Chapter 4 - The Name They BuriedI didn't sleep.
By morning, Blackwood Manor was surrounded by investigators.
Dad was gone.
So was Kyle.
Mom remained in the kitchen, staring into a cup of cold coffee.
I dropped the financial file onto the table.
“Tell me everything.”
She didn't answer.
“Mom.”
Her hands trembled.
Finally, she whispered, “You were never supposed to live here.”
I sat down.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at me.
“Your father brought you here when you were eight.”
“Daniel?”
She nodded.
“He told me you were his responsibility.”
“Why?”
“Because the man who came last night wanted you.”
I felt something tighten in my chest.
“Why?”
My mother looked toward the windows.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Because your real father was involved in a company called Blackstone Holdings.”
I frowned.
“Dad owns Blackwood Manor.”
“Blackstone Holdings owned half the county.”
She hesitated.
“Then people started disappearing.”
My stomach turned.
“Employees?”
“Employees. Lawyers. Accountants.”
“Why?”
“Because they knew too much.”
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a small metal box.
She pushed it toward me.
“I kept this for twenty years.”
I opened it.
Inside were letters.
Dozens.
Every letter addressed to me.
Most were unopened.
Every envelope had been marked:
RETURNED TO SENDER.
“Who wrote these?”
“The man from the photograph.”
I opened one.
The handwriting was neat.
Son,
I don't know if you'll ever read this.
But I need you to know one thing.
I did not abandon you.
I was forced away from you.
And your family knows why.
My hands shook.
I opened another.
Then another.
Each letter contained fragments.
A company.
A murder.
A hidden trust.
A court case.
Then I found the last letter.
It was different.
There were only four sentences.
They knew you were my heir.
They have been draining your inheritance since you were eighteen.
And the account still exists.
Do not trust your mother.
I slowly looked up.
Mom was crying.
“You read it.”
She nodded.
“You're the one who warned him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She swallowed.
“Because I couldn't watch them destroy you forever.”
The front door slammed open.
Kyle stormed inside.
His face was bruised.
“Where is it?”
I stood.
“Where is what?”
“The account.”
I stared at him.
“You know about it?”
He stopped.
That was all the answer I needed.
He cursed under his breath.
“Dad told me everything.”
“What did he tell you?”
Kyle looked at me.
Then he smiled.
“You really think you're the victim?”
He pulled out his phone.
On the screen was a bank transfer.
From the trust account.
To Kyle.
For $2,400,000.
My blood ran cold.
“You stole from me.”
Kyle's smile disappeared.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“We all stole from you.”
Then the house lights suddenly went out.
A second later, every phone in the room buzzed.
Mine included.
One message appeared.
THE FIRST FILE IS NOW PUBLIC.
May you like
And beneath it was a photograph of Dad.
Standing beside a dead body.
