The Hidden heir’s revenge

Chapter 56 — The Third Child

Varek stared at the photograph.

Two newborn boys.

A handwritten message.

And a name that threatened to destroy everything he thought he knew.

THE THIRD CHILD: ADRIAN THORNE.

“Where did you get this?” he asked.

Isabel held the photograph tightly.

“From the original maternity archive.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It was hidden in the private records room at St. Catherine’s. I found it years ago, but I couldn’t understand why Adrian’s name was written there.”

Varek looked at Grace.

“Did you know about this?”

Grace shook her head.

“No. I only knew about the twins.”

“Then why does this photograph say there was a third child?”

“Because somebody wanted us to believe there were only two.”

Varek turned back to Isabel.

“You said Adrian was the third child. Are you telling me he was born on the same night as Matthew and me?”

“Yes.”

“Then why does Adrian have a different birth date?”

“Because his birth was registered separately. He was removed from the maternity ward before the other two children were taken away.”

Varek struggled to understand.

“Who took him?”

Isabel looked toward the door.

“Helena.”

The name made him pause.

“You’re standing here telling me you’re Isabel, yet you just said Helena took Adrian.”

“Because I was Isabel before someone took my identity.”

“Explain.”

Isabel placed the photograph on the table.

“Twenty-nine years ago, I gave birth to three boys. Matthew was the first. You were the second. Adrian was the third. Alistair believed the firstborn would inherit everything, so he wanted control of all three.”

“Why would he separate us?”

“Because each child had a different purpose in the Black Ledger.”

Varek shook his head.

“This is another story. I need evidence.”

“I know.”

“Then show me something real.”

Isabel reached into her handbag and removed a small envelope.

She opened it carefully.

Inside was a hospital identification bracelet.

It was old and discolored, but the writing was still visible.

BABY BOY — THORNE — CHILD THREE.

Beneath it was a second line.

DELIVERED TO: HELENA VALE.

Varek picked it up.

“Why would Helena receive Adrian?”

“Because she was supposed to raise him under a different identity.”

“And did she?”

Isabel nodded.

“She raised him until Richard took him away.”

Varek looked at the photograph again.

“Then who raised Matthew?”

“Mara and later other people. Matthew was moved around because Alistair wanted to train him without making him appear connected to the Thorne family.”

“That doesn’t explain why he became a doctor.”

“Matthew was always intelligent. He learned how to use medical records, identities, and hospital systems. Alistair gave him access because he believed Matthew would remain loyal.”

Varek’s expression hardened.

“And he did.”

“For a long time.”

⸻

At Naomi’s secure location, Evelyn had already called Adrian.

She did not tell him everything immediately.

She wanted to confirm the information first.

“Adrian, I need you to answer something.”

He looked up from Daniel’s bed.

“What?”

“Do you know your exact birth date?”

“Of course.”

“Do you have your original birth certificate?”

Adrian frowned.

“Why?”

“Please answer me.”

“I have a certificate. It was issued when I was a child.”

“Not a replacement?”

He hesitated.

“I don’t know.”

Evelyn looked at Naomi.

Naomi was examining the old hospital register.

“Ask him if he remembers his first family name,” she whispered.

Evelyn returned her attention to Adrian.

“Did you ever use another name?”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“Damian.”

Evelyn went still.

“Who told you that?”

“An old medical file. Miriam showed me the record.”

“Did you ever see the original?”

“No. Only a copy.”

Naomi moved closer to the screen.

“Adrian, I need you to listen carefully. We found a document showing that a third child was registered under your name.”

Adrian stared at her.

“That’s impossible.”

“Your name is written beside the words CHILD THREE.”

He laughed once, without humor.

“So now I’m another missing baby?”

Daniel sat up.

“Daddy?”

Adrian immediately turned.

“I’m here, son.”

Daniel looked at the adults.

“Are they going to change my name again?”

Adrian’s expression softened.

“No one is changing anything today.”

He tucked the blanket around Daniel.

Then he looked back at Evelyn.

“Whatever you find, don’t let it affect him.”

“We won’t.”

But Naomi had already discovered something else.

“Wait.”

She enlarged a scanned page.

“There is a second entry beneath Adrian’s registration.”

“What does it say?” Evelyn asked.

Naomi read slowly.

“Child Three was transferred to Helena Vale. Child Three’s identity was later reassigned to Damian Mercer.”

Adrian’s face went pale.

“Reassigned?”

