The Hidden heir’s revenge

CHAPTER 27 — THE FATHER BEHIND THE DOOR

“Varek, open the door. It’s time you met your real father.”

Varek froze.

Richard’s voice sounded exactly as he remembered it. Calm, familiar, and filled with the kind of authority that had controlled his childhood.

But Richard was supposed to be injured.

He had been shot.

And Naomi had just told him that the man outside the door was connected to his father’s murder.

Varek tightened his grip on his weapon.

“How are you alive?”

A quiet laugh came from the other side.

“That’s an interesting question coming from a man who has spent his entire life believing people were dead when they weren’t.”

Varek glanced at Naomi.

She was struggling to remain conscious. Her hand was pressed against her wound, and her breathing had become uneven.

“Stay here,” he whispered.

Naomi shook her head.

“Don’t open that door.”

“I need answers.”

“Then don’t get yourself killed looking for them.”

The handle moved again.

“Varek,” Richard called. “I know you’re in there.”

Varek stood slowly.

“How do I know it’s really you?”

There was silence.

Then Richard spoke.

“When you were seven, you broke your mother’s favourite glass vase. You blamed the housekeeper. I knew you were lying, but I allowed you to believe you had fooled me.”

Varek’s expression changed.

Only Richard knew that story.

Or someone who had access to his private memories.

“Open the door.”

Varek moved closer but kept his weapon raised.

“Who killed my father?”

Richard sighed.

“Naomi has been telling you stories.”

“She said you ordered his murder.”

“Naomi doesn’t know what she is talking about.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

The voice outside became colder.

“The truth is that you were never supposed to find that hospital.”

Varek glanced at the memory card in his hand.

“Why?”

“Because some things are better left buried.”

“Like my father?”

A loud bang came from the door.

Someone had kicked it.

Varek stepped back.

The lock broke.

The door swung open.

Richard stood in the doorway.

He wore a dark coat, and his left arm was supported by a bandage. His face looked pale, but his eyes were alert.

Two armed men stood behind him.

Varek raised his weapon.

“Don’t come any closer.”

Richard lifted both hands.

“Put that down.”

“Tell your men to leave.”

Richard glanced over his shoulder.

“Wait outside.”

The men hesitated.

“Now!” Richard barked.

They stepped into the corridor, leaving the door open.

Richard looked at Varek.

“Can we talk?”

“Start talking.”

Richard’s eyes moved toward Naomi.

“She’s hurt.”

“Because of people working for you.”

“I didn’t shoot her.”

“But you know who did.”

Richard said nothing.

Varek took a step forward.

“Who was my father?”

Richard studied him for a long moment.

“His name was Daniel Mercer.”

Varek frowned.

“Daniel Mercer is dead.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re telling me he was my biological father?”

“Yes.”

Varek shook his head.

“No. The records said Jonathan. Mara said she gave birth to me. Helena said she was my mother. Sebastian said my father was already dead. Now Naomi says Adrian and I share the same father.”

“Naomi was right about one thing.”

“Which one?”

“Adrian and you share the same biological father.”

Varek felt his stomach tighten.

“Then who is my mother?”

Richard looked at him.

“That is where the real trouble begins.”

Before Varek could respond, Naomi groaned behind the desk.

He turned immediately.

“Naomi?”

She was trying to sit up.

Richard moved toward her.

“Don’t touch her!” Varek shouted.

Richard stopped.

“She needs medical attention.”

“Then call an ambulance.”

“That would be a mistake.”

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

“Because the people who shot her are still looking for her. If she leaves this building, they will find her.”

Naomi forced herself to speak.

“Don’t believe him.”

Richard looked at her with irritation.

“You should be resting.”

Naomi laughed weakly.

“That’s what you always say when you want someone to stop asking questions.”

Varek crouched beside her.

“Tell me what you know.”

Naomi reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small blood-stained envelope.

“I found this before they took me.”

Varek opened it.

Inside was a photocopy of a DNA report.

He scanned the first page.

The results showed a direct biological relationship between Daniel Mercer and two newborn children.

One was identified as Varek Vale.

The other was identified as Adrian Thorne.

But there was another section.

A second test had been performed several years later.

This one compared Richard Thorne with Adrian.

The result confirmed that Richard was Adrian’s biological father.

Varek stared at the report.

“How can Daniel be Adrian’s father and Richard also be his father?”

Naomi swallowed.

“Because one of those reports was changed.”

Richard stepped closer.

“Give me that document.”

Varek stood.

“Don’t move.”

Richard stopped.

Naomi continued.

“Daniel Mercer was the biological father of both boys. Richard adopted Adrian’s identity after the original records were destroyed. The DNA report naming Richard as Adrian’s father was created to protect the inheritance.”

Varek looked at Richard.

“Is that true?”

Richard’s expression was unreadable.

“Daniel Mercer was not the man you think he was.”

“Who was he?”

Richard hesitated.

“Your father was my older brother.”

The room fell silent.

Varek stared at him.

“You are telling me Daniel Mercer was your brother?”

Richard nodded.

“His real name was Daniel Thorne. He changed it after he discovered what our father had done.”

Varek looked down at the DNA report again.

Daniel Thorne.

Not Daniel Mercer.

Not Jonathan Thorne.

A man whose name had been buried beneath years of lies.

“Who killed him?” Varek asked.

Richard looked at Naomi.

“Tell him.”

Naomi’s eyes widened.

“No.”

“Tell him what you found.”

