CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7
THE OTHER SON
The sound came from beneath us.
Not from the corridor.
Not from Room 8.
From somewhere deeper.
A heavy metal lock turning inside the walls.
Once.
Then twice.
Victor lowered his phone.
“What was that?”
Graves didn't answer.
He was staring at the floor.
I looked at him.
“You know.”
His lips parted.
“Not this time.”
Another lock clicked.
Victor stepped toward the center of the room.
“Show me.”
“There is nothing below this level.”
“Then why did we hear a door?”
Graves looked at the walls.
“Because this house was built in layers.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“How many?”
“Three.”
“You told me three floors.”
“There are three visible floors.”
I felt a chill.
“What's underneath them?”
Graves whispered:
“The original foundation.”
Victor stared at him.
“Take us there.”
The old butler didn't move.
“Now.”
Graves finally nodded.
“There is a way.”
He walked toward the back wall of Room 8.
Behind a bookshelf was another hidden mechanism.
He pressed it.
The bookshelf slid aside.
A staircase descended into darkness.
Victor took the first step.
Graves grabbed his arm.
“Once we go down there, you may not be able to come back with the same answers.”
Victor looked at him.
“I haven't had the same answers since the day my wife died.”
Then he descended.
I followed.
Graves came last.
The staircase seemed endless.
The air grew colder with every step.
The walls changed from stone to concrete.
Then concrete became brick.
Finally, we reached a narrow corridor.
Unlike the lower house above, this place had no electricity.
Victor switched on his flashlight.
The beam revealed old pipes.
Rusty doors.
Faded numbers.
At the end of the corridor was a single room.
The number had almost disappeared.
13.
Victor stopped.
“Why didn't you tell me about this?”
Graves looked at the door.
“Because your father told me never to speak of it.”
“What happened here?”
Graves swallowed.
“This was where the children were brought before they were moved.”
“Which children?”
“Anyone your father considered a problem.”
Victor stared at him.
“Evan?”
“Yes.”
“Clara?”
“Yes.”
“And the first daughter?”
Graves nodded.
“Yes.”
Victor looked at the door.
“Open it.”
Graves didn't move.
Victor turned.
“Open it.”
“I don't have the key.”
Victor looked down.
There was a keyhole.
He reached into his pocket.
The key from Room 8 was still there.
He inserted it.
The lock turned.
The door opened.
The room was empty.
No bed.
No furniture.
Only a small wooden box in the center of the floor.
Victor walked toward it.
He crouched.
On the lid were three names.
EVAN.
CLARA.
And beneath them—
ELIAS.
Victor stared.
“Who is Elias?”
Graves closed his eyes.
“I was afraid we'd find that name.”
“Who is he?”
“The other son.”
Victor looked up.
“You told me Evan was the second child.”
“He was.”
“Then who is Elias?”
Graves pointed at the box.
“Open it.”
Victor lifted the lid.
Inside were three files.
The first belonged to Evan.
The second belonged to Clara.
The third—
ELIAS BLACKWOOD.
Victor's hand froze.
I leaned closer.
The photograph attached to the file showed a newborn boy.
Dark hair.
A tiny birthmark near his left eyebrow.
Victor's face changed.
He knew him.
“That's impossible.”
I looked at him.
“You recognize him?”
Victor nodded slowly.
“I've seen this face.”
“Where?”
He didn't answer.
Then Graves whispered:
“At the hospital.”
Victor looked at him.
“What?”
“After Ethan was born.”
Victor stared at the photograph.
“I remember.”
His voice was barely audible.
“There was another baby.”
I felt cold.
“What baby?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“The night Ethan was born, there was a boy in the nursery.”
“Evan?”
“No.”
He opened his eyes.
“I remember seeing him through the glass.”
“What happened?”
“My father told me he belonged to another family.”
Graves nodded.
“He lied.”
Victor looked down at the file.
“Elias.”
“Yes.”
“Was he Eleanor's son?”
Graves shook his head.
“No.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Then whose?”
The old butler didn't answer.
