CHAPTER 13: THE LAST BLACKWOOD SECRET
The name on the screen burned into Victor’s mind.
MARCUS BLACKWOOD.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because the name itself was impossible.
Marcus Blackwood.
The forgotten brother.
The man erased from family history.
The person Victor had never heard mentioned once in his entire life.
Not by his father.
Not by Thomas.
Not even by Adrian.
And that was what frightened Victor the most.
A secret could be dangerous.
But a secret everyone agreed to bury…
Was usually the most dangerous one of all.
Victor turned slowly toward his mother.
“You know him.”
It was not a question.
His mother looked away.
That was enough.
Victor’s expression changed.
“Mother.”
She closed her eyes.
“I knew this day would come.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Then tell me.”
Her voice trembled.
“Marcus was your father’s older brother.”
The room became silent.
Another Blackwood.
Another hidden piece.
Victor looked at the screen.
“So why have I never heard his name?”
His mother hesitated.
“Because your grandfather removed him from the family.”
“Why?”
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“Because Marcus was the first person who discovered what the Blackwood empire truly was.”
Victor frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Thomas answered.
“He wanted to destroy it.”
Everyone looked at him.
Thomas continued.
“Before your father tried to change the empire, Marcus tried first.”
Victor looked confused.
“Then why was he considered the enemy?”
Thomas sighed.
“Because your grandfather made sure everyone believed he was.”
The mansion gates opened.
The security cameras showed Marcus walking slowly toward the entrance.
No army.
No guards.
No fear.
Just one man walking toward the strongest family in Chicago.
Victor watched the screen.
“He wants me to see him.”
His mother nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to know the truth.”
Victor looked at the countdown.
08:42:11.
Time was running out.
“Let him in.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian looked shocked.
“Victor, that could be a trap.”
Victor looked at him.
“Everything tonight has been a trap.”
A pause.
“But every trap has revealed something.”
He looked toward the entrance.
“I’m done running from secrets.”
The doors opened.
Marcus Blackwood entered.
He looked older than the man in the photograph.
His hair was gray.
His face carried scars.
But his eyes were sharp.
The same Blackwood eyes Victor had seen in the mirror his entire life.
Marcus looked at Victor.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Marcus smiled sadly.
“You look exactly like your father.”
Victor remained cold.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Marcus nodded.
“That was the idea.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
Marcus looked around the mansion.
“This place.”
A pause.
“It has always been built on lies.”
Victor stepped forward.
“You kidnapped my son.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Marcus looked toward the security screens.
“Daniel Voss.”
Victor studied him.
“Why should I believe you?”
Marcus smiled.
“Because I was his prisoner before your son was.”
The room went silent.
Victor remembered the image.
Richard chained underground.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel Voss does not kill people who are useful.”
He looked at Victor.
“He keeps them.”
“Why?”
“Because information is more valuable than blood.”
Victor clenched his fist.
“So what does he want?”
Marcus looked at the countdown.
“He wants you to become exactly what he created.”
Victor said nothing.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel does not care about the empire.”
A pause.
“He cares about control.”
Marcus walked toward the table filled with documents.
He picked up one file.
“This is the truth your father tried to protect.”
He handed it to Victor.
Inside were photographs.
Records.
Names.
Victor looked through them.
Then stopped.
A photograph of himself as a child.
Standing beside Daniel Voss.
His face changed.
“When was this taken?”
Marcus answered quietly.
“After your mother disappeared.”
Victor froze.
“No.”
“Yes.”
His mother stepped forward.
“Victor…”
He looked at her.
“You knew?”
Tears appeared in her eyes.
“I had no choice.”
Victor’s voice became painful.
“How many people knew my entire life was being manipulated?”
Nobody answered.
Because everyone knew the answer.
Too many.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel selected you when you were young.”
Victor looked at him.
“Selected?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“He believed a child raised around power would become the perfect leader.”
Victor looked disgusted.
“I was a project.”
Marcus nodded.
“That is what he believed.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
His son was standing beside Lily.
Watching.
Listening.
But too young to understand.
And suddenly Victor understood something.
Daniel had done the same thing to him.
A child used as a piece on a chessboard.
A child who never had a choice.
Marcus spoke again.
“Your father found out.”
Victor looked at him.
“And?”
“He tried to save you.”
A pause.
“He tried to take you away from the Blackwood world.”
Victor remembered almost nothing from that time.
Only fragments.
His father leaving late at night.
Arguments.
His mother crying.
Then suddenly…
Everything changed.
Marcus continued.
“But Daniel stopped him.”
Victor’s voice became quiet.
“How?”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
The old man lowered his head.
Adrian’s pain returned.
Victor understood.
“Adrian.”
Marcus nodded.
“Daniel used Adrian to reach your father.”
Victor looked away.
Another wound.
Another betrayal.
Marcus continued.
“But Adrian was not the one who destroyed your family.”
Victor looked back.
“Then who was?”
Marcus answered:
“Your grandfather.”
The room froze.
Victor stared.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
Marcus’s voice became heavy.
“Your grandfather created the Blackwood empire.”
A pause.
“But when he realized Daniel Voss was more powerful than him…”
“He became afraid.”
Victor listened.
“So he sacrificed everyone?”
Marcus nodded.
“Your father.”
“Your mother.”
“Me.”
“Even you.”
Marcus looked at Victor.
“The Blackwood family was never destroyed by enemies.”
A pause.
“It was destroyed by the people trying to protect its power.”
Suddenly, every screen in the mansion activated.
Daniel Voss appeared.
Everyone turned.
Daniel smiled.
“Beautiful.”
His voice echoed.
“The family reunion I always wanted.”
Victor stepped toward the screen.
“Where is Ethan’s location?”
Daniel ignored the question.
“You finally understand.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“Understand what?”
“That your family was never special.”
Daniel smiled.
“Every powerful family has the same disease.”
A pause.
“Pride.”
Victor stared.
“You used children.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
The answer shocked everyone.
Daniel continued.
“Because children become adults.”
A pause.
“And adults become leaders.”
Victor’s hands tightened.
“You’re a monster.”
Daniel smiled.
“No.”
A pause.
“I am the person who understands the world.”
Then the screen changed.
A live camera appeared.
Ethan.
Standing in another room.
Alive.
Victor stepped forward.
“Ethan!”
His son looked toward the camera.
“Daddy?”
Victor’s heart broke.
Daniel spoke.
“One final test.”
Victor stared.
“What?”
“You have one hour.”
The countdown changed.
01:00:00.
Daniel continued:
“Destroy the Blackwood empire.”
A pause.
“Or save your son.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then at the files.
The empire.
The truth.
Everything.
Daniel smiled.
“Choose, Victor.”
The screen went black.
And for the first time…
Victor Blackwood understood Daniel’s real plan.
He did not want the empire.
He did not want revenge.
He wanted Victor to prove that power mattered more than love.
But Daniel had made one mistake.
He had underestimated the one thing Victor had that his father never had.
A reason to change.
A reason to fight.
A son.
Victor looked at Lily.
“Find Ethan.”
She nodded.
He looked at Adrian.
“Open every file.”
Adrian nodded.
Victor looked at the countdown.
One hour.
One final battle.
And this time…
Victor Blackwood was not fighting for his name.
He was fighting to destroy it.
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So nobody else would ever suffer because of it again.
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