Chapter 6 - THE BROTHER WHO NEVER DIED
His name was Thomas.
Eleanor remembered the name from old family stories.
Her husband's younger brother.
Supposedly killed in a boating accident.
But there had never been a body.
Never a funeral.
Only a death certificate.
Thomas had disappeared after a bitter argument over the company.
Eleanor's husband had refused to give him control.
So Thomas vanished.
Or so everyone believed.
Daniel examined the photograph.
“This changes everything.”
“Can you find him?”
“We already did.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel showed her a recent surveillance image.
Thomas was alive.
And he was living under another name.
Worse, he had been meeting Eleanor's attorney for years.
“He's been orchestrating the financial fraud.”
“Yes.”
“Marcus?”
“A pawn.”
“Brielle?”
“Another pawn.”
“Richard?”
“His enforcer.”
Eleanor sat silently.
Her entire family had been manipulated by a man who had been dead for twenty-five years.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A calm male voice said:
“You should have let the company go.”
Eleanor knew immediately.
“Thomas.”
A pause.
“So you finally understand.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can't reach me.”
“What do you want?”
“What my brother denied me.”
“The company.”
“The legacy.”
Eleanor laughed.
“You've spent twenty-five years destroying the people around you for a legacy you never earned.”
Thomas became silent.
Then he said:
“Your husband stole my life.”
“He refused to let you steal his.”
“He chose you.”
“Yes.”
“And then he chose Sophie.”
“Yes.”
“That was unforgivable.”
Eleanor felt anger rise.
“You were willing to kill people.”
“People die.”
“Not for money.”
“For control.”
He hung up.
Daniel looked at her.
“We need to move.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas knows where you are.”
They rushed back to the estate.
The police arrived minutes later.
But the house had already been entered.
Drawers were open.
Documents scattered.
Eleanor's safe was empty.
She ran to her office.
The original trust was gone.
So was her husband's letter.
Her heart sank.
“He took them.”
Daniel nodded.
“What else was in the safe?”
Eleanor thought.
“My birth records.”
Daniel stared.
“Why would he want those?”
“I don't know.”
Sophie suddenly walked into the room.
“Maybe I do.”
She held another envelope.
“My father left this for me.”
Eleanor opened it.
Inside was an old hospital record.
The name of the mother had been blacked out.
But the child's name was visible.
Lucas Hart.
Eleanor looked at Sophie.
“Your son?”
“Yes.”
“Why would Thomas want his records?”
Sophie looked frightened.
“Because Lucas isn't the only child.”
Eleanor frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Sophie swallowed.
“Thomas had another child.”
“Who?”
She looked at Eleanor.
“Marcus.”
The room went silent.
Eleanor stared.
“No.”
Sophie nodded.
“Your husband knew.”
“That's impossible.”
“He discovered it after Marcus was born.”
Eleanor's mind raced.
Her husband had suspected Marcus wasn't his biological son.
That explained everything.
The secrecy.
The succession plan.
The distrust.
But why had he stayed silent?
Sophie handed her another letter.
This one was from Eleanor's husband.
I could not tell Eleanor.
If Thomas discovers the truth, he will use Marcus to destroy everything.
Eleanor's hands shook.
Marcus wasn't simply manipulated.
He was Thomas's biological son.
Her husband's brother had spent years using his own child to take the company.
Eleanor whispered:
“Does Marcus know?”
Sophie shook her head.
“Not until tonight.”
A crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Daniel drew his weapon.
“Stay here.”
Eleanor heard footsteps.
Then Marcus appeared in the doorway.
He was bruised.
His wrists were free.
He looked at Eleanor.
“Mom.”
She stared.
“You're Thomas's son.”
Marcus's face went white.
“What?”
Sophie stepped forward.
“He used you.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Daniel raised a document.
“Your birth certificate was altered.”
Marcus looked at it.
Then he began crying.
“I don't understand.”
Eleanor approached him.
“You were never the heir.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Then what was I?”
Eleanor answered:
“My son.”
Marcus broke down.
For the first time, he wasn't angry.
He was devastated.
Then his phone rang.
Thomas.
Marcus answered.
A voice said:
“You finally know.”
Marcus whispered:
“Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you use me?”
“Because you were the only person close enough to destroy her.”
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
Thomas continued:
“And now I need you to finish what you started.”
Marcus hung up.
He looked at his mother.
“I can help you.”
Eleanor stared.
“Why?”
“Because I finally understand.”
“What?”
“I wasn't stealing your company.”
He looked toward the door.
May you like
“I was stealing the life he told me belonged to me.”
Then the lights went out.
