The Hidden heir’s revenge

CHAPTER 29 — THE MOTHER THEY ERASED

Varek stared at Daniel.

The old man stood quietly in the courtyard, his face showing no surprise at the message on Varek’s phone.

That alone made Varek angry.

“Who gave birth to me?”

Daniel looked toward the abandoned medical centre.

“Not here.”

Varek grabbed his arm.

“Don’t you dare tell me we need to go somewhere else. I’ve spent my entire life going from one place to another because people like you refuse to speak.”

Daniel didn’t resist.

“I understand.”

“Then answer me.”

Daniel took a slow breath.

“Your biological mother was not Helena Vale.”

Varek felt his chest tighten.

“Who was she?”

“Her name was Isabel.”

“Isabel what?”

“Isabel Thorne.”

Varek frowned.

“Another Thorne?”

“She was my wife.”

For several seconds, Varek couldn’t speak.

Daniel continued.

“Before I became Daniel Mercer, before I disappeared, I was married to Isabel. We had a son. That son was you.”

Varek stepped back.

“You were married to Isabel Thorne, and you allowed Helena to claim she was my mother?”

“Helena was involved in the arrangement.”

“What arrangement?”

Daniel looked down.

“Isabel died shortly after giving birth. Alistair believed her child would become a threat to his control over the family. He wanted the boy raised under a different identity.”

“And Eleanor?”

“She was trusted to take you away.”

Varek shook his head.

“Why did you tell me Helena was my mother?”

“I never told you that. Helena told you herself.”

“Why did you let her?”

Daniel looked at him.

“Because I wanted to see how far she would go.”

Varek stared at him in disbelief.

“You used me to test her?”

“No. I was trying to discover who had been controlling the lies.”

“Then you should have started by telling me the truth.”

Daniel lowered his eyes.

For once, he had nothing to say.

Naomi shifted behind them.

“Varek…”

He turned immediately.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not good.”

He moved closer and supported her.

“We need to get you to a hospital.”

“No hospitals.”

“You’ve lost blood.”

“And if they find me there, they will finish what they started.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“I know somewhere safe.”

Naomi looked at him.

“After all these years, you still expect us to trust you?”

“No,” Daniel replied. “I expect you to stay alive long enough to discover why they wanted you.”

Varek looked between them.

“Enough. We’re leaving.”

He helped Naomi into the car. Daniel climbed into the front passenger seat while Varek took the driver’s seat.

Before starting the engine, Varek called Adrian again.

No answer.

He sent a message.

Where are you?

The message remained undelivered.

Varek started the car.

“Where are we going?”

Daniel gave him an address.

“An old house in Maitama. Isabel used to live there.”

Varek glanced at him.

“Why would her house still be standing?”

“Because Alistair never knew it existed.”

⸻

The house was smaller than Varek expected.

It stood behind a high wall, surrounded by trees and an overgrown garden. Unlike the Blackstone estate, it had no visible security cameras or guards.

Daniel unlocked the gate with an old key.

Varek parked inside.

“How long has this place been abandoned?”

“Almost twenty years.”

Daniel walked toward the front door.

“Isabel’s family owned it. After her death, I made sure nobody touched it.”

He unlocked the door.

Inside, everything was covered in dust.

The furniture was old, but carefully arranged. Family photographs hung on the walls, and a large clock stood near the staircase.

Varek stopped in front of one photograph.

It showed a young woman holding a baby.

He recognized the face immediately.

The woman had dark eyes, a gentle smile, and a small mark near her left eyebrow.

She looked familiar, though he couldn’t explain why.

“Is that Isabel?”

Daniel nodded.

“Your mother.”

Varek stared at the photograph.

For the first time, he was looking at a woman who might actually have given birth to him.

He studied her face.

“Why did Eleanor never show me this?”

“She probably never saw it.”

“Probably?”

Daniel walked toward the sitting room.

“Alistair wanted every trace of Isabel erased. Eleanor took you away, but she wasn’t allowed to know everything.”

Varek turned.

“Who knew?”

“I did. Alistair. Richard. And one other person.”

“Who?”

Daniel hesitated.

“Sebastian.”

Varek let out a bitter laugh.

“Of course.”

He moved closer to the photograph.

