The Hidden heir’s revenge

Chapter 99 — The Daughter Mary Gave Away

Varek stared at the photograph.

Mary was holding a newborn baby, while the man beside her looked exactly like the stranger standing outside Naomi’s facility.

Beneath the photograph, the computer displayed another message.

THE FIRST DAUGHTER WAS NEVER NAOMI.

Varek read the words again.

“Then who was the first daughter?”

The original Adrian looked at the little girl.

“Her.”

The child immediately shook her head.

“No.”

Varek turned towards her.

“What do you mean?”

She looked frightened.

“Grandma Mary said I wasn’t supposed to be here.”

The original Adrian stretched out his hand.

“Come closer.”

She moved further behind Varek.

“Don’t come near me.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Why are you frightening her?”

The original Adrian sighed.

“Because she remembers what happened.”

Samuel approached the computer and enlarged the photograph.

“There’s something written behind it.”

He turned the image.

A handwritten message appeared.

Mary delivered the first daughter. The second daughter was created from the first daughter’s identity. Neither child was registered under her birth name.

Varek looked at Samuel.

“What does that mean?”

Samuel studied the message.

“It could mean the two girls were born separately, but one was given the other’s identity.”

“Or?”

“Or one of them was used to create the records of the other.”

Varek shook his head.

“This is getting ridiculous. People cannot just create another person’s identity and pretend the first person never existed.”

The original Adrian gave a bitter laugh.

“That’s exactly what happened.”

He looked at Varek.

“Your entire life is built on that arrangement.”

Varek moved closer.

“Then tell me the truth. No more riddles. Who are my parents?”

The original Adrian looked at the little girl.

“Mary was your grandmother. The man in that photograph was the first Adrian. And Eleanor was the woman who raised you.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

The man’s expression became serious.

“Your biological mother was Isabella.”

Varek froze.

“Which Isabella?”

The original Adrian closed his eyes.

“That’s the question you should have asked from the beginning.”

⸻

At the secure location, the lights returned.

Naomi immediately checked Daniel.

He was sitting on the floor with his hands pressed against his ears.

Evelyn helped him up.

“Daniel, are you okay?”

He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Matthew was still beside the security panel.

The man outside had disappeared from the screen.

Only the two guards remained.

Naomi looked at her mother.

“Who is that man?”

Her mother sat down slowly.

“His name is Adrian Thorne.”

“Which Adrian?”

The woman looked at Matthew.

“The first one.”

Naomi shook her head.

“How many Adrians are there?”

Matthew answered.

“Three.”

She stared at him.

“And you knew?”

“I suspected.”

“You’re telling me you came here pretending to be Matthew Thorne, claiming Daniel was your son, and you didn’t think to mention that there were three men with the same name?”

Matthew lowered his eyes.

“I was trying to protect him.”

“By lying to me?”

“I didn’t know how much you remembered.”

Naomi laughed bitterly.

“Remembered what? I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Her mother reached for her hand.

“Naomi, there is something you need to understand. The first Adrian didn’t just create the identity system. He used it to keep control over the family.”

“Why?”

“Because he believed one of the children would eventually destroy everything he built.”

Daniel slowly raised his head.

“Me.”

Everyone turned towards him.

The boy stood up.

“He was afraid of me.”

Matthew frowned.

“Daniel, what are you saying?”

The child looked at him.

“He knew I could open the archive without Naomi.”

Naomi moved closer.

“But the system says I’m the original guardian.”

Daniel shook his head.

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

He pointed at the pendant.

“Your necklace doesn’t open the archive. It only tells the system who you are.”

Naomi looked down at it.

“Then what opens it?”

Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.

“Me.”

Matthew immediately grabbed his arm.

“Don’t say another word.”

Daniel struggled.

“Let go!”

Naomi pushed Matthew away.

“Don’t touch my son!”

Daniel rushed into her arms.

Then he whispered something that made her blood run cold.

“Mummy, I know where they buried the first Adrian.”

⸻

Back in the maternity ward, Samuel had discovered another file.

It was protected by a password.

He tried the original Adrian’s identification number.

Access denied.

He tried the name Varek.

Access denied.

He tried Naomi Thorne.

