CHAPTER 14: THE LAST WAR OF THE VALE FAMILY
CHAPTER 14: THE LAST WAR OF THE VALE FAMILY
The sound of breaking glass echoed through the mansion.
The peaceful image of the Vale estate was gone.
The elegant halls.
The priceless paintings.
The grand staircase where guests once admired luxury.
Everything had transformed into a battlefield.
Adrian stood in the center of the mansion with one thought in his mind.
Protect Clara.
Protect his child.
And uncover the truth before someone buried it forever.
Outside, footsteps approached.
Several men entered the main hall.
They wore dark clothing.
Their faces were emotionless.
Not ordinary criminals.
Professionals.
People who had done this before.
Richard stared at them.
"Helena..."
The old woman remained calm.
Almost amused.
"Twenty years."
She looked at the men.
"And you still remember your orders."
Adrian turned toward her.
"You called them?"
Helena looked at him.
"I prepared for this night."
"You knew this would happen?"
"I knew eventually someone would discover the truth."
She glanced at the key in Adrian's hand.
"And I knew everyone would come for it."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"You planned all of this."
Helena smiled slightly.
"Not everything."
A pause.
"Some things are caused by people's own weaknesses."
Richard stepped forward.
"You used me."
Helena looked at him.
"Yes."
Richard's face tightened.
"You destroyed my life."
"No."
Her answer was cold.
"You destroyed your own life when you chose greed."
The words hit him.
Because somewhere deep inside, Richard knew she was right.
He had wanted power.
He had wanted recognition.
And Helena had simply given him the opportunity.
But now...
He was disposable.
Adrian looked at Helena.
"You brought everyone here because you want the vault."
Helena nodded.
"Yes."
"What is inside?"
She looked toward the underground passage.
"The thing that can destroy everything."
Adrian gripped the key.
"Then why don't you take it yourself?"
For the first time, Helena hesitated.
Only for a second.
But Adrian saw it.
"You can't open it."
Silence.
Helena's expression changed.
Adrian understood.
"The vault requires two keys."
Charles nodded slowly.
"One belonged to your father."
"And the other?"
Everyone looked at Eleanor.
She reached into her pocket.
Then slowly removed another key.
Adrian froze.
"You had it."
Eleanor nodded.
"Your father gave it to me."
Helena's eyes darkened.
"Give me the keys."
Nobody moved.
Adrian stepped forward.
"No."
Helena looked at him.
"You don't understand what you're protecting."
"I understand enough."
"No."
Her voice became sharper.
"You are protecting a family that has lied to you your entire life."
Adrian looked around.
At his mother.
At his brother.
At his uncle.
At his grandfather.
Then at Clara.
"Maybe."
A pause.
"But the truth is still mine to find."
Helena stared.
For the first time, Adrian was not the child everyone tried to protect.
He was the man they had created.
The man who could no longer be controlled.
Suddenly, one of the men moved.
But before he could reach Adrian...
A gunshot echoed.
Everyone froze.
The man collapsed.
Not from Adrian's side.
From Richard.
Richard stood holding a weapon.
Everyone stared.
"What are you doing?" Helena asked.
Richard's expression was different.
For years, he had been chasing power.
But now he looked tired.
"I spent my entire life trying to become important."
He looked at Adrian.
"And I finally realized I was just another piece."
Helena smiled.
"You think you can change now?"
Richard looked at her.
"No."
A pause.
"I think I can stop you."
The hall exploded into chaos.
Security guards rushed in.
The attackers moved.
The mansion filled with shouting and footsteps.
Adrian grabbed Clara's hand.
"Stay close."
They moved toward the hidden passage.
Behind them, the battle continued.
But Adrian knew one thing.
The vault was the only place that mattered.
They reached the underground corridor.
The air became colder.
Older.
The walls were covered with the history of the Vale family.
A family built on ambition.
A family built on secrets.
At the end of the corridor stood a massive steel door.
The family vault.
Charles followed behind.
"This door has never been opened since Alexander disappeared."
Adrian looked at the keys.
He inserted his.
Eleanor inserted hers.
The lock turned.
Slowly.
The heavy door opened.
Inside was a small room.
No gold.
No money.
No treasure.
Only documents.
Hundreds of them.
And in the center...
A small video recorder.
Adrian picked it up.
His father's final message.
Everyone gathered.
The recording started.
Alexander Vale appeared on the screen.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
"My son."
Adrian stopped breathing.
"If you are watching this, then I failed to protect you."
A pause.
"But I need you to know the truth."
The room became silent.
"Helena was not the person who planned my death."
Everyone froze.
Adrian looked confused.
Alexander continued:
"She was only trying to hide what someone else did."
The camera moved slightly.
Then another person appeared.
A person standing beside Alexander.
A person nobody expected.
Adrian's eyes widened.
Because he recognized the face.
It was someone who had been with them the entire night.
Someone who had acted afraid.
Someone who had pretended to search for answers.
Alexander's voice continued:
"The person who betrayed me..."
A pause.
"Was the person I trusted with my entire company."
The camera focused.
Everyone stared.
Because the person on the screen...
Was not Richard.
Not Helena.
Not Eleanor.
It was someone else.
Someone standing behind Adrian right now.
The room became completely silent.
Adrian slowly turned around.
His face changed.
Because the final betrayal...
May you like
Was standing only a few steps away.
END OF CHAPTER 14
