Chapter 14 - Charles looked older than he had that evening.The confidence was gone.
The arrogance was gone.
Only exhaustion remained.
Eleanor stared at the gun.
“Who is the boy?”
Charles looked at the photograph.
“His name was Daniel.”
“Was?”
“He died.”
“How?”
Charles didn't answer.
Luca moved closer.
“What does he have to do with Marco?”
Charles looked at him.
“Everything.”
He lowered the gun.
“Daniel was Elena's first child.”
Eleanor's breath caught.
“Before me?”
“Yes.”
“Who was his father?”
Charles hesitated.
“Adrian.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“So Adrian had two children.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Daniel?”
Charles looked at the photograph.
“Alive.”
Eleanor stared.
“What?”
“Your mother believed he died.”
“Then why do you know?”
Charles sat down.
“Because I took him.”
Eleanor's face went white.
“You what?”
“I took him from the hospital.”
“Why?”
“To protect him.”
“From whom?”
“Marco.”
Luca stared at Charles.
“You stole a child from his father.”
Charles nodded.
“I thought Adrian was dead.”
“You thought?”
“I was wrong.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Where is Daniel?”
Charles looked at her.
“In a place where nobody will find him.”
“You're lying.”
“I'm not.”
He reached inside his coat.
He removed another key.
“This opens the facility.”
“What facility?”
“The original Blackwell archive.”
Eleanor took it.
“Where?”
Charles whispered:
“Montana.”
The room went quiet.
Before they could move, the mansion lights shut off.
A voice came through the speakers.
Marco.
“Charles.”
Charles closed his eyes.
“You never learn.”
Marco laughed.
“Bring Eleanor to the old church.”
Eleanor looked at Charles.
“No.”
Marco continued.
“Or Daniel dies.”
The line cut.
Eleanor felt her entire body turn cold.
“He has him.”
Charles nodded.
“That's why he came back.”
They drove through the night.
The old church stood outside town.
Broken windows.
Collapsed roof.
Candles burned inside.
Marco waited at the altar.
Beside him stood a man.
Eleanor stopped.
Thirty years old.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Blue eyes.
He looked familiar.
Too familiar.
The man stared at her.
“Eleanor?”
She couldn't speak.
Marco smiled.
“Meet Daniel.”
Eleanor's knees weakened.
Her brother.
Alive.
Daniel approached.
“I was told you were dead.”
Eleanor laughed through tears.
“So was I.”
Daniel looked at Charles.
“You're the man who stole me.”
Charles nodded.
“I saved you.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You stole my life.”
Marco stepped forward.
“Now you understand why the trust must be surrendered.”
Eleanor stared.
“What does Daniel have to do with the trust?”
Marco smiled.
“The original trust had two beneficiaries.”
Eleanor froze.
“Two?”
“Your mother changed it.”
Daniel looked confused.
“She never told me.”
Marco laughed.
“She wanted Eleanor to believe she was alone.”
Eleanor looked at her brother.
“Why?”
Marco's face darkened.
“Because one heir was easier to control.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Stop.”
Marco pulled a gun.
“Tell her what happened to Adrian.”
Eleanor looked at Daniel.
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Marco smiled.
“I do.”
He pointed toward the church doors.
“Your father is outside.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian entered.
Alive.
Eleanor ran toward him.
But Adrian stopped.
He looked at Daniel.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Daniel.”
Daniel whispered:
“Dad.”
Adrian could barely stand.
For thirty years, he had believed his son dead.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
“My daughter.”
Eleanor approached him.
“Why did you let me think you were dead?”
Adrian's voice broke.
“Because Richard made me believe Elena chose Marco.”
“You abandoned us.”
“I know.”
“You let me hate everyone.”
“I know.”
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Adrian nodded.
He looked toward Marco.
“Your mother didn't betray me.”
Then toward Charles.
“Charles didn't betray us.”
Then toward Richard.
“He did.”
Eleanor whispered:
“Why?”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“Because Richard was the architect.”
The church doors suddenly exploded open.
Richard walked inside.
Alive.
Again.
Eleanor stared.
“How?”
Richard smiled.
“Because you all keep believing what you see.”
He raised a gun.
“I was never trying to take the trust.”
Eleanor froze.
“Then what?”
Richard pointed at Daniel.
“I was trying to find him.”
Daniel stepped back.
May you like
Richard smiled.
“Because Daniel is the real heir.”
