Chapter 8 — The Secret Beneath the Vale Estate
Chapter 8 — The Secret Beneath the Vale Estate
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Dominic stood in the center of the underground laboratory with his gun hanging loosely at his side.
He looked at Alexander.
Then Nathan.
Then Margaret.
Finally, his eyes found Mia.
She wouldn't look at him.
That hurt more than the accusation itself.
"Say it again," Dominic whispered.
Nathan's face was wet with tears.
"You're Alexander's son."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
Alexander stepped forward.
"Yes."
"Don't."
"Dominic—"
"Don't call me that."
Alexander stopped.
The silence became unbearable.
Dominic pointed the gun at him.
"If you're my brother, prove it."
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"You want proof?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go downstairs."
Dominic frowned.
"Where?"
Alexander glanced toward the far wall.
"Below the laboratory."
Daniel immediately raised his weapon.
"There is no below."
Alexander smiled.
"That's what your father wanted everyone to believe."
Dominic looked at Nathan.
Nathan nodded slowly.
"There is another level."
"How many?"
"One."
Alexander corrected him.
"Three."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Open it."
Alexander looked at him.
"Only you can."
The wall appeared solid.
No handle.
No lock.
No visible mechanism.
Dominic ran his fingers across the stone.
Nothing.
Alexander walked toward a section beside the old medical equipment.
"Your father designed this himself."
He pressed his palm against the wall.
Nothing happened.
He looked at Dominic.
"Go ahead."
Dominic frowned.
"Why me?"
"Because it responds to blood."
Dominic stared at him.
"Whose?"
Alexander's eyes met his.
"Yours."
Dominic hesitated.
Then placed his palm against the stone.
A sharp needle emerged.
It pierced his skin.
Blood touched the surface.
The wall clicked.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Sir!"
Dominic didn't move.
The stone began to separate.
A narrow doorway opened.
Cold air rushed through the laboratory.
Behind it was a staircase descending into darkness.
Dominic stared.
His father's estate had stood above this place for more than a century.
Yet nobody had ever told him it existed.
Not even Nathan.
"How long?"
Nathan answered quietly.
"Since before you were born."
Dominic looked at him.
"And you knew."
"Yes."
"You knew everything."
"No."
Nathan's voice broke.
"Not everything."
Alexander stepped toward the staircase.
"That's why we're here."
Dominic followed.
The first level beneath the laboratory was enormous.
The walls were reinforced concrete.
Old pipes crossed the ceiling.
Security cameras hung in every corner.
But the strangest thing was the photographs.
Hundreds of them.
Dominic.
Nathan.
Alexander.
Mia.
Harper.
Isabella.
Richard.
Margaret.
Some photographs were decades old.
Others had been taken only weeks ago.
Dominic walked toward one.
It showed him at seventeen.
Another showed him at twenty-four.
Another showed him entering the Vale headquarters last year.
He looked at the date.
Three weeks before.
Dominic's stomach tightened.
"Someone has been watching me."
Alexander nodded.
"Your entire life."
"Who?"
"Your father."
"He's dead."
"He was."
Dominic looked at the photographs.
"Then who continued?"
Alexander didn't answer.
Margaret did.
"I did."
Dominic turned.
"You?"
She smiled.
"Someone had to."
"Why?"
"Because Richard made mistakes."
"You killed him."
"I stopped him."
"You murdered him."
Margaret's expression hardened.
"Your father murdered people for decades."
"He was my father."
"No."
Her eyes sharpened.
"He was never your father."
Dominic flinched.
Alexander looked away.
Margaret continued.
"He stole you."
"From whom?"
She didn't answer.
Dominic stepped closer.
"From whom?"
Margaret pointed toward the end of the corridor.
"Come."
They entered a room filled with old documents.
At the center was a steel table.
On it lay three sealed files.
Margaret placed her hand on the first.
"Your birth."
The second.
"Alexander."
The third.
"Harper."
Dominic stared.
"Why are they connected?"
Margaret looked at him.
"Because all three of you were part of the same experiment."
Dominic's face hardened.
"I wasn't an experiment."
"You were."
Alexander opened the first file.
Inside were medical records.
Dominic's birth certificate.
A hospital photograph.
DNA results.
Then a document marked:
PROJECT V-17 — SUBJECT D.
Dominic read the first line.
GENETIC MATERIAL TRANSFERRED FROM ALEXANDER VALE.
His hands began to shake.
"No."
Nathan looked away.
Dominic turned toward him.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
"You knew."
"I found out twelve years ago."
Dominic's voice became colder.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I promised your father."
"He's dead."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Nathan looked at him.
"Because I was afraid of what you would do."
Dominic laughed bitterly.
"You should have been."
He opened another page.
The records described an embryo.
A genetic procedure.
A surrogate mother.
A child.
Dominic looked at the date.
His birth date.
