CHAPTER 8 The Brother Hidden in the Shadows

The photograph changed everything.

Daniel held it with shaking hands.

He stared at the three children.

Himself.

His sister.

And the unknown boy.

"Who is he?"

Nobody answered.

Victoria looked away.

Emma studied her reaction.

"You know."

Victoria remained silent.

Daniel stepped closer.

"Mother."

Her eyes closed.

"I knew this day would come."

"Who is he?"

Victoria whispered:

"His name was Noah."

Daniel frowned.

"Was?"

"He was supposed to disappear."

The room went cold.

Emma looked at her.

"Why?"

Victoria looked at Daniel.

"Because Richard made a choice."

"What choice?"

"The choice between protecting the family name..."

She paused.

"...and protecting his child."

Daniel gripped the photograph.

"Noah was my brother?"

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

The truth hit him harder than anything before.

"Why didn't I know?"

"Because Richard believed secrets kept people alive."

Daniel laughed.

"Secrets destroyed this family."

Nobody argued.

Because everyone knew he was right.

Emma looked at the photograph again.

"There is something strange."

Daniel looked at her.

"What?"

She pointed.

"Noah wasn't hidden because he was unwanted."

She touched the image.

"He was hidden because someone was afraid of him."

Victoria's expression changed.

Emma noticed.

"What?"

Victoria stood silently.

Then said:

"Noah wasn't just another heir."

Daniel waited.

"He was the first."

The room became silent.

"The first what?"

Victoria looked at Richard's photograph on the wall.

"The first child Richard ever had."

Daniel frowned.

"That doesn't make sense."

"It does."

Victoria whispered:

"Because Richard wasn't married when Noah was born."

Emma understood.

"The inheritance."

Victoria nodded.

"Exactly."

Daniel looked confused.

"What inheritance?"

Victoria walked toward the window.

"The Harrington empire wasn't built only on money."

She looked outside.

"It was built on a secret agreement."

Emma asked:

"What agreement?"

Victoria answered:

"The person carrying Richard's oldest bloodline would control everything."

Daniel froze.

"You're saying Noah could take the entire company?"

"Yes."

A silence followed.

Then Daniel asked the question everyone feared.

"Where is he now?"

Victoria looked at him.

"That's the problem."

She whispered:

"Nobody knows."

Suddenly, Daniel's phone vibrated.

Everyone looked.

A message had arrived.

Unknown number.

One sentence.

Daniel opened it.

And his face went pale.

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