Chapter 9: The Last Heir of the Hale Family
The drive to the old Hale estate took forty minutes.
It was the same property where Dominic had grown up.
A sprawling mansion surrounded by woodland, with stone walls, iron gates, and a private chapel built by his grandfather.
I had visited only twice.
The last time had been for Arthur Hale's memorial service.
Now my son was somewhere inside.
And my husband was driving toward a man who had spent three years destroying his life.
Dominic kept one hand on the steering wheel.
His other hand rested on the small metallic device recovered from his ear.
He had refused to let the police take it.
He wanted to know exactly how it worked.
I sat beside him, staring at Marcus's photograph on my phone.
"He's going to be all right," Dominic said.
I looked at him.
"How can you know?""
"Because Richard needs him alive.""
"That doesn't mean he won't hurt him.""
Dominic tightened his grip on the wheel.
"I won't let him.""
For several minutes, we drove in silence.
Then I spoke.
"Dominic?""
"Yes?""
"If the DNA results are true...""
He glanced at me.
"Don't.""
"But we need to talk about it.""
"Not now.""
I looked down.
"I don't know who I am anymore.""
Dominic's expression softened.
"You're Eleanor.""
"That's not enough.""
"It is to me.""
I looked out the window.
He continued.
"Whatever our parents did, whatever secrets they buried, none of it was your choice. We were both lied to.""
I swallowed.
"And Marcus?""
"He is our son.""
His voice was firm.
"Nothing changes that.""
I reached for his hand.
He squeezed mine.
Then the estate appeared through the trees.
The iron gates stood open.
Two black vehicles were parked outside.
No security guards.
No lights.
Just darkness.
Dominic stopped the car.
"Stay behind me.""
We approached the entrance.
The front doors were unlocked.
Inside, the house smelled of old wood and smoke.
A chandelier hung crookedly above the staircase.
On the marble floor lay a broken picture frame.
It showed Arthur Hale standing with Dominic as a little boy.
Someone had deliberately smashed the glass over Arthur's face.
Dominic examined it.
"Richard has always hated this house.""
"Why?""
"Because Arthur left everything to his children.""
We moved toward the chapel.
A faint sound came from somewhere upstairs.
A child's voice.
"Daddy?""
I froze.
"Marcus!""
Dominic caught my arm.
"Wait.""
A second voice followed.
"Not yet, sweetheart.""
Margaret.
We ran toward the stairs.
At the top, two men stepped into the hallway.
Both carried guns.
Dominic stopped.
"Where is my son?""
One man smiled.
"Your father-in-law is waiting.""
Dominic looked at the weapons.
"Move.""
The man raised his gun.
Then a loud crash came from the opposite hallway.
James appeared, holding a fire extinguisher.
He swung it into the first man's shoulder.
Dominic moved instantly.
He grabbed the second man's wrist, forced the gun upward, and drove him into the wall.
The weapon fell.
James kicked it away.
"Sir, I thought you might need assistance.""
Dominic gave him a brief nod.
"Where's Marcus?""
"Chapel.""
We rushed down the corridor.
The chapel doors were open.
Inside, Margaret stood beside the altar.
Marcus was sitting on a wooden bench, clutching his stuffed dinosaur.
Richard Bennett stood near the front.
He wore a dark suit and held a folder.
Beside him was Victor.
His right cheek was bruised, but he was smiling.
"Dominic," Richard said.
Dominic stepped forward.
"Let my son go.""
Richard glanced at Marcus.
"He's perfectly safe.""
Marcus saw us.
"Daddy!""
Dominic started toward him.
Victor raised a gun.
"Stay where you are.""
I stepped forward.
"Please. He's only five.""
Richard looked at me.
"Eleanor, don't make this difficult.""
I stared at the man who had raised me.
"Why are you doing this?""
He sighed.
"Because your biological father made a terrible decision.""
"You mean Arthur?""
Richard's expression darkened.
"He betrayed me.""
"He left you out of his will?""
"He gave everything to the wrong people.""
Dominic stepped forward.
"Arthur gave his children what was theirs.""
Richard laughed.
"Your father was sentimental. He thought blood mattered more than loyalty.""
Dominic looked at Victor.
"Put the gun down.""
Victor smiled.
"Why should I?""
"Because you've spent three years following Richard's orders. You've lost everything. He's going to abandon you the moment he gets what he wants.""
Victor's expression changed.
Richard turned sharply.
"Ignore him.""
