The Hidden heir’s revenge

CHAPTER 38 — THE CHILD BEHIND THE DOOR

Varek raised his weapon.

“Open that door.”

Samuel didn’t move.

“You’re not listening.”

“I heard you. Open it.”

Samuel looked at Adrian.

“Before you see what’s inside, you need to understand that the child behind that door is the reason all of you were brought here.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“My son is in there?”

Samuel shook his head.

“Not Daniel.”

“Then who?”

“The sixth child.”

A loud cry came from behind the locked maternity room.

Varek turned toward the door.

“How can someone have been waiting here for twenty-five years?”

Samuel looked at him.

“Because the person behind that door isn’t a child anymore.”

Silence followed.

Adrian raised his weapon.

“Stop playing games. Who is inside?”

Samuel took a small key from his pocket.

“Someone who was never allowed to leave this building.”

He walked toward the door.

Varek followed him.

“Give me the key.”

Samuel hesitated.

“There’s something you should know. The sixth child was never part of Alistair’s inheritance plan.”

“Then why was he hidden?”

“Because he was born with something the others didn’t have.”

Varek took the key from him.

“What?”

Samuel looked directly into his eyes.

“Proof that the entire Thorne bloodline was built on a lie.”

Before Varek could ask another question, the lights went out.

A gunshot rang through the corridor.

“GET DOWN!” Evelyn shouted.

Varek dropped to the floor.

Adrian fired toward the direction of the shot.

Someone ran past the doorway.

Then the emergency lights came on.

Samuel was gone.

The key was still in Varek’s hand.

“Samuel!” Varek shouted.

No answer.

Adrian rushed toward the corridor.

“He’s getting away!”

“Leave him!” Varek ordered. “We need to find Daniel.”

He inserted the key into the lock.

The door opened.

Inside was a small room with an old hospital bed, a metal cabinet, and a chair facing the wall.

A man sat in the chair.

His back was turned toward them.

His hair was grey, and his shoulders were bent forward.

Varek stepped inside.

“Who are you?”

The man didn’t answer.

Adrian searched the room.

There was no Daniel.

“Where is the boy?” he demanded.

The man slowly turned his head.

Varek froze.

He recognized the face.

Not from a photograph.

Not from a family portrait.

From the stories he had heard since childhood.

It was the man everyone believed had died twenty-five years earlier.

Dr. Matthew Cross.

Evelyn’s father.

⸻

Evelyn entered the room behind them.

The moment she saw the man, she stopped breathing.

“Dad?”

Matthew looked at her.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then he smiled sadly.

“My little girl.”

Evelyn’s weapon slipped slightly in her hand.

“You’re alive.”

Matthew nodded.

She rushed toward him, but Varek caught her arm.

“Wait.”

Evelyn turned angrily.

“That’s my father!”

“I know. But we don’t know why he’s here.”

Matthew looked at Varek.

“You’re right to be careful.”

Varek moved closer.

“Why have you been hiding here?”

“Because I was the only person who knew what happened to the sixth child.”

“Where is he?”

Matthew looked at the empty hospital bed.

“You’re standing in his room.”

Varek frowned.

“There’s nobody here.”

Matthew nodded.

“That’s because he left.”

“When?”

“Years ago.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Then why did Samuel say someone was waiting behind this door?”

Matthew looked at him.

“Because Samuel wanted you to believe the sixth child was still here.”

Varek’s expression hardened.

“Where is Samuel?”

“Probably with Richard.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“Why would you work with them?”

Matthew looked at his daughter.

“I didn’t.”

“Then explain what happened.”

Matthew sighed.

“Twenty-five years ago, I was the senior doctor at St. Catherine’s. Alistair brought six children into this hospital’s private maternity ward. He wanted their births recorded under one medical file.”

“Why?” Varek asked.

“Because he wanted to control their identities from the beginning. He believed their bloodlines would determine who could access the Black Ledger Trust.”

Naomi’s voice came through Varek’s earpiece.

“Varek, I’m inside the hospital’s old network. I’m recording everything. Keep him talking.”

Varek nodded slightly.

“What happened to the sixth child?”

Matthew looked at the cabinet.

“I discovered that the sixth child wasn’t related to the Thorne family.”

Adrian frowned.

“Then why was he there?”

“Because his mother was.”

“Who was she?”

Matthew hesitated.

“Isabel.”

Varek remembered the name.

“Marcus’s mother?”

“Yes. Isabel was carrying a child when she arrived at the hospital. But that child was not Marcus.”

Evelyn stared at him.

“How many children did Isabel give birth to?”

“Two.”

“Marcus and the sixth child?”

Matthew nodded.

Varek looked at him.

“Then why was the sixth child removed?”

“Because Alistair discovered something about the child’s father.”

“Who was he?”

Matthew’s eyes moved toward Varek.

“Your father.”

Varek felt the room shift around him.

“Which one?”

Matthew lowered his voice.

“Jonathan Thorne.”

Varek stared at him.

“You’re saying Jonathan fathered Isabel’s second child?”

“Yes.”

“Then why was the child not part of the Thorne family?”

“Because Jonathan was not the man the family believed him to be.”

