The Hidden heir’s revenge

Chapter 35 — The Man Who Wore His Face

Varek stared at the photograph.

The young man tied to the chair had his face.

Not someone who looked similar. Not a distant relative with the same eyes or jawline.

It was his face.

The same dark eyes. The same shape of his nose. Even the small scar above his right eyebrow was there.

But Varek had never seen the man before.

He read the message again.

YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE WRONG BROTHER.

Beneath the photograph was another line.

VAREK THORNE — ORIGINAL IDENTITY.

“Who sent this?” Adrian asked.

“Unknown number.”

Naomi took the phone and examined the photograph.

“Look at the background.”

Varek leaned closer.

There was a clock on the wall behind the prisoner. Its hands showed 4:15. A hospital bed stood beside the chair, and a medical monitor was attached to the man’s arm.

“This looks like a medical facility,” Naomi said.

Evelyn approached.

“Send me the photograph.”

Varek forwarded it.

She studied it for a moment.

“I recognize that room.”

“Where?”

“An old private medical centre owned by the Thorne family. It was closed after the fire.”

Varek remembered the place.

It was the same building where Richard had once been shot, and where they had discovered several altered hospital records.

“Is the building still standing?” Adrian asked.

“Yes,” Evelyn replied. “But nobody is supposed to be there.”

Varek reached for his weapon.

“We’re going.”

Grace grabbed his arm.

“Don’t.”

He turned.

“Why?”

“Because the man in that photograph is not who you think he is.”

Varek looked at her.

“You said you knew the truth about the children. Now you’re telling me this man isn’t real?”

“I didn’t say he wasn’t real.”

“Then explain.”

Grace looked toward the photograph.

“That man was born before you.”

Varek felt a chill move through him.

“Another twin?”

“No.”

“Then who is he?”

Grace lowered her voice.

“He is the child who was registered under your name before Alistair changed the records.”

Naomi shook her head.

“That would mean there were three boys connected to the same identity.”

Grace nodded.

“Yes.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Three?”

“Marcus was born first. Varek was born after him. But the boy in that photograph was given Varek’s original identity before the hospital records were changed.”

Varek stared at her.

“How can that be possible?”

“Because the identity was never attached to one child alone. Alistair wanted the family to believe there was only one legitimate heir. He used different records to create that appearance.”

Naomi looked confused.

“You’re saying the man in the photograph was registered as Varek, while the real Varek was raised under another identity?”

“Exactly.”

Varek stepped away from her.

“Then who am I?”

Grace looked at him sadly.

“That’s what you’ve been trying to find out.”

⸻

A loud crash came from the entrance.

Evelyn raised her weapon.

“They’re inside!”

“Basement,” Varek ordered.

Naomi helped Grace toward the back of the room while Adrian covered the corridor.

Another gunshot rang out.

A bullet struck the wall beside them.

“Move!” Adrian shouted.

They rushed down the narrow staircase.

At the bottom, Evelyn opened a metal door leading to an underground passage.

“Where does this lead?” Varek asked.

“An old service tunnel. It connects to the building behind this property.”

They hurried through the passage.

Behind them, footsteps echoed down the staircase.

Someone shouted Varek’s name.

He stopped.

“Keep moving,” Adrian said.

Varek turned toward the sound.

“Varek!” the voice shouted again.

It sounded like Eleanor.

He froze.

Evelyn grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t stop.”

But the voice came again.

“Please! It’s me!”

Varek pulled away.

“That is Eleanor.”

Adrian looked at him.

“Or someone who knows how to sound like her.”

Varek hesitated.

Then he heard a gunshot.

A woman’s scream followed.

He turned and ran back.

“Varek!” Evelyn shouted.

He reached the staircase and raised his weapon.

At the bottom of the steps stood Eleanor.

Her clothes were dirty, and there was blood on her sleeve.

“Varek,” she whispered.

He pointed his gun at her.

“Don’t move.”

She looked at the weapon, then at his face.

“You’re pointing a gun at me?”

“You’ve given me enough reasons.”

Eleanor swallowed.

“I know.”

“Did you take the fifth child?”

Her expression changed.

“Who told you that?”

“Grace.”

