The Hidden heir’s revenge

Chapter 94 — The Child Who Belonged to Two Fathers

Naomi stared at the stranger.

“Say that again.”

The young man placed both hands on the table.

“Daniel Cross is my son.”

Evelyn immediately raised her weapon.

“Don’t move.”

He glanced at her.

“You really should stop pointing that thing at people who know more about this family than you do.”

“One more word and I’ll shoot.”

Naomi stepped forward.

“Who are you?”

The stranger looked at her.

“My name is Matthew Thorne.”

Naomi’s eyes narrowed.

“Another Matthew?”

He smiled.

“I know. It’s getting ridiculous.”

“Prove who you are.”

He picked up the photograph and turned it over.

On the back was a hospital number and a date.

Naomi recognized the date.

It was the date Daniel Cross was born.

Below it was a handwritten message.

FATHER’S NAME: MATTHEW THORNE.

Naomi shook her head.

“That doesn’t prove anything. Documents in this family have been changed a hundred times.”

“You’re right.”

Matthew reached into his jacket and brought out a small medical card.

“That’s why I brought something else.”

He placed it beside the photograph.

It contained a DNA test result.

Naomi looked at the document.

The result showed a biological relationship between Matthew and Daniel.

Evelyn examined it.

“Where did you get this?”

“From the original maternity archive.”

Naomi looked up sharply.

“How did you get access?”

“Because I was one of the children they tried to erase.”

He pointed at the photograph.

“Adrian and I were born under different records, but we share the same mother.”

Naomi’s voice became unsteady.

“Are you saying Adrian isn’t Daniel’s father?”

Matthew looked at her.

“I’m saying the man you know as Adrian isn’t the only person who contributed to Daniel’s birth record.”

Naomi frowned.

“That makes no sense.”

Matthew leaned forward.

“Have you ever wondered why Daniel has been targeted by people who have never shown interest in you?”

Naomi didn’t answer.

“Why does the Black Ledger keep identifying him as an heir? Why do people keep calling him the child who must never be brought together with the others?”

Evelyn interrupted.

“Because he is Adrian’s son.”

Matthew smiled.

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

Naomi felt her chest tighten.

“Then who is Daniel’s father?”

Matthew looked directly at her.

“Adrian is his biological father. But I was the first man entered into his original birth record.”

Naomi stared.

“Why?”

“Because Richard needed a child who could inherit under two different identities.”

He paused.

“Daniel was registered as my son before the records were changed to make him Adrian’s.”

Evelyn lowered her weapon slightly.

“So you’re not claiming to be his biological father?”

Matthew looked at her.

“Not exactly.”

⸻

In the underground maternity ward, Varek was still looking at the message on the screen.

SUBJECT EIGHT — STATUS: ACTIVE.

CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

IDENTITY: MATTHEW THORNE.

“How many Matthews are there?” Adrian asked.

Samuel rubbed his forehead.

“At least three identities have been attached to that name.”

Adrian looked frustrated.

“Three?”

“The original Matthew. The man who was raised as Matthew Cross. And the man who was created to replace the original Matthew in the family records.”

Varek pointed at the screen.

“Then which one is Subject Eight?”

Samuel hesitated.

“The one who was never supposed to be born.”

Varek looked at the little girl.

“Do you remember him?”

She nodded.

“He used to bring us food.”

“Was he a child?”

“No. He was older than us.”

Samuel looked uncomfortable.

“That can’t be right.”

The girl turned towards him.

“You were there too.”

Samuel went still.

“Where?”

“In the room with the blue walls. You told me not to call him Matthew.”

Adrian looked at Samuel.

“Why?”

Samuel didn’t answer.

Varek stepped closer.

“Samuel, what aren’t you telling us?”

Samuel finally spoke.

“Because he wasn’t Matthew.”

“Then who was he?”

Samuel looked towards the computer.

“His real name was Adrian.”

The room became silent.

Adrian stared at him.

“What?”

Samuel nodded.

“Before you were given the name Adrian Thorne, another child carried it.”

Adrian shook his head.

“You’re telling me there was another Adrian?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

Samuel looked at the little girl.

She slowly pointed towards the hidden room behind the hospital bed.

“The other Adrian is inside.”

Varek turned towards the open doorway.

“There’s someone else in there?”

Samuel nodded.

“That room wasn’t empty.”

⸻

The hidden room was dark.

Adrian entered first, followed by Varek.

The little girl remained beside Samuel.

There was another hospital bed inside, covered with a thick white sheet.

A small monitor beside it showed a steady heartbeat.

Adrian approached cautiously.

“Who is in there?”