“You’re trying to make me say it.”

Richard’s expression hardened.

“Enough games.”

Varek stepped between them.

“Nobody is forcing her to do anything.”

Naomi reached for his hand.

“Varek, your father discovered that four children had been switched at birth. He found out that the Black Ledger Trust was built around their identities. He wanted to expose everyone involved.”

“And someone killed him.”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Naomi looked directly at Richard.

“Your grandfather.”

Varek went still.

“Alistair?”

Naomi nodded.

“Alistair Thorne ordered Daniel’s death. But he didn’t act alone.”

Richard looked away.

Varek slowly turned toward him.

“Who helped him?”

Richard said nothing.

“Who helped him, Richard?”

Richard finally raised his eyes.

“Your mother.”

Varek felt something inside him break.

“Which one?”

Richard’s face changed.

“Helena.”

Naomi shook her head violently.

“No!”

Richard turned toward her.

“You know what happened.”

“I know you are lying!”

“Then tell him the truth.”

Naomi struggled to sit up.

“Helena didn’t kill Daniel. She tried to save him.”

Richard laughed bitterly.

“She handed him over.”

“Because you threatened her children!”

Varek looked from one person to the other.

“What happened to my father?”

Naomi closed her eyes.

“Alistair arranged a meeting with Daniel at the old Blackstone residence. Helena was supposed to bring the original birth records. Richard was there too.”

Varek turned slowly.

“You were there?”

Richard didn’t answer.

Naomi continued.

“Daniel discovered the plan. He tried to escape, but someone shot him. The official report said he died in a fire several hours later.”

“Who shot him?”

Naomi looked at Richard.

“Ask the man standing in front of you.”

Varek’s weapon lowered slightly.

He stared at Richard.

“Did you shoot my father?”

Richard’s face became cold.

“Your father was going to destroy everything.”

“Did you shoot him?”

“He was going to take you away.”

“Did you shoot him?”

Richard finally answered.

“Yes.”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Varek felt his fingers trembling.

For years, he had searched for the person responsible for his suffering. He had blamed Jonathan, Cassian, Sebastian, and even the woman who raised him.

But Richard had been standing in front of him all along.

The man who had attended his birthdays.

The man who had taught him how to ride a bicycle.

The man who had once promised that nobody would ever hurt him.

“You killed him,” Varek whispered.

Richard’s expression softened.

“I did what I had to do.”

“You murdered my father.”

“I protected you!”

“From what?”

Richard stepped closer.

“From the truth.”

Varek raised his weapon again.

“Don’t.”

Richard stopped.

For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.

“You don’t understand what Daniel was planning.”

“I don’t care.”

“He wanted to destroy the trust. He wanted to expose the four children and reveal who had been selected to control the family fortune. He knew that once the truth came out, every powerful person involved would lose everything.”

“And that gave you the right to kill him?”

“No. But it gave me a reason to survive.”

Varek stared at him.

“Why did you let me believe you were my father?”

Richard’s expression changed.

“Because you needed one.”

Varek almost laughed.

“That is your excuse?”

“I raised you as my own.”

“You lied to me.”

“I gave you a life.”

“You stole mine!”

Richard’s jaw tightened.

“Daniel’s death was not the only thing I did to protect you.”

Varek lowered his weapon slightly.

“What else?”

Richard reached into his coat and pulled out a small photograph.

He placed it on the desk.

It showed two newborn babies lying side by side.

A nurse stood beside them.

Varek recognized her immediately.

Grace Cross.

Naomi’s mother.

But there was another person in the background.

A young woman wearing a hospital uniform.

Eleanor.

Varek picked up the photograph.

“Why is Eleanor here?”

Richard looked at him.

“Because she was the one who carried you out of that hospital.”

Varek’s mind raced.

“Why?”

“Because Helena wanted you dead.”

Naomi shook her head.

“That’s another lie.”

Richard ignored her.

“Helena had been told that one of her children had to die to protect the inheritance. She chose the wrong child to save. Eleanor refused to follow the order and took you away.”

Varek looked at the photograph again.

“Then who was the child who died?”

Richard’s face became unreadable.

“That’s what everyone has been trying to hide.”

A sudden sound came from the corridor.

Footsteps.

Richard immediately turned toward the door.

One of his guards rushed inside.

“Sir, we have a problem.”

Richard frowned.

“What?”

“The men outside have been disarmed.”

“By whom?”

The guard looked terrified.

“By someone who claims to be the owner of this building.”

Varek raised his weapon.

“Who?”

Before the guard could answer, a voice came from the corridor.

“Hello, little brother.”

Varek turned.

A man walked into the room.

He wore a grey suit and held a walking stick. His face was thinner than the one in the hospital photograph, but there was no mistaking him.

Varek had seen that face before.

On the screen.

In the old hospital recording.

In the photograph Sebastian had left behind.

Jonathan Thorne.

The man everyone had believed was dead.

Richard stepped back.

For the first time since entering the room, he looked genuinely afraid.

“Daniel?”

The newcomer smiled.

“That’s not my name anymore.”

Varek stared at him.

“Who are you?”

The man looked directly at him.

“I am the man your grandfather tried to kill. I am the man Richard buried beneath a false identity.”

He turned toward Richard.

“And I am the man who knows which of you two boys was supposed to die that night.”

Then he looked at Varek.

“Your father didn’t die in that fire, son.”

Varek’s breath caught.

Jonathan leaned closer.

“Because I was the one who walked out of it.”