Eleanor closed her eyes.

“Of course she did.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

The answer struck him harder than he expected.

“Why?”

“Because I was trying to save him.”

“From whom?”

“Alistair. Richard. Everyone who wanted to use him.”

“Then why did you never tell me?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Because you weren’t supposed to know he existed.”

Varek tightened his grip on the gun.

“Who is he?”

Before Eleanor could answer, a man appeared behind her.

He wore a dark suit and carried a pistol.

“Put the weapon down, Varek.”

Varek recognized him.

Sebastian Blackstone.

Adrian emerged from the tunnel behind Varek.

“Sebastian?”

Sebastian smiled.

“Adrian. You’re becoming difficult to keep track of.”

“Where is Marcus?”

“Safe.”

“Bring him here.”

“You’re in no position to give orders.”

Varek kept his gun pointed at Sebastian.

“Why are you here?”

Sebastian looked at Eleanor.

“She has something that belongs to me.”

Eleanor shook her head.

“I don’t have it.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I gave it to the child.”

Sebastian’s expression darkened.

“Which child?”

Eleanor said nothing.

Sebastian raised his weapon slightly.

“Varek, move away from her.”

“No.”

“You have no idea what you’re protecting.”

“Then tell me.”

Sebastian laughed.

“You think the fifth child is the key to the Black Ledger? You think Richard wants him because of some inheritance?”

“Isn’t that what Grace said?”

“Grace knows only what she was allowed to see.”

Varek watched him carefully.

“What do you know?”

Sebastian stepped closer.

“The fifth child is not the only person who can cancel the Trust.”

Naomi appeared at the end of the corridor.

“Then who else can?”

Sebastian turned toward her.

“Someone who has already signed away the right to inherit.”

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

“Me?”

Sebastian nodded.

“Your signature was accepted by the Trust months ago. You transferred your rights under pressure, but the agreement was valid.”

“Richard forced me.”

“The Trust doesn’t care why you signed.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Then why are we still chasing the fifth child?”

“Because the fifth child can reverse the transfer.”

Varek looked at Eleanor.

“Is that true?”

She nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Sebastian smiled.

“And that’s why I need what she has.”

“What is it?” Varek asked.

Eleanor reached into her pocket and removed a small silver key.

Sebastian immediately raised his gun.

“Give it to me.”

Eleanor held it tightly.

“No.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“This key belongs to the child.”

Sebastian’s face hardened.

“That child doesn’t even know what he is.”

“Then perhaps it’s time he found out.”

A gunshot exploded.

Eleanor fell.

“NO!” Varek shouted.

He fired at Sebastian, forcing him behind the wall.

Adrian rushed toward Eleanor while Naomi pulled Grace into the tunnel.

Varek dropped beside the older woman.

Blood spread across her sleeve.

“Stay with me.”

Eleanor struggled to breathe.

“Take the key.”

Varek picked it up.

“Who is the fifth child?”

She looked at him.

“Someone you know.”

“Who?”

Her fingers tightened around his wrist.

“Your brother.”

Varek stared at her.

“Which one?”

Eleanor’s lips moved.

But before she could answer, her eyes shifted toward the tunnel.

A shadow appeared at the far end.

Then a familiar voice spoke.

“She should have told you years ago.”

Varek turned.

Richard stood in the doorway.

His weapon was pointed directly at Adrian.

“Put the key down,” Richard ordered.

Varek slowly stood.

“You’re not taking it.”

Richard smiled.

“Then I suppose you haven’t understood anything.”

He looked at Adrian.

“Ask your brother what happened to the first child.”

Adrian frowned.

“What brother?”

Richard’s smile widened.

Then he spoke the words that made Varek’s blood run cold.

“Your real brother is standing right in front of you.”

Varek looked at Adrian.

Richard continued.

“Marcus isn’t your twin, Varek. He’s the child we used to make you believe you had a twin.”

He pointed at Adrian.

“Adrian is your twin. And the boy you have spent years protecting is the fifth child.”

Nobody moved.

Adrian’s face drained of colour.

“Daniel?”

Richard nodded.

“Yes.”

Then he raised his weapon.

“And now that you know, I’m taking him back.”