him.

“Because he believed I loved him.”

Varek felt disgust rise in his throat.

“You used him too.”

“I used everyone.”

Richard sat behind his desk.

“That’s how empires survive.”

Varek placed the photograph from Naomi on the desk.

“Then explain this.”

Richard studied it.

For the first time, genuine surprise crossed his face.

“Where did you get that?”

“Answer the question.”

Richard looked at the image again.

“Your mother took that photograph.”

“Why?”

“Because she wanted proof that you were mine.”

“Were you denying it?”

Richard’s jaw tightened.

“I was trying to protect you.”

Varek laughed without humor.

“Everyone keeps using those words.”

Richard stood.

“Your grandfather had arranged for you to inherit the Thorne fortune. But Cassian wanted Damian to inherit it instead. Sebastian wanted to protect the Blackstone interests. Jonathan wanted the trust destroyed. Every man involved had his own plan.”

“And you?”

“I wanted to keep control of the company.”

“So you switched identities.”

“We altered records.”

“You stole my name.”

“I gave you a name that kept you alive.”

Varek stared at him.

“Then why did you try to kill me?”

Richard’s expression became cold.

“Because you survived.”

The words hung between them.

Richard seemed to realize what he had admitted.

Varek slowly reached into his jacket and activated the recording function on his phone.

“Explain.”

Richard moved around the desk.

“When you were nine, your mother discovered that I had altered your birth records. She threatened to expose everything. Jonathan convinced me that the only way to protect the company was to make her disappear.”

“You told me she died in a car accident.”

“That was the official story.”

“And when I started investigating?”

“You became a threat.”

“So you ordered another attempt on my life.”

Richard didn’t answer.

Varek stepped back.

“You’re admitting it.”

“I’m explaining it.”

“You murdered people to protect a fortune.”

“I built that fortune!”

“And you think that makes you entitled to destroy everyone who stands in your way?”

Richard’s face reddened.

“You have no idea what I sacrificed.”

“I don’t care.”

For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.

Then Richard sighed.

“You came here because you want to stop the transfer.”

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

“How do you know about it?”

“Because I initiated it.”

Varek’s hand moved toward his weapon.

Richard raised both palms.

“Don’t be stupid. If you shoot me, the trust will still transfer.”

“Then revoke it.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because the system has already accepted your identity as the authorizing heir.”

Varek felt a cold wave pass through him.

“Someone is using my identity.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Richard smiled faintly.

“You’re beginning to understand.”

A notification appeared on Varek’s phone.

AUTHORIZATION CONFIRMED.

The countdown vanished.

A new message replaced it.

TRANSFER COMPLETE.

Varek stared at the screen.

“No.”

Richard’s smile widened.

“Congratulations. You’ve just transferred the controlling shares of Thorne Global Holdings to Adrian.”

Varek grabbed him by the collar.

“Reverse it!”

Richard didn’t resist.

“You can’t.”

“Reverse it!”

“Only the new controlling shareholder can authorize a reversal.”

Varek released him.

Adrian had the company.

But why would Adrian accept a transfer that would make him the target of every enemy in the Thorne family?

Varek pulled out his phone and called him.

Adrian answered immediately.

“Varek?”

“Did you authorize the transfer?”

“What transfer?”

“The controlling shares. They’re in your name.”

Silence.

Then Adrian said, “I didn’t ask for them.”

“Someone transferred them to you.”

“I don’t want anything from Richard.”

Varek stared at the phone.

“Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Come to the headquarters. Now.”

“I can’t.”

Varek’s expression hardened.

“Why?”

“Because I’m with your mother.”

Varek stopped breathing.

“Where?”

Adrian’s voice dropped.

“She contacted me an hour ago. She said she had something to tell me about my identity.”

“Put her on the phone.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s unconscious.”

Varek’s blood turned cold.

“What?”

“We’re at a private clinic outside the city. She was attacked before I arrived. I brought her inside, but the doctors say she was poisoned.”

Richard slowly sat down behind his desk.

Varek stared at him.

“Who poisoned her?”

Adrian hesitated.

Then he answered.

“Richard’s security chief.”

Varek looked at Richard.

The older man showed no surprise.

“Send me the address,” Varek ordered.

“I already sent it.”

Varek checked his phone.

A location appeared.

He turned toward the door.

Richard called after him.

“Varek.”

He stopped.

“Your mother is not the only person in danger.”

Varek looked back.

Richard opened a drawer and removed a photograph.

It showed Adrian standing beside a young boy.

The child was approximately eight years old and had Adrian’s eyes.

Varek frowned.

“Who is that?”

Richard placed the photograph on the desk.

“Adrian’s son.”

Varek stared at him.

“Adrian has a son?”

“He doesn’t know the boy exists.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Richard leaned back.

“Because the boy is the real reason Adrian accepted the inheritance transfer.”

Varek’s phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

A photograph appeared on the screen.

The same boy was sitting in the back of a black vehicle, his hands bound.

Beneath the photograph was a message.

THE NEW HEIR HAS UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO CHOOSE.

Another message arrived.

THE FORTUNE OR HIS SON.

Varek looked at the time.

11:36 p.m.

He had twenty-four minutes.

Then a final message appeared.

AND VAREK? IF YOU WANT YOUR MOTHER TO LIVE, BRING US RICHARD THORNE.

Varek slowly lifted his eyes toward the man who had raised him.

Richard was smiling.

“You see, son,” he said quietly. “Now we can finally find out which one of us is willing to sacrifice family for power.”