Dominic continued.
"Ask him what happened to the money he promised you.""
Victor looked at Richard.
"What is he talking about?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Not now.""
Dominic looked at him.
"You promised Victor twenty million dollars and a private residence overseas.""
Victor lowered his weapon slightly.
"How do you know that?""
"Because I found the transfers.""
Richard snapped.
"Enough!""
He opened the folder.
Inside was a document.
"The original trust," he announced.
"Signed by Arthur Hale.""
Dominic looked at it.
"That's a copy.""
Richard smiled.
"The original is hidden beneath the chapel.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Richard, stop.""
He turned toward her.
"You're the reason this became complicated.""
"You promised to leave Marcus alone.""
"I promised nothing.""
Marcus began crying.
"Mommy?""
I took a step forward.
Richard raised his hand.
"Stay where you are.""
Then he placed the document on the altar.
"All I need is Marcus's blood sample. Once the laboratory confirms his identity, the trust can be transferred under the guardianship clause.""
Dominic's expression became cold.
"You don't need his blood.""
Richard smiled.
"Actually, I do.""
"Why?""
"Because Arthur added a final condition.""
He pulled another document from the folder.
"The beneficiary must be present when the trust is opened. His identity must be verified through a biological sample and a recorded declaration.""
Dominic looked at Margaret.
She nodded faintly.
Richard continued.
"Once the process is complete, I control the assets until Marcus reaches adulthood.""
I stepped forward.
"You're planning to steal from your own grandson.""
Richard looked at me.
"He's not my grandson.""
The words hit harder than anything else he had said.
I stared at him.
"You raised me.""
"I gave you a name. A home. An education.""
"You were my father.""
"I was your guardian.""
My eyes filled.
"Did you ever love me?""
For the first time, Richard seemed uncomfortable.
Then he looked away.
"Love is irrelevant.""
Dominic moved.
Victor raised the gun.
But Margaret suddenly stepped between them.
"Richard, don't!""
She grabbed the folder from the altar and threw it toward Dominic.
The papers scattered across the floor.
Victor fired.
The bullet struck the wooden pillar beside Margaret.
She fell.
"NO!"" Marcus screamed.
Dominic lunged toward Victor.
The two men crashed into the pews.
The gun skidded across the floor.
James rushed in from the doorway.
He tackled Victor and pinned him down.
Richard ran toward the altar.
He reached beneath the wooden platform and pulled out a small metal box.
"Don't move!"" Dominic shouted.
Richard turned.
He was holding a syringe.
I froze.
Inside it was a clear liquid.
"What is that?""
Richard's eyes moved toward Marcus.
"Just something to make the boy cooperate.""
Dominic's voice dropped.
"Put it down.""
Richard smiled.
"You're too late.""
He grabbed Marcus by the arm.
My son screamed.
I ran.
Richard raised the syringe.
But before he could reach Marcus, someone struck him from behind.
A woman appeared in the doorway.
She was holding a heavy wooden candlestick.
Richard stumbled.
The syringe fell.
The woman caught Marcus and pulled him away.
I stared at her.
It was Catherine.
My biological mother.
She had followed us.
"Take him!"" she shouted.
I grabbed Marcus and held him against my chest.
Dominic rushed toward Richard.
But Richard was already reaching for the metal box.
He opened it and removed a small black object.
A flash drive.
"Do you know what this is?"" he shouted.
Dominic stopped.
Richard laughed.
"The original recording of Arthur's final declaration.""
Margaret struggled to sit up.
"Richard, no!""
He held the flash drive above his head.
"Arthur didn't leave the company to Dominic.""
Dominic stared at him.
"What?""
Richard looked directly at me.
"He left it to Eleanor.""
I felt Marcus's arms tighten around my neck.
Richard continued.
"And there's another condition.""
He smiled.
"One that will destroy everything you think you know.""
Then he looked toward Catherine.
"Tell them who Eleanor's biological father really was.""
Catherine went pale.
Richard laughed.
"Go on. Tell them.""
Dominic turned toward her.
Catherine looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
Then she whispered:
"Arthur Hale wasn't your biological father, Eleanor.""
I felt the room tilt.
Richard raised the flash drive.
"Your real father is standing right here.""
He pointed at himself.
And for the first time in my life, I understood that the man who had raised me hadn't simply lied about my mother.
He had lied about my entire existence.
May you like
Richard smiled at Dominic.
"Now, shall we discuss why I chose you to marry my daughter?""