His face went blank.
"I was created."
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
"From your DNA."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Richard wanted an heir he could control."
Dominic stared at him.
"And you agreed?"
"No."
"What happened?"
"Richard stole my genetic material."
Dominic looked at Margaret.
"How?"
"Your father drugged him," she said.
"He took samples without consent."
"Then he created you."
Dominic's stomach turned.
"So I am..."
"Your brother's genetic son," Margaret said.
"But Richard raised me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted you to believe you were his."
Dominic looked at Alexander.
"Why didn't you stop him?"
Alexander's expression became bitter.
"I tried."
"You were a child."
"I was seventeen."
"And Richard?"
"Powerful."
Alexander paused.
"And terrified."
"Of what?"
"You."
Dominic frowned.
"Me?"
Alexander nodded.
"He knew what you would become."
The second file contained photographs.
Alexander at eighteen.
Alexander at twenty.
Alexander with Richard.
Then Alexander in a hospital bed.
Dominic stared at the last photograph.
"What happened?"
"Richard tried to kill me," Alexander said.
"Why?"
"Because I discovered the laboratory."
"The one we're standing in."
"Yes."
"What did you discover?"
Alexander looked toward the final file.
"Harper."
Dominic opened it.
The first photograph showed Mia.
Pregnant.
The second showed Harper as a newborn.
The third showed Richard holding the baby.
Dominic froze.
"That's impossible."
Mia looked down.
"I told you he was involved."
Dominic looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I promised."
"To my father?"
"Yes."
"What did he make you promise?"
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"That I would never tell you the truth unless the people hunting Harper found us."
Dominic stared.
"They found us."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was still afraid."
"Of Alexander?"
Mia shook her head.
"Of the woman standing behind him."
Dominic turned.
Margaret was smiling.
"You're afraid of her," Dominic said.
Mia nodded.
"Why?"
"Because she knows what happened to my daughter."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"Harper is your daughter."
"Yes."
"Then what happened?"
Mia looked at Margaret.
"She took Harper from me."
Margaret's smile disappeared.
"That's not what happened."
"You stole her."
"I saved her."
"You took my baby."
"Because your baby was going to be killed."
Mia's face went white.
Dominic looked between them.
"By whom?"
Margaret answered:
"Richard."
Mia shook her head.
"You're lying."
"No."
Margaret opened the third file.
Inside was a medical order.
TERMINATION AUTHORIZED.
Signed:
RICHARD VALE.
Mia stared.
Her lips parted.
"I never saw this."
"Because Nathan intercepted it."
Dominic looked at Nathan.
"You saved Harper."
Nathan nodded.
"But Richard found out."
"Yes."
"What did he do?"
"He ordered me to destroy the records."
"And you didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
Nathan looked toward Mia.
"Because she deserved to know."
Dominic took the document.
There was another page behind it.
A handwritten note.
IF NATHAN REFUSES, ACTIVATE MARGARET.
Dominic's face hardened.
"Activate?"
Margaret said nothing.
Dominic looked at her.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Richard had a contingency."
"For what?"
"For Harper."
Dominic opened the final page.
The words were simple.
IF THE CHILD SURVIVES, SHE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE VALE FAMILY.
Below it was another name.
MIA CARTER.
Dominic looked at Mia.
"They planned to kill you."
She nodded.
"I knew."
"You knew?"
"Richard told me."
"And you stayed?"
"I had nowhere else to go."
Dominic stared at her.
Then something clicked.
"The basement."
Mia looked at him.
"What?"
"Your kidnapping."
"You think Richard's people did it?"
"No."
Dominic looked at Margaret.
"I think someone wanted me to believe they did."
Margaret's expression changed.
For the first time, fear appeared in her eyes.
Dominic noticed.
"Who?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Alexander did.
"Someone who has been running Project 17 since Richard died."
Dominic turned.
"Who?"
Alexander pointed toward the wall.
A monitor flickered on.
A name appeared.
DR. ELIAS VOSS.
Dominic frowned.
"Who is that?"
Nathan's face went pale.
"The director."
"Of what?"
"Project 17."
"He's dead."
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
Dominic stared.
"Where is he?"
Alexander looked at Harper's file.
"He's been living under another name."
"Which one?"
Alexander smiled.
"You've met him."
Dominic's mind raced.
The doctors.
The hospital.
The estate staff.
The people around him.
Then he remembered.
A man who had worked for the Vale family for years.
A quiet physician.
Someone Richard trusted.
Someone Dominic had never questioned.
"Dr. Samuel Reed."
Alexander nodded.
"Exactly."
Dominic felt cold.
"He's been treating Harper."
Mia's face changed.
"What?"
Alexander looked at her.
"He's been taking blood samples from her for four years."
Mia covered her mouth.
"No."
Dominic's anger exploded.
"Where is he?"
Alexander pointed upward.