Samuel’s voice came from behind him.

“The original Adrian.”

Adrian pulled back the sheet.

A young man lay beneath it.

He looked almost exactly like Adrian.

Same facial structure.

Same eyes.

Same nose.

But his hair was longer, and his face was thinner.

Adrian stepped backwards.

“No.”

Varek stared at the sleeping man.

“How is this possible?”

Samuel entered the room.

“He was kept here after the identity transfer failed.”

Adrian looked at him.

“How long has he been here?”

“Twenty-nine years.”

Adrian shook his head.

“That’s impossible. He looks almost my age.”

Samuel pointed towards the medical monitor.

“The system has been keeping his body in a controlled state. His biological age did not progress normally.”

Adrian stared at the man.

“Why did Richard give me his name?”

Samuel looked away.

“Because the original Adrian was supposed to become the heir. When the transfer failed, Richard moved the identity to you.”

Varek looked at the sleeping man.

“Then who was given Daniel’s identity?”

Samuel’s answer was quiet.

“The boy in the other bed.”

Adrian turned.

“Daniel?”

Samuel nodded.

“That is why the child calls you the other one. He remembers the original arrangement.”

Adrian looked back at the sleeping man.

“Wake him.”

Samuel shook his head.

“We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because his memory is connected to the original archive. If he wakes without the correct sequence, the system could erase what remains.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“Then find the correct sequence.”

Samuel looked at the computer.

“That’s what the woman was trying to activate.”

Varek glanced towards the maternity ward.

“Which woman?”

Samuel answered without looking at him.

“The one who shot Isabella.”

⸻

Back at the secure location, Naomi was still trying to understand Matthew’s explanation.

“Why would Richard change Daniel’s records?”

Matthew sat down.

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

Naomi held her son closer.

“What?”

“His blood carries the original family marker.”

Evelyn frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means Daniel can access the Black Ledger without the biometric key Jonathan used.”

Naomi stared at him.

“That’s why they want him.”

Matthew nodded.

“Richard wants to use Daniel to take control of everything.”

Naomi looked down at her son.

“He’s just a child.”

“To you, yes. To them, he’s the final key.”

Evelyn stepped forward.

“Why should we trust you?”

Matthew smiled faintly.

“You shouldn’t.”

He reached into his pocket and removed a small metal key.

Naomi recognized the number engraved on it.

07.

“Where did you get that?”

“From the seventh compartment.”

Naomi looked at the pendant in her hand.

“Then open it.”

Matthew shook his head.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because it doesn’t belong to me.”

He looked at Daniel.

“It belongs to him.”

Naomi’s son stared at the key.

Then he slowly reached for it.

The moment his fingers touched the metal, the pendant around Naomi’s neck began vibrating.

A soft light appeared along its edges.

Matthew stood up.

“It’s working.”

Evelyn immediately moved closer.

“What is happening?”

The pendant opened.

A tiny screen appeared inside it.

There was a photograph of a woman holding a newborn baby.

Naomi recognized the woman.

It was the older Isabella from the maternity ward.

But the baby in her arms was not Naomi.

It was Daniel.

Beneath the photograph was a sentence.

THE FIRST CHILD WAS BORN TO ISABELLA.

Naomi read the words aloud.

Then another sentence appeared.

THE SECOND CHILD WAS BORN TO ELEANOR.

Evelyn frowned.

“Where does that leave you?”

Naomi looked at the screen.

A third sentence appeared.

THE THIRD CHILD WAS BORN TO MARY.

Then the final line appeared.

THE FOURTH CHILD WAS NEVER BORN.

Matthew’s face changed.

“That’s not possible.”

Naomi looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

He slowly backed away from the table.

“It means someone created a child without a birth.”

Suddenly, the front door slammed shut.

Every light in the building turned red.

A voice came through the speakers.

It was Richard.

“Matthew, I warned you not to return.”

Matthew reached for his weapon.

Richard continued.

“You have made one mistake.”

The screen displayed a photograph of the young man who had been lying in the hidden room.

Naomi stared.

Richard’s voice became colder.

“You told them you were the eighth child.”

A pause.

“But you are not.”

The photograph changed.

It now showed the same young man standing beside a woman.

Naomi recognized the woman.

It was the older Naomi-lookalike.

Richard spoke again.

“You’re the fourth child.”

Matthew’s face went pale.

Then Richard delivered the final blow.

“And the real eighth child is standing right beside Naomi.”

Everyone turned towards Daniel.

The little boy looked at them.

Then he smiled.

For the first time, his voice sounded different.

“Hello, everyone.”

He looked directly at Matthew.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize you?”