Adrian looked confused.

“How many Jonathans were there?”

Matthew gave a tired laugh.

“That is the question that destroyed this family.”

⸻

Outside the building, a black vehicle stopped near the back entrance.

Richard stepped out.

Two armed men followed him.

He looked at his phone.

A message from Samuel appeared.

THEY HAVE FOUND MATTHEW.

Richard typed a reply.

DO NOT LET THEM LEAVE WITH HIM.

He put the phone away.

“Prepare the room,” he ordered.

One of the men looked uncertain.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Richard turned.

“Do you want to explain to Alistair why the original records are still alive?”

The man lowered his eyes.

Richard walked toward the building.

⸻

Inside the maternity room, Varek was still trying to understand Matthew’s words.

“Who was Jonathan?”

Matthew leaned back.

“He was a doctor. He worked with me. He was also the man who helped create the Black Ledger’s original biological registry.”

“Why would he have a child with Isabel?”

“Because they were together before she married Daniel.”

Varek’s expression changed.

“Daniel knew?”

“Eventually.”

“Then why did he claim I was his son?”

“Because he wanted to protect you from the truth.”

Varek laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps using protection as an excuse for lying.”

Matthew nodded.

“You’re right.”

Adrian moved closer.

“What about me? Who was my father?”

Matthew looked at him.

“Richard.”

Adrian’s face hardened.

“And my mother?”

“Richard’s wife.”

“Then why does Helena’s name appear on my birth record?”

“Because she signed the transfer.”

Adrian stared at him.

“What transfer?”

Matthew took a deep breath.

“Your mother died shortly after you were born. Richard was not in a position to raise you, so Helena agreed to take responsibility for you temporarily.”

Adrian shook his head.

“Why would she tell me she gave birth to me?”

“Because someone told her that if she didn’t accept the arrangement, Richard would have you killed.”

Varek looked at Matthew.

“Then who is Daniel’s father?”

Matthew hesitated.

“Jonathan.”

Adrian’s eyes widened.

“Then Daniel and I have different fathers?”

“Yes.”

“Why did Richard say Daniel was the fifth child?”

“Because Daniel carries the biological marker that can activate the original Black Ledger.”

Naomi’s voice came through the earpiece.

“Varek, I found something.”

He touched the device.

“What?”

“The hospital network has a live connection. Someone is accessing the maternity records right now.”

“Can you identify them?”

A pause.

Then Naomi answered.

“Yes. The access code belongs to Alistair Thorne.”

Varek turned toward Matthew.

“Where is Alistair?”

Matthew’s expression changed.

“He should be dead.”

“He’s not.”

Matthew slowly stood.

“Then we have to leave.”

A loud explosion shook the building.

The windows rattled.

Evelyn grabbed her father’s arm.

“What’s happening?”

Matthew looked toward the corridor.

“Richard has activated the hospital’s security system.”

Varek rushed to the doorway.

The corridor was filling with smoke.

“Everyone out!”

They ran toward the main staircase.

But the door was locked.

Adrian tried the handle.

“It’s sealed!”

Evelyn raised her weapon and fired at the lock.

Nothing happened.

Then the hospital speakers came alive.

A familiar voice filled the building.

“Varek.”

He stopped.

It was Alistair.

“You’re asking too many questions.”

Varek looked up at the speaker.

“Show yourself.”

Alistair laughed.

“You still think this is about your inheritance?”

“Then what is it about?”

“The Black Ledger was never created to decide who inherits the family fortune. It was created to hide who owns it.”

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

“Who owns it?”

Alistair paused.

Then he answered.

“The sixth child.”

The speaker went silent.

Matthew’s face turned pale.

“No,” he whispered.

Varek turned toward him.

“What?”

Matthew shook his head.

“Alistair is lying.”

But before anyone could respond, the emergency lights changed from red to green.

A message appeared on the digital screen above the corridor.

ORIGINAL TRUST BENEFICIARY IDENTIFIED.

Then a name appeared.

MATTHEW CROSS.

Evelyn stared at the screen.

“My father?”

Matthew stepped backward.

Varek raised his weapon.

“Explain.”

Matthew looked at his daughter.

Then at Varek.

And finally, he whispered:

“Because I am not the man who raised Evelyn.”

A door opened behind them.

Someone stepped into the corridor.

It was Samuel.

He was holding Daniel’s hand.

Adrian rushed forward.

“Daniel!”

The boy ran toward him.

“Daddy!”

Adrian dropped to his knees and held his son tightly.

Varek looked at Samuel.

“Where have you been?”

Samuel ignored him.

He stared at Matthew.

“Is it time?”

Matthew nodded slowly.

Samuel turned toward Varek.

“Then you should know the truth.”

He pulled a folded document from his jacket.

“Matthew Cross is not the sixth child.”

Varek took the document.

Samuel pointed at the name written at the bottom.

ORIGINAL TRUST BENEFICIARY: SAMUEL CROSS.

Varek looked up.

Samuel smiled sadly.

“My real name is not Samuel Vale.”

He paused.

“It’s Samuel Cross.”

And behind him, Matthew raised a gun.