"At the estate."
Dominic turned toward the stairs.
The emergency alarm sounded.
Dominic's phone vibrated.
Daniel.
He answered.
"Sir."
"Where's Dr. Reed?"
A pause.
"He's with Harper."
Dominic's blood froze.
"Get him away from her."
"We tried."
"What happened?"
"He locked the door."
Dominic started running.
"Break it."
"We can't."
"Why?"
"Because Harper is inside."
Dominic stopped.
Daniel's voice shook.
"She's holding a knife."
Dominic's face went pale.
"Harper?"
"No."
Daniel swallowed.
"Dr. Reed is holding the knife."
Dominic sprinted through the estate.
Behind him came Alexander, Nathan, and Mia.
Margaret followed.
They reached the west wing.
Two guards lay unconscious.
The door was locked.
Dominic slammed his shoulder into it.
Nothing.
Again.
The frame cracked.
Inside, Dr. Reed stood beside the bed.
Harper was trapped against the wall.
A knife rested against her neck.
"One more step," Reed said, "and she dies."
Dominic raised his weapon.
"Let her go."
Reed laughed.
"You don't understand what she is."
"She's a child."
"No."
His eyes became almost feverish.
"She's the last piece."
"Of what?"
"Perfection."
Dominic's finger tightened.
"Put down the knife."
"You were supposed to be the heir."
Reed looked at Dominic.
"Richard wasted everything on you."
Dominic stared.
"You worked for my father."
"I worked for the project."
"Who funded it?"
Reed smiled.
"The family."
"Which family?"
Reed looked toward Alexander.
"The original one."
Alexander's face hardened.
"You're lying."
Reed laughed.
"You still don't know."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"Know what?"
Reed pulled a small syringe from his pocket.
Harper screamed.
Mia lunged forward.
"Don't touch her!"
Reed moved the syringe toward Harper.
Dominic fired.
The bullet struck Reed's shoulder.
He dropped the syringe.
Alexander rushed forward.
Dominic grabbed Harper.
He pulled her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest.
"Mr. Vale."
"I'm here."
"Mommy."
"Mia's here."
Mia ran toward them.
She took Harper from Dominic.
The little girl wrapped both arms around her mother.
"I was scared."
"I know."
Mia kissed her hair.
"I know."
Dominic turned toward Reed.
Blood covered the man's shirt.
"Who is the original family?"
Reed smiled through the pain.
"You really don't know."
"Tell me."
"The Vales aren't the original family."
Dominic's expression changed.
"Then who are?"
Reed laughed.
"The Morettis."
Alexander went still.
Dominic stared at him.
"Moretti?"
Alexander nodded slowly.
"That was my mother's maiden name."
Dominic looked toward Margaret.
Her face had gone white.
Reed continued:
"Richard stole the Vale name."
"From whom?"
"The Moretti family."
Dominic's mind raced.
"Why?"
"Because the Morettis owned everything before the Vales."
Alexander stepped closer.
"And my mother?"
Reed smiled.
"She was the rightful heir."
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Stop."
Reed looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't need to know yet."
Dominic stared at her.
"You."
Margaret lowered her eyes.
"You were a Moretti."
She nodded.
"My family built the original empire."
"And Richard stole it."
"Yes."
Dominic looked at Alexander.
"Then you're not a Vale."
"No."
Alexander looked at Dominic.
"Neither are you."
Dominic stared.
The truth was becoming larger than any secret he had ever imagined.
The Vale empire.
Project 17.
Harper.
His own birth.
His brother.
His mother.
All connected to a family that had been erased from history.
Then Harper suddenly spoke.
"Mr. Vale?"
Dominic turned.
She pointed toward the floor.
"There's something under the carpet."
Dominic frowned.
He moved the carpet.
A steel hatch appeared.
A symbol was engraved on it.
A black bird.
The same symbol as Mia's pendant.
Dominic looked at Mia.
She had gone pale.
"What is it?"
Mia whispered:
"The place Richard told me never to open."
Dominic looked at the hatch.
"Why?"
"Because he said that's where the first secret was buried."
Dominic crouched.
He opened it.
A ladder descended into darkness.
From below came a faint sound.
A heartbeat.
Slow.
Steady.
Alive.
Dominic looked at Alexander.
"What's down there?"
Alexander's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
"My father."
Dominic froze.
"Richard?"
Alexander nodded.
"He's alive."
The room went silent.
Then, from beneath the estate, a man's voice echoed upward.
Weak.
But unmistakable.
"Dominic."
Mia covered her mouth.
Nathan stepped backward.
Margaret closed her eyes.
And Dominic heard the voice of the man he had buried twelve years earlier.
"Come down, son."
Dominic stared into the darkness.
Then Richard laughed.
"There's something you still don't know."
May you like
The lights went out.
And from below came the sound of chains being unlocked.
