Chapter 60 — The Forgotten Heir

 

Evelyn couldn't take her eyes off the photograph.

Thomas Reed stood beside Victor Hale.

For years, Thomas had presented himself as someone who regretted his involvement in the foundation's financial scandal.He had confessed, provided documents, and helped Daniel uncover the truth about Richard's unauthorized transactions.

But now, Samuel was claiming that Thomas had been protecting Victor all along.

“Are you certain?” Daniel asked.

Samuel nodded.

“I've spent years investigating them. Thomas was never just an accountant. He helped Victor maintain control over thefinancial records.”

Adrian clenched his jaw.

“Then his confession was another performance.”

“Probably,” Samuel replied.

Eleanor looked devastated.

“But Thomas helped us uncover the truth about Margaret. He gave us documents that cleared her name.”

Samuel turned toward her.

“Some of those documents were genuine. That's how he earned your trust.”

Evelyn slowly placed her mother's letter on the table.

“Then why did Thomas help us expose Pierce?”

“Because Pierce had become a liability. Victor wanted him silenced before he revealed everything.”

Daniel immediately picked up his phone.

“I'll have Thomas located.”

But Samuel stopped him.

“Be careful. If Thomas realizes that we know about Victor, he'll disappear.”

Daniel nodded.

“Then we need to move quickly.”

The following morning, Daniel requested Thomas Reed's presence at his office.

Thomas arrived looking unusually relaxed.

“Good morning, Daniel. You said there was something important to discuss?”

Daniel gestured toward the chair.

“Please sit down.”

Thomas noticed Adrian standing near the window.

His expression changed slightly.

“Is this about the foundation?”

“Partly,” Daniel answered.

He placed the photograph of Thomas and Victor on the desk.

Thomas stared at it.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he slowly leaned back.

“Where did you get this?”

“That's not important. What matters is that we know you've been working with Victor Hale.”

Thomas gave a small laugh.

“I see. So Samuel has finally returned.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“You knew he was alive?”

Thomas looked at him.

“Of course.”

Daniel's expression hardened.

“Then why did you help us search for him?”

“Because I wanted to know whether he still possessed the original inheritance documents.”

“So your cooperation was never about clearing Margaret's name?”

Thomas shrugged.

“Margaret was innocent of the financial theft. That much was true.”

“You allowed her reputation to be destroyed,” Daniel said coldly.

Thomas looked away.

“Things were complicated.”

Adrian slammed his hand against the desk.

“Stop using that excuse!”

Thomas remained strangely calm.

“You think Victor is the biggest problem? You have no idea what you're dealing with.”

Daniel leaned forward.

“Then explain.”

Thomas smiled bitterly.

“Richard wasn't the only Whitmore with a claim to the family fortune.”

Daniel stared at him.

“What are you talking about?”

Thomas slowly stood.

“There was another heir. A child Richard never publicly acknowledged.”

Before Daniel could respond, Thomas walked toward the door.

Adrian moved to block him.

“You're not going anywhere.”

Thomas looked directly at him.

“Ask Eleanor about Richard's first marriage.”

Then he pushed past Adrian and left.

Daniel immediately contacted the investigators.

Thomas had disappeared before they could formally question him further.

At Eleanor's house, Samuel sat quietly beside his wife.

He had finally returned, but the reunion had brought more questions than answers.

Eleanor poured him a cup of tea.

“Richard's first marriage?”

Samuel nodded.

“Yes. He was married before he became involved with Isabella's family.”

Eleanor frowned.

“I never heard about that.”

“Most people didn't. Richard kept it private.”

Grace entered the room.

“Did he have children?”

Samuel looked at her.

“According to the documents I discovered, yes.”

Evelyn, who had just arrived with Adrian, stopped near the doorway.

“Who was the child?”

Samuel hesitated.

“I don't know the child's current identity. But I know the mother's name.”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Who?”

“Margaret Reed.”

Daniel entered moments later, carrying a folder.

“Thomas mentioned Richard's first marriage too.”

Samuel nodded.

“Then we're getting closer.”

Daniel opened the folder.

“I found an old marriage registration. Richard Whitmore married Margaret Reed before his marriage to Isabella's familywas arranged.”

Evelyn looked confused.

“Richard was married to someone with the same surname as Thomas?”

Daniel nodded.

“That's what makes this interesting. Thomas may have a personal connection to Richard's first family.”

Grace frowned.