Victor opened the file.
The first page contained a birth record.
Mother:
Unknown.
Father:
Victor Blackwood.
Victor stopped breathing.
I stared at him.
“What?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
The next page contained a DNA report.
PATERNITY CONFIRMED.
Victor dropped the file.
The paper landed on the floor.
His hands began shaking.
“I don't have another son.”
Graves looked at him.
“You did.”
“When?”
“Before Ethan.”
Victor stared.
“How?”
Graves said quietly:
“Your father arranged it.”
Victor picked up the report.
“This is forged.”
“No.”
“My father wasn't capable of—”
“He was capable of everything.”
Victor's voice became angry.
“Who was the mother?”
“We never knew.”
“Never?”
“She died during childbirth.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
Victor looked around the room.
“This room?”
“No.”
“The medical wing?”
“Yes.”
“Why was her name erased?”
“Because she wasn't supposed to exist.”
Victor stared at the birth record.
“Then why did my father keep Elias?”
“He didn't.”
“Where did he go?”
Graves looked at the door.
“Elias disappeared.”
“When?”
“Three days after his birth.”
“Who took him?”
“We don't know.”
Victor slammed the file onto the table.
“You always say that!”
Graves flinched.
Victor's voice cracked.
“Evan disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Clara disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Now Elias?”
“Yes.”
“How many children did my father steal?”
Graves whispered:
“I stopped counting.”
A faint sound came from the corridor.
A door closing.
Victor immediately turned.
“Someone is here.”
Graves lifted his flashlight.
The corridor was empty.
Then we heard footsteps.
One person.
Walking slowly.
Coming toward us.
Victor moved in front of me.
The footsteps stopped.
A man's voice spoke from the darkness.
“You shouldn't have opened that box.”
Victor raised the flashlight.
“Who are you?”
The man stepped into view.
He was young.
Maybe twenty-two.
Tall.
Dark hair.
A faint scar ran along his jaw.
And on his left eyebrow—
a small birthmark.
Victor stared.
The young man stared back.
Nobody spoke.
Then Graves whispered:
“Elias.”
The young man smiled.
“Hello, Graves.”
Victor couldn't move.
“You…”
Elias looked at him.
“Dad.”
Victor's face collapsed.
I covered my mouth.
The young man took one step forward.
“I've waited a long time to call you that.”
Victor whispered:
“Where have you been?”
Elias smiled sadly.
“Watching.”
“Watching what?”
“You.”
Victor shook his head.
“I don't understand.”
“You weren't supposed to.”
“Who are you?”
Elias laughed softly.
“You've already asked me that.”
Victor looked at Graves.
The butler lowered his eyes.
Elias continued:
“My name is Elias Blackwood.”
Victor stared.
“My son.”
“Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
Victor looked confused.
“Ethan is two.”
“Yes.”
“Evan would be twenty-two.”
Elias's smile disappeared.
“You finally understand.”
Victor went still.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're Evan.”
Elias nodded.
“I am.”
I felt the room spin.
Graves whispered:
“The name Michael Vale was only a cover.”
Victor stepped forward.
“You called me from Vermont.”
“Yes.”
“You said your name was Evan.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you let us believe you were Elias?”
“Because both names belong to me.”
Victor stared at him.
“Where is Clara?”
Elias looked away.
“Alive.”
Victor exhaled.
“Where?”
“She won't come back yet.”
“Why?”
“Because she's afraid of you.”
Victor's expression broke.
“Why would she be afraid of me?”
“Because she was taught that you abandoned her.”
“I didn't!”
“I know.”
“Who taught her?”
Elias looked toward the ceiling.
“Everyone.”
I stepped closer.
“Evan.”
He looked at me.
“You knew Serena.”
“Yes.”
“She attacked Ethan.”
His expression changed.
“She didn't want to.”
“Then why did she?”
“Because she was trying to protect him.”
“By hurting him?”
Evan's jaw tightened.
“She was under orders.”
“Whose?”
He didn't answer.
“Evan.”
“Dr. Black.”
