Chapter 6 - The Heir in the ShadowsVictor tried every emergency override.
Nothing worked.
The mansion’s own systems had been turned against them.
Lily checked the security monitors.
Every camera showed the same thing.
Empty hallways.
Empty rooms.
Except one.
The nursery.
The door was open.
Inside stood the teenage boy.
Victor stared at the screen.
“How did he get inside?”
Lily shook her head.
“He didn’t.”
“What?”
“He was already there.”
Victor turned.
“What are you saying?”
“The system isn't showing the hospital anymore.”
She pointed at the coordinates.
“That camera is inside this house.”
Victor felt cold.
They ran to the nursery.
The door slammed open.
The room was empty.
Then the boy stepped out from behind the curtains.
Victor raised his weapon.
The boy didn’t flinch.
“Put it down.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Adrian.”
Victor lowered the gun slightly.
“Are you my son?”
Adrian smiled.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Which truth you want.”
Victor stepped closer.
“You were born to Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she hide you?”
“She didn’t.”
Victor froze.
“My grandfather did.”
Adrian continued.
“He took me because he needed a spare heir.”
Victor’s stomach turned.
“A spare?”
Adrian nodded.
“Ethan was the public heir. I was the insurance policy.”
Lily whispered:
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Adrian looked at Victor.
“The Black Trust wasn’t created to protect Ethan.”
Victor stared.
“It was created to choose which son would inherit.”
“Why?”
“Because one of us was designed to destroy the family.”
Victor felt his blood run cold.
“Which one?”
Adrian smiled.
“Guess.”
The nursery door opened.
Serena stumbled inside.
She was bleeding.
“Adrian!”
He turned.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“You promised me protection.”
“I promised you survival.”
Serena looked at Victor.
“I never wanted Ethan dead.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“Then why did you try to take him?”
“Because your father ordered me to.”
Adrian smiled.
“You still don’t understand.”
“What?”
Serena pointed at Adrian.
“He’s the one who ordered it.”
Victor looked at Adrian.
The boy’s expression remained calm.
Adrian sighed.
“She’s lying.”
Serena screamed.
“You murdered Evelyn!”
The room went silent.
Victor stepped forward.
“Did you?”
Adrian looked at him.
“No.”
He glanced toward the hallway.
“Someone else did.”
The lights turned off.
When they came back on, Serena was gone.
A pool of blood remained where she had stood.
Victor stared.
Lily whispered:
“She was taken.”
Adrian nodded.
“By the real enemy.”
“Who?”
Adrian looked toward the ceiling.
Then he smiled.
“The man who owns this house.”
Victor frowned.
“This is my house.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No, Dad.”
He pointed upward.
“Your father built it.”
“And?”
“He never left.”
A loud knock echoed from the walls.
Three times.
Victor froze.
The same three knocks from the sealed room.
Then a voice whispered through the speakers.
“Welcome home, Victor.”
His father.
Victor looked at Adrian.
May you like
The boy whispered:
“He’s been living underneath us.”