Access denied.

Then the little girl approached the computer.

“Try Grandma’s name.”

Samuel looked at her.

“Mary?”

The girl nodded.

He entered the name.

The file opened.

A list of medical records appeared.

SUBJECT ZERO: MARY THORNE

BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN: THREE

FIRST DAUGHTER: ISABELLA

SECOND DAUGHTER: RESTRICTED

THIRD CHILD: ORIGINAL ADRIAN

Varek frowned.

“Mary had three children?”

Samuel scrolled down.

There was another entry.

SECOND DAUGHTER — CURRENT IDENTITY: ELEANOR THORNE.

Adrian stepped closer.

“Eleanor was Mary’s daughter?”

Samuel nodded.

“According to this record.”

Varek stared at the screen.

“Then why was she raising me as her child?”

The original Adrian answered.

“Because she was your mother.”

Varek turned.

“You just said Isabella was my biological mother.”

“Both statements can be true.”

“How?”

The original Adrian took a slow breath.

“Eleanor gave birth to you, but Isabella provided the original genetic material used in the transfer.”

Samuel looked up.

“That’s not possible.”

“It was possible in the original programme.”

Varek stared at him.

“So Eleanor carried me, but Isabella was my biological mother?”

The man nodded.

“That’s what the records claim.”

Varek shook his head.

“And the little girl?”

“She was carried by Mary.”

The child looked up.

“Grandma Mary?”

The original Adrian nodded.

“Yes.”

The little girl began crying.

“Then why did she leave me?”

Nobody answered.

The original Adrian looked away.

For the first time, he seemed ashamed.

⸻

At the secure location, Daniel was still holding Naomi’s hand.

“Where did they bury him?” she asked.

“Under the old family chapel.”

Matthew went pale.

“That’s impossible.”

Daniel looked at him.

“You know it’s true.”

Matthew shook his head.

“The chapel was searched years ago.”

“Not the first chapel.”

Naomi frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Daniel looked at the floor.

“There are two chapels.”

Evelyn quickly checked the building’s records.

“He’s right. The old estate has an underground chapel beneath the eastern wing.”

Naomi turned towards Matthew.

“Did you know about it?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because the entrance was sealed.”

Daniel shook his head.

“It’s not sealed anymore.”

He pointed towards the security panel.

“Someone opened it tonight.”

At that exact moment, a notification appeared on the screen.

UNDERGROUND CHAPEL ACCESS DETECTED.

IDENTITY RECOGNIZED: ADRIAN THORNE.

Naomi stepped closer.

“Which Adrian?”

The screen changed.

ORIGINAL CREATOR.

Then a second notification appeared.

BURIAL CHAMBER OPENED.

Matthew grabbed his coat.

“We have to leave.”

Naomi held Daniel.

“Why?”

Matthew looked at her.

“Because if he’s opened that chamber, he’s looking for something.”

“What?”

Matthew’s voice dropped.

“The first identity record.”

⸻

In the maternity ward, the original Adrian suddenly grabbed Varek’s wrist.

“Listen to me.”

Varek looked at him.

“What?”

“The first Adrian is going to the chapel.”

Samuel turned towards the screen.

“How do you know?”

“Because he needs the original record to complete the transfer.”

Varek pulled his hand free.

“Then we go there first.”

The original Adrian shook his head.

“You don’t understand. The record isn’t a document.”

Samuel frowned.

“Then what is it?”

The man looked directly at the little girl.

“It’s a person.”

The room went silent.

Adrian stepped forward.

“Who?”

The original Adrian’s lips trembled.

“Mary.”

Varek stared at him.

“Mary is dead.”

The man shook his head.

“No. The woman you called Mary was only carrying her identity.”

Suddenly, the computer flashed.

A live camera feed appeared.

It showed the underground chapel.

A narrow metal door stood open.

Inside was a glass chamber.

And lying inside it was an elderly woman.

Her eyes were closed.

Her hands were folded across her chest.

A label was attached to the glass.

SUBJECT ZERO — ORIGINAL MARY THORNE.

Then the woman’s eyes opened.

She looked directly into the camera.

And whispered:

“Varek, don’t trust the man who woke me.”