I felt my stomach twist.
“You knew him?”
“He raised me.”
Victor stared.
“He raised you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was the only person who knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
Evan looked at Victor.
“That I wasn't your son.”
Victor went pale.
“What?”
Evan's voice was calm.
“My blood belongs to someone else.”
Victor shook his head.
“The DNA report says—”
“Fake.”
“Then why did my father keep you?”
“Because he needed leverage.”
“Against whom?”
Evan hesitated.
“Against Eleanor.”
Victor's face tightened.
“What did my wife do?”
“She tried to expose him.”
“And you?”
“I was the evidence.”
Victor stared.
“I don't understand.”
Evan stepped closer.
“My biological father was the one man your father feared.”
“Who?”
Evan looked at him.
“Dr. Adrian Black.”
Silence.
Victor whispered:
“No.”
Evan nodded.
“He was my father.”
“But you said he raised you.”
“He raised me because he knew what I was.”
Victor's breathing became uneven.
“And Clara?”
Evan's eyes darkened.
“She was Eleanor's daughter.”
“So you're not twins.”
“No.”
“Then why did they put you together?”
“Because they wanted to make it look like we were.”
Victor frowned.
“Why?”
“To hide the real relationship.”
I looked at Evan.
“What relationship?”
He looked at me.
Then said:
“Clara wasn't Eleanor's daughter.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
“She was Serena's.”
The room became silent.
Victor stared at him.
“That's impossible.”
“It isn't.”
“Serena was my half-sister.”
“Yes.”
“Then Clara is…”
“Your niece.”
Victor stumbled backward.
I caught his arm.
He looked at Evan.
“You're telling me Serena had a child with—”
“Dr. Black.”
Victor's face went white.
“And my father hid her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Clara carried proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Evan looked toward the files.
“Your father's crimes.”
He opened the third file.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman.
Serena.
Pregnant.
Beside her stood Dr. Adrian Black.
The date was twenty-three years ago.
Victor stared at the photograph.
“Serena was pregnant before Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“And Clara was her child.”
“Yes.”
“Why did she marry me?”
Evan's eyes hardened.
“She didn't marry you for love.”
Victor looked wounded.
“Why?”
“Because she was sent to destroy the evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“You.”
Victor's face changed.
“Me?”
“You were the only person who could have exposed your father.”
“I didn't know anything.”
“You didn't need to.”
Evan pulled another photograph from the file.
It showed Victor and Eleanor together.
Then another.
Victor standing beside his father.
Then another.
Victor holding newborn Ethan.
And finally—
a photograph of Serena standing beside Victor.
On the back of each photograph was the same symbol.
A black circle.
Victor recognized it.
“My father's company.”
Evan shook his head.
“No.”
“What is it?”
“The Blackwood family seal.”
“Where did you get these?”
“From Serena.”
“Then where is she?”
Evan looked at him.
“She was captured.”
Victor froze.
“By whom?”
“Dr. Black.”
“Why?”
“Because she tried to betray him.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Where is she?”
Evan hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Victor grabbed his shoulders.
“You're lying.”
Evan didn't resist.
“I wish I were.”
“Where is my wife?”
“She isn't your wife.”
Victor released him.
“What?”
“She was never legally married to you.”
Victor stared.
Evan pulled out a document.
A marriage certificate.
Victor's signature was there.
Serena's signature was there.
But beneath them was a stamp.
VOID.
Victor's face went blank.
“That's impossible.”
“Your father had it voided before the wedding.”
“Why?”
“Because he never intended Serena to become part of the Blackwood family legally.”
Victor stared at the paper.
“So what was the wedding?”
“A performance.”
“For whom?”
“For your father.”
I looked at Evan.
“Why tell us all this now?”
“Because he's coming.”
“Who?”
Evan looked toward the corridor.
“Dr. Black.”
Victor immediately reached for his phone.
No signal.
Again.
Evan smiled.
“He knows we're here.”
A sound echoed through the underground house.
A slow metallic clang.
Then another.