“Was she a good person?”

Daniel stopped.

“She was the best person I ever knew.”

“Then why did she die?”

Daniel looked away.

“Because she discovered what Alistair was doing.”

“Did he kill her?”

“I believe so.”

“Believe?”

“I wasn’t there when it happened.”

Varek looked at him.

“You’re telling me you lost your wife, your son was taken away, and you spent twenty-nine years hiding?”

Daniel’s eyes became wet.

“I spent twenty-nine years trying to survive long enough to get you back.”

Varek turned away.

He wasn’t ready to forgive him.

He wasn’t even sure he wanted to know him.

Naomi lowered herself onto a sofa.

“Daniel, there is something you need to see.”

She opened her handbag and removed a small notebook.

Varek recognized it immediately.

It was the notebook he had found in the underground room at Blackstone estate.

He thought it contained only financial records.

Naomi turned to the last page.

“Your mother left this.”

Daniel took it.

“Where did you get it?”

“From Grace’s old belongings. She kept it hidden inside a medical file.”

Daniel read the first few lines.

His expression changed.

“What is it?” Varek asked.

Daniel handed him the notebook.

The handwriting was delicate and slightly faded.

Varek read aloud.

“To the child who survives, if you ever find this, know that your father did not betray you. He was forced to choose between saving one child and losing all four.”

Varek looked up.

“All four?”

Daniel nodded slowly.

“Keep reading.”

The next paragraph was harder to understand.

It mentioned four babies, four mothers, and a promise made in the hospital.

But one sentence stood out.

THE CHILD WHO CARRIES THE THORNE BLOOD WILL NEVER KNOW HIS REAL NAME UNTIL THE OTHER THREE ARE FOUND.

Varek looked at Daniel.

“What does that mean?”

“It means your identity was connected to the other children.”

“Which other children?”

“Adrian, Marcus, and Naomi.”

Naomi shook her head.

“But why would my mother be involved?”

Daniel looked at her.

“Because Grace was protecting the fourth child.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Naomi stared at him.

“Then why did you say she wasn’t my biological mother?”

Daniel paused.

“Because she wasn’t.”

Naomi’s expression hardened.

“Who was?”

Daniel opened his mouth.

Before he could answer, a loud knock came from the front door.

Everyone froze.

Varek reached for his weapon.

Another knock followed.

Then a woman’s voice came from outside.

“Varek?”

He recognized it immediately.

Eleanor.

He moved toward the door.

Daniel caught his arm.

“Don’t.”

“She’s the woman who raised me.”

“And she’s one of the people who helped hide your identity.”

Varek pulled his arm free.

“I know.”

He approached the door carefully and looked through the small glass panel.

Eleanor stood outside.

She was alone.

Her face was pale, and she leaned heavily against the wall.

Varek opened the door but kept his weapon hidden behind him.

“What are you doing here?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“I came to stop you from making another mistake.”

“Which mistake?”

“Trusting Daniel.”

Behind him, Daniel stepped forward.

“You’re too late, Eleanor.”

She looked past Varek.

For a moment, her expression changed.

Then she laughed bitterly.

“You’re alive.”

Daniel nodded.

“Disappointed?”

“Terrified.”

Varek looked between them.

“Both of you are going to tell me the truth.”

Eleanor entered the house.

She glanced at Naomi.

“You’re hurt.”

Naomi looked away.

“Don’t pretend you care.”

Eleanor ignored the comment and faced Varek.

“Daniel has told you that Isabel was your mother.”

“Yes.”

“Did he tell you that Isabel never gave birth to you?”

Silence filled the room.

Varek slowly turned toward Daniel.

“What?”

Daniel’s face hardened.

“Don’t listen to her.”

Eleanor stepped closer.

“Isabel was pregnant, but the child she delivered died shortly after birth.”

Varek felt his heart pounding.

“Then who was I?”

Eleanor looked directly into his eyes.

“You were the child Isabel was supposed to raise.”

Daniel shook his head.

“That’s not true.”

Eleanor continued.

“Alistair had already arranged for another baby to take Isabel’s place. He wanted a child with the right bloodline, the right identity, and the right claim to the inheritance.”

Varek stared at her.

“Are you saying I was switched?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

Eleanor looked toward Naomi.

