CHAPTER 18 The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
The old road through the northern vineyard had been abandoned for years.
Nobody used it anymore.
The trees had grown over the path.
The signs had faded.
The buildings were empty.
It was the kind of place people forgot existed.
Which was exactly why Evelyn Cross chose it.
The black car stopped in front of an old stone house hidden behind the forest.
Alexander looked through the window.
“Where are we?”
Evelyn turned around.
“Somewhere the Vale family wanted forgotten.”
The boy looked nervous.
“My mother came here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn was quiet for a moment.
“Because she discovered the truth.”
Alexander looked down.
“About my family?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And about the person who hurt us.”
The car door opened.
Cold air rushed inside.
Evelyn stepped out.
Alexander followed.
The old house stood silently beneath the trees.
A place frozen in time.
Inside Vale Estate, Eleanor, Julian, Clara, and Marcus gathered in the security room.
The atmosphere was tense.
Thomas stood near the monitors.
Everyone was searching.
Everyone was blaming.
But nobody knew where Alexander had gone.
“Can you track the vehicle?” Eleanor asked.
Thomas shook his head.
“The system was disabled before they left.”
“Someone planned this.”
“Yes.”
Julian stared at the screen.
“I know where they went.”
Everyone turned.
Eleanor looked at him.
“Where?”
Julian hesitated.
“The old Cross property.”
Marcus immediately reacted.
“No.”
Eleanor noticed.
“You know that place?”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“What is there?”
His expression darkened.
“Answers.”
The old Cross house had not been touched in years.
Dust covered the furniture.
Photographs remained on the walls.
A family frozen in a life they no longer had.
Alexander walked through the hallway quietly.
He stopped at a photograph.
A young woman.
His mother.
Sophie.
He touched the glass.
“I remember her.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You do?”
“Sometimes.”
His voice became small.
“She used to sing when she cooked.”
Evelyn looked away.
She had known Sophie.
She had known her dreams.
Her fears.
Her courage.
And she had failed to protect her.
“She loved you very much.”
Alexander looked at her.
“Where is she?”
Evelyn remained silent.
The child already knew the answer.
But he needed someone to say it.
“She’s gone.”
Alexander looked down.
“But she told me someone would find me.”
A pause.
“She said Eleanor Vale would know what to do.”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
Because Sophie had planned for this.
Even years ago.
A door opened at the end of the hallway.
Alexander turned.
An old man stood there.
He was older.
Very thin.
Walking with a cane.
But his eyes were sharp.
Evelyn lowered her head.
“Daniel.”
Alexander looked confused.
“Who is he?”
The old man stared at the child.
Then tears appeared in his eyes.
“The boy.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.”
The old man stepped closer.
“Victor tried to erase us.”
His voice trembled.
“But he couldn’t erase blood.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Who are you?”
The old man smiled sadly.
“My name is Daniel Cross.”
A pause.
“And I knew your mother.”
At the same time, Eleanor’s group arrived at the old Cross property.
The rain had stopped.
But the silence felt heavier.
Julian stepped out of the car.
He looked at the abandoned house.
“I haven’t been here since I was a child.”
Eleanor turned.
“Why?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Because this is where my grandfather made me choose.”
“Choose what?”
Julian stared at the building.
“Family.”
A pause.
“Or truth.”
Eleanor studied him.
“And what did you choose?”
Julian looked away.
“I was a child.”
The answer hurt.
Because for the first time, Eleanor realized how long this cycle had existed.
Children were taught secrets before they were taught honesty.
Inside the house, Daniel sat across from Alexander.
“You have your mother’s eyes.”
Alexander smiled slightly.
“Everyone says that.”
Daniel looked toward Evelyn.
“Did you bring them?”
Evelyn nodded.
“They’re coming.”
Daniel sighed.
“Good.”
Alexander looked confused.
“Who?”
Daniel looked at him.
“The people who need to hear what happened.”
The front door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
Eleanor walked in first.
Behind her came Julian, Clara, Marcus, and Thomas.
The room became silent.
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“You finally came.”
Eleanor frowned.
“Who are you?”
The old man smiled.
“The person your family spent thirty years trying to destroy.”
A pause.
Then he looked at Julian.
“And the person who knows the truth about who you really are.”
Julian froze.
Eleanor immediately noticed.
“Julian?”
Daniel leaned back.
“You want to know why Victor controlled everyone?”
Nobody spoke.
“Why your husband kept secrets?”
A pause.
“Why Julian was chosen?”
Daniel looked directly at Eleanor.
“Because Julian was never supposed to inherit Vale Estate.”
He looked at Alexander.
“Neither was I.”
Then he revealed the final piece.
“The true heir was hidden before Julian was even born.”
Everyone stared.
Eleanor whispered:
“Who?”
Daniel pointed toward Alexander.
“The answer has been standing in front of you all along.”
Before anyone could respond, a sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Everyone turned.
Another person entered the old house.
Someone nobody expected.
May you like
Someone Eleanor believed had been dead for eight years.
Her husband.
