The Hidden heir’s revenge

Chapter 82 — The Brother Who Returned

Nobody moved.

The stranger stood at the end of the corridor, holding a photograph in one hand.

He looked like Adrian.

Not exactly like the Adrian standing beside Varek, but close enough to make everyone uncomfortable. His face was older, his hair slightly darker, and a thin scar crossed his right cheek.

Adrian stared at him.

“Who are you?”

The stranger smiled.

“You really don’t remember me?”

“I’ve never seen you before.”

“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”

Adrian took a step forward.

“Answer me. Who are you?”

The stranger raised the photograph.

“Your brother.”

Victor immediately lifted his weapon.

“Don’t move.”

The stranger glanced at him.

“Still pointing weapons at people before asking questions. Some things never change.”

Varek moved in front of Adrian.

“If you’re his brother, prove it.”

The stranger looked at him.

“You want proof?”

He turned the photograph around.

It showed two little boys standing beside a woman in a white dress. One boy had Adrian’s face. The other had the same eyes as the stranger.

On the back, someone had written:

DANIEL AND MATTHEW — THE TWO SONS OF RICHARD THORNE.

Adrian took the photograph.

His hands began to shake.

“Where did you get this?”

“From the woman who raised me.”

“Who was she?”

“Your mother.”

Adrian looked up sharply.

“My mother is dead.”

The stranger’s smile disappeared.

“Which one?”

The question made the entire corridor go quiet.

⸻

At the secure location, Naomi stared at the photograph she had found.

She turned it over again.

The handwriting was old, but the words were clear.

DANIEL AND HIS BROTHER.

She looked at the children.

The boy standing on the left was Adrian.

The other boy looked strangely familiar.

She zoomed in on his face.

Then she remembered the man who had appeared in Daniel’s bedroom.

He had said his name was Daniel too.

Naomi quickly called Varek.

The call connected after several seconds.

“Varek?”

“I’m here.”

“Have you found Richard?”

“No. But we’ve found someone else.”

“Who?”

“Someone who looks like Adrian.”

Naomi closed her eyes.

“Listen to me. I found an old photograph of Adrian as a child. He was standing beside another boy.”

Varek looked towards the stranger.

“Can you describe him?”

“Dark hair. Same eyes as Adrian. He looks about his age in the picture.”

The stranger slowly raised his head.

“Naomi?”

She froze.

“Who is that?”

The stranger stepped closer to the communication device.

“Tell me something. Do you still have the necklace?”

Naomi looked down at the pendant on the table.

“Who are you?”

He smiled sadly.

“Someone your mother tried very hard to protect.”

Naomi’s heart began to race.

“What do you know about my mother?”

“She knew the truth about the children.”

Varek interrupted.

“Stop speaking in riddles. Give us your name.”

The stranger looked directly at him.

“Matthew Thorne.”

Adrian’s grip tightened around the photograph.

“You’re lying.”

Matthew shook his head.

“No. But I understand why you don’t believe me.”

“Richard told us there was another Daniel.”

“He told you half the story.”

“What happened to you?”

Matthew looked towards the dark corridor.

“Richard took me away before the first transfer was completed. He wanted me to become the heir, but the records had already been changed.”

“Why?”

“Because someone had discovered that the first Daniel wasn’t the only child with a claim to the inheritance.”

Adrian stared at him.

“Are you saying I’m not the original Daniel?”

Matthew gave a tired smile.

“You are. But you weren’t the only one.”

⸻

Alistair suddenly began laughing.

Varek turned towards him.

“What’s funny?”

“You’re all still arguing about who was born first, who inherited what, and whose name belongs to whom.”

He looked at Matthew.

“Tell them what happened to the original mother.”

Matthew’s expression changed.

“Don’t.”

“Tell them.”

Matthew stepped towards Alistair.

“You’re the reason she disappeared.”

Alistair shrugged.

“She was becoming a problem.”

Adrian moved between them.