Before she could answer, Naomi spoke.

“Don’t.”

Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry.”

Naomi shook her head.

“No. Don’t say it.”

Varek turned toward her.

“Naomi, what is she talking about?”

Naomi looked at him.

Her lips trembled.

Then she said something that changed everything.

“Grace Cross was not my biological mother.”

Varek stared at her.

“I know. Daniel said that.”

Naomi swallowed.

“Because I’m not the fourth child.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

Eleanor began to cry.

Varek looked at the notebook again.

The four children.

The four identities.

The fourth key.

He slowly turned toward Daniel.

“Who is Naomi?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

Eleanor did.

“Naomi is Isabel’s biological daughter.”

Varek felt the room tilt.

“Then who am I?”

Eleanor stepped closer.

“You are Grace Cross’s son.”

Varek stared at her.

The woman who raised him.

The woman who had lied about his birth.

The woman who had once claimed Adrian was her biological child.

Everything was changing again.

“Why would Grace give me away?”

Eleanor wiped her tears.

“Because she was trying to save you.”

“From whom?”

Eleanor looked at Daniel.

“From your father.”

Varek’s voice dropped.

“Daniel is standing right there.”

Eleanor shook her head.

“Daniel Mercer is not your father.”

Daniel’s expression became dark.

“Eleanor, stop.”

But she continued.

“Your biological father was the man who died in the hospital fire. The man Daniel stole his identity from.”

Varek stepped backward.

“Who was he?”

Eleanor looked at him with fear in her eyes.

Then she whispered:

“His name was Jonathan Thorne.”

Varek stared at Daniel.

The man who had just claimed to be his father.

The man who had told him he was Daniel Thorne.

The man who had returned from the dead.

And suddenly, Varek understood why everyone had been fighting over his identity.

Because Daniel had not only stolen a name.

He had stolen another man’s life.

A sharp sound came from upstairs.

Everyone turned.

A phone was ringing.

Varek moved toward the staircase and followed the sound into a small bedroom.

An old mobile phone lay on the bed.

Its screen displayed one incoming call.

UNKNOWN NUMBER.

He answered.

A man’s voice spoke.

“Varek, don’t believe a word Eleanor says.”

“Who is this?”

The man laughed quietly.

“Someone who knows your real father better than anyone.”

“Tell me your name.”

The voice became serious.

“My name is Marcus Blackstone.”

Varek froze.

“Sebastian’s son?”

“Yes.”

“Where is Adrian?”

Marcus ignored the question.

“Your brother is alive, but you need to find him before midnight.”

“Why?”

“Because Sebastian has decided which of you will inherit the Black Ledger.”

Varek gripped the phone.

“And which one has he chosen?”

Marcus was silent for a moment.

Then he answered.

“Adrian.”

A loud crash came from downstairs.

Varek rushed to the bedroom doorway.

He heard Naomi scream.

Then Eleanor shouted his name.

He ran down the stairs.

The sitting room was empty.

Daniel was gone.

Eleanor stood beside the overturned sofa, holding a small piece of paper.

Varek grabbed it.

There was a photograph attached.

It showed Daniel standing beside a woman in a hospital uniform.

The woman was holding a newborn baby.

On the back, someone had written:

THE MAN YOU CALL YOUR FATHER DID NOT STEAL YOUR IDENTITY. HE STOLE YOU FROM THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO YOU.

Below the message was a name.

HELENA VALE.

Varek looked at Eleanor.

“Didn’t you say Helena wasn’t my mother?”

Eleanor’s eyes filled with terror.

“I said she wasn’t the woman who raised you.”

“That’s not what you said.”

She reached for his hand.

“Varek, listen to me. There is something I have never told you.”

He pulled away.

“What?”

Eleanor looked toward the front door.

Then she whispered:

“Helena was your biological mother.”

Varek stared at her.

“But Naomi is Isabel’s daughter. Grace raised me. Daniel says Isabel was his wife. And Jonathan was my father.”

Eleanor nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then why does the photograph say Daniel stole me from Helena?”

Eleanor’s lips trembled.

“Because the baby Daniel took from Helena was not you.”

Varek went completely still.

Eleanor looked directly into his eyes.

“The child he took was Adrian.”