The lights flickered.
Evan grabbed the files.
“We have to leave.”
Victor shook his head.
“Not without Serena.”
“If she's still alive, we'll find her.”
“When?”
“Before he moves her.”
“Where?”
Evan looked at the floor.
“The old train tunnel.”
Graves's face changed.
“No.”
Evan turned.
“Yes.”
“You can't go there.”
“Why?”
“Because your father sealed it.”
Evan stared at him.
“Your father.”
Graves's voice broke.
“Elias…”
“Don't call me that.”
The old butler flinched.
“You left me.”
“You helped them take me.”
“I was ordered.”
“You always say that.”
Silence.
Evan looked at Victor.
“I spent twenty-two years believing you didn't want me.”
Victor whispered:
“I didn't know.”
“I know now.”
“You're my son.”
Evan's expression softened.
“For the first time, I believe you.”
Then a gunshot exploded somewhere above us.
We all froze.
Another shot.
Closer.
Evan grabbed my arm.
“Move.”
Victor shouted:
“Where?”
“The lower exit.”
Graves ran toward the corridor.
“I know another way.”
We followed him.
Behind us, footsteps thundered through the underground facility.
Someone was coming.
Fast.
Evan pushed open a metal door.
A tunnel stretched ahead.
Victor looked at him.
“Evan!”
He turned.
“What?”
“Who is Dr. Black really?”
Evan's face went pale.
“You don't want to know.”
“I need to.”
Evan looked toward the darkness behind us.
Then whispered:
“He isn't my father.”
Victor frowned.
“What?”
Evan swallowed.
“He's yours.”
Victor stopped.
“What?”
Evan's eyes filled with fear.
“Dr. Adrian Black is your biological father.”
Victor stared.
“That can't be.”
“He changed his name.”
“Why?”
“Because your father stole you from him too.”
Victor's face went completely white.
Evan continued:
“And Eleanor knew.”
Another gunshot echoed.
Evan grabbed Victor's arm.
“Run.”
We ran into the tunnel.
Behind us, the underground door slammed open.
A man's voice echoed through the corridor.
“Victor!”
Victor stopped.
The voice continued.
“You have no idea how many children your family has buried.”
Evan looked back.
“Don't listen.”
The voice laughed.
Then:
“Ask your son what happened to Clara.”
Victor turned toward Evan.
“What happened to Clara?”
Evan didn't answer.
“Evan.”
The young man finally looked at him.
His face was devastated.
“She's dead.”
Victor stopped.
“No.”
“She died three years ago.”
“No.”
“Dr. Black killed her.”
Victor stumbled.
Evan continued:
“Serena tried to save her.”
Victor whispered:
“Then why did Serena hurt Ethan?”
Evan looked toward the tunnel entrance.
“Because she thought Ethan was next.”
The footsteps behind us grew louder.
Evan pulled open a rusted iron door.
“Go!”
Victor pushed me through.
Graves followed.
Evan was last.
Just before he closed the door, he looked back.
A man stood at the far end of the tunnel.
Dr. Adrian Black.
He was smiling.
And beside him stood Serena.
Her hands were tied.
Blood covered her face.
Victor shouted:
“Serena!”
She looked at him.
Then screamed:
“DON'T TRUST EVAN!”
The iron door slammed shut.
Victor stared at it.
“Open it!”
Evan didn't move.
“Open the door!”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
Evan looked at him.
“Because she just told you the truth.”
Victor froze.
“What truth?”
Evan whispered:
“I'm not Evan.”
A terrible silence filled the tunnel.
Victor stared at him.
“Then who are you?”
The young man looked away.
And said:
“I'm Elias.”
I felt my blood run cold.
“Then where is Evan?”
Elias looked at Victor.
“He died twenty years ago.”
Victor's face collapsed.
And somewhere behind the sealed door, Serena began screaming.
Not in anger.
Not in fear.
In grief.
“Elias isn't your son!”
Her voice echoed through the tunnel.
May you like
“He is the reason Eleanor died.”
Then everything went dark.