“Who are you talking about?”

Matthew looked at him.

“Your mother.”

Adrian swallowed.

“Which one?”

“The woman who gave birth to you and me.”

The answer struck him harder than he expected.

“Her name?”

Matthew hesitated.

“Isabella Thorne.”

Mary gasped.

“No.”

Matthew turned towards her.

“You remember her, don’t you?”

Mary shook her head.

“She was my mother.”

“She was your mother too,” Matthew replied.

Mary stepped backwards.

“That’s impossible.”

“Not if the records were changed.”

Varek looked between them.

“How many women have been called Isabella?”

Matthew lowered his eyes.

“At least three.”

Jonathan suddenly spoke.

“That’s enough.”

Everyone turned towards him.

He was staring at Matthew with an expression Varek had never seen before.

Fear.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Jonathan said.

Matthew looked at him.

“Neither are you.”

Jonathan raised his hand.

“Security!”

Nothing happened.

He tried again.

The lights above them flickered.

A voice came through the speakers.

“Security access denied.”

Jonathan’s face changed.

Matthew smiled faintly.

“I told you. Some things have changed.”

Then the corridor doors slammed shut.

⸻

At the secure location, Naomi had stopped listening to the conversation.

She was looking at Daniel.

The little boy had become unusually quiet.

“Daniel?”

He looked up.

“Yes, Mummy?”

“Do you know the man who spoke to you earlier?”

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.”

“Have you seen him before?”

“Yes.”

Naomi’s chest tightened.

“Where?”

Daniel pointed towards the photograph.

“He’s the man beside Daddy.”

Naomi looked at the picture again.

There were two boys.

But the stranger had said his name was Matthew.

She picked up the photograph and examined it more closely.

There was a small mark beneath the left thumb of the second boy.

The same mark Varek had.

The same mark Samuel had.

Naomi felt cold.

“Daniel, did the man tell you anything else?”

The boy nodded.

“He said I should give Mummy a message.”

“What message?”

Daniel looked at her.

“He said the first child is coming for the second.”

Naomi stared at him.

Then her phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

She answered cautiously.

“Hello?”

A woman’s voice came through.

“Naomi, you need to get away from that building.”

“Who is this?”

“My name is Eleanor.”

Naomi’s eyes widened.

“Eleanor? Where are you?”

“That doesn’t matter. Listen carefully. Richard has found Daniel.”

Naomi looked at her son.

“He’s here?”

“No. But he knows where you are.”

“Why does everyone want my child?”

Eleanor went silent.

Then she spoke in a trembling voice.

“Because Daniel isn’t Adrian’s only child.”

Naomi felt the room tilt.

“What?”

“There’s another child. A girl.”

Naomi struggled to understand.

“Where is she?”

Eleanor’s voice broke.

“She’s the reason Richard started all of this.”

Before Naomi could ask another question, the call ended.

A message appeared on her phone.

UNKNOWN NUMBER:

DON’T TRUST THE MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF MATTHEW.

HE IS NOT ADRIAN’S BROTHER.

Naomi stared at the message.

Then another message arrived.

THE REAL MATTHEW THORNE IS ALREADY DEAD.

At that exact moment, back inside the underground facility, the stranger turned towards Adrian.

“There’s one thing I haven’t told you.”

Adrian raised his weapon.

“What?”

Matthew looked at the photograph in his hand.

“The boy you believe is your son was never supposed to be yours.”

Adrian’s face hardened.

“Don’t you dare talk about Daniel.”

Matthew slowly lifted his eyes.

“Then ask Naomi why she was given a child with your name attached to his birth record.”

The computer behind them suddenly activated.

A new file appeared.

MATTHEW THORNE — DEATH CONFIRMED.

DATE OF DEATH: TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO.

Varek looked at the stranger.

Matthew smiled.

“Now you understand why I had to come back.”

And the computer displayed one final line.

CURRENT OCCUPANT: UNKNOWN.