“Yes.”

“Who authorized it?”

Naomi zoomed in.

“Richard Thorne.”

Adrian stepped away from the bed.

“So I was given another identity?”

“That’s what the record suggests.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“Then who am I?”

Naomi did not answer.

She was looking at a signature beneath Richard’s.

It belonged to Dr. Matthew Cross.

⸻

At Eleanor’s old house, Varek was still holding the identification bracelet.

He turned toward Isabel.

“You said Matthew was my older brother. Why did Eleanor tell me she carried him out with me?”

“Because she did.”

“But Matthew was six years old according to the hospital card.”

Isabel nodded.

“That card is real.”

“Then how could he have been born on the same night as me?”

“He wasn’t.”

Varek stared at her.

“What?”

Isabel took the bracelet from his hand.

“The Matthew Cross who was admitted as a six-year-old child was not the original Matthew. It was a boy who had been given his identity.”

Varek’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re saying there were two Matthews?”

“Two children used that name. One was your biological brother. The other was a boy placed in his records.”

Grace stepped forward.

“Who was the second boy?”

Isabel looked at her.

“That’s the part I never discovered.”

Varek’s jaw tightened.

“So the adult Matthew Cross may not even be my brother?”

“He may be. But the name alone cannot prove it.”

“Then why did Eleanor call him my brother?”

“Because she knew the first Matthew before he disappeared. She may have recognized the person using his identity.”

Varek looked at the photograph again.

“Where is the real Matthew?”

Isabel lowered her eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re asking me to believe all this without knowing where my brother is?”

“I’m asking you to understand that the people who raised you were not the only people who knew the truth.”

Varek stepped closer.

“Then let’s talk about you. If you’re Isabel, why did you spend years pretending to be Helena?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Because Helena died.”

Grace gasped.

“What?”

“Helena died shortly after the children were transferred. The woman who took her identity was not the real Helena.”

Varek stared at her.

“Who was she?”

Isabel’s answer came quietly.

“Someone who was paid to become her.”

“By whom?”

“Alistair.”

Grace backed away.

“Then the woman we called Helena…”

“Was an impostor.”

Varek’s phone vibrated.

Naomi was calling.

He answered immediately.

“Talk.”

“Varek, I found something in the original transfer register.”

“What?”

“Adrian was not the only child whose identity was reassigned. There was another transfer.”

“Whose?”

Naomi took a breath.

“Matthew.”

Varek looked at Isabel.

Naomi continued.

“The boy registered as Matthew Cross at age six was transferred into the medical system under a different name. His original name was Samuel.”

Varek turned slowly toward the doorway.

Samuel.

The young man who had just walked away after learning he might not belong to the family he knew.

“Naomi, are you certain?”

“I’m looking at the transfer record. The same hospital number appears on both files.”

Varek closed his eyes.

“Where is Samuel now?”

“He’s with Evelyn and Adrian.”

“Don’t let him leave.”

“Varek, there’s something else.”

“What?”

“The transfer record was signed by the same person who authorized Adrian’s identity change.”

“Richard?”

“No.”

Naomi paused.

Then she said the name.

“Your mother, Isabel Thorne.”

Varek looked at the woman standing in front of him.

She was no longer crying.

She was watching him carefully.

“Isabel,” he said slowly, “did you sign the transfer of Samuel’s identity?”

She said nothing.

“Did you give another child Matthew’s name?”

Her lips trembled.

Then she finally answered.

“Yes.”

Varek felt the room shift around him.

“Why?”

Isabel looked directly into his eyes.

“Because the boy who was supposed to become Matthew Cross was already dead.”

Varek stared at her.

“Then who was the man who raised me?”

Isabel took a step toward him.

“That man was never Matthew.”

She pointed at the photograph.

“Your real older brother is not the man you have been hunting.”

Before Varek could ask another question, Grace’s phone rang.

The caller ID showed an unknown number.

She answered.

A man’s voice came through.

“Tell Varek to stop looking for his brother.”

Grace froze.

“Who is this?”

The man laughed softly.

“Because his brother has been standing beside him for years.”

The call ended.

Varek slowly turned toward the people in the room.

Then his eyes settled on Victor.

Victor was still holding his wounded shoulder.

But he was no longer looking at Varek.

He was staring at Isabel.

And when he finally spoke, his voice was barely audible.

“Mother?”

Isabel dropped the photograph.

“Victor,” she whispered, “you were never supposed to remember me.”