“Are you suggesting Thomas is related to the forgotten heir?”

“It's possible.”

Samuel slowly shook his head.

“Not just related. I believe Thomas may be the son of Richard's first wife.”

Everyone fell silent.

Meanwhile, Thomas arrived at a private residence outside the city.

Victor Hale was waiting inside.

He was older than the man in the old photographs, but his eyes remained sharp.

“You were careless,” Victor said.

Thomas removed his coat.

“They know about us.”

“I expected that.”

“Samuel has returned. He has the original documents.”

Victor poured himself a drink.

“Then we'll have to retrieve them.”

Thomas looked uncomfortable.

“What about Hope?”

Victor's expression hardened.

“She is the rightful beneficiary. As long as she remains unaware of the full agreement, we still have room to negotiate.”

“And if she learns everything?”

Victor placed his glass down.

“Then we make sure she never gets the chance to claim anything.”

Thomas looked at him.

“You promised nobody would get hurt.”

Victor laughed.

“You should have learned by now that promises are only useful when they serve a purpose.”

Thomas lowered his eyes.

For the first time, he seemed uncertain about the man he had served for so many years.

That afternoon, Daniel uncovered another document.

It was a birth record connected to Richard's first marriage.

The child's name was listed as Thomas Reed.

Evelyn stared at the page.

“Then Thomas is Richard's son?”

Daniel nodded.

“According to this record, yes. His mother appears to have used her maiden name when registering him.”

Adrian frowned.

“Why would Richard hide his own child?”

Samuel answered.

“Richard wanted to protect his public reputation. His first marriage ended badly, and he refused to acknowledge the child after separating from Margaret Reed.”

Eleanor looked shocked.

“Then Thomas grew up knowing his father was Richard?”

Samuel shook his head.

“I don't know. But Thomas may have discovered his identity later.”

Evelyn thought about Thomas's behavior.

His anger toward the foundation.

His willingness to help Pierce.

His knowledge of the old financial arrangements.

Everything suddenly made sense.

“Perhaps he didn't help Victor because of money alone,” she said.

Daniel nodded.

“He may have wanted revenge against the family that rejected him.”

Adrian crossed his arms.

“But revenge doesn't justify stealing from children or destroying innocent people's lives.”

“No,” Evelyn replied. “It doesn't.”

Later that evening, Hope arrived at Eleanor's house.

She had been quiet since learning about her biological family, but she now seemed more determined.

“I want to see the inheritance documents,” she announced.

Daniel nodded.

“Of course. You're the named beneficiary, and you have every right to understand the arrangement.”

He placed the original agreement in front of her.

Hope carefully read the first few pages.

Then she stopped.

“There's another name here.”

Daniel leaned closer.

“Where?”

Hope pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.

It mentioned a condition involving a second beneficiary if the original trust was challenged or declared invalid.

Daniel examined it carefully.

His expression changed.

“What is it?” Evelyn asked.

He read the paragraph again.

“The agreement provides a secondary claim under certain circumstances to a direct descendant of Richard Whitmore.”

Adrian frowned.

“Does that mean Thomas?”

“Potentially. But the exact legal effect needs to be examined.”

Hope looked worried.

“Does that mean he can take my inheritance?”

Daniel shook his head.

“Not automatically. Your rights are protected by the original trust. But we need to determine whether Thomas has any legitimate claim under the secondary clause.”

Samuel suddenly stood.

“That's why Victor kept Thomas close.”

Everyone looked at him.

“Victor wanted to use Thomas's connection to Richard to challenge the trust and gain control of the assets.”

Hope closed the folder.

“I don't care about the money. I just want them to stop using my name.”

Evelyn held her hand.

“We'll make sure they answer for what they've done.”

The following day, an unexpected visitor arrived at the foundation office.

It was a young woman named Natalie Reed.

She asked to speak with Evelyn.

When Evelyn entered the reception area, she found the woman holding an old photograph.

“Are you Evelyn Whitmore?”

“Yes. How can I help you?”

Natalie looked nervous.

“My name is Natalie Reed. I'm Thomas Reed's daughter.”

Evelyn immediately became cautious.

“Why are you here?”

Natalie placed the photograph on the desk.

It showed a young Thomas standing beside a little girl.

“Because I think my father is planning something dangerous.”

Evelyn examined the picture.

“What do you know?”

Natalie swallowed.

“My father has been meeting with Victor Hale for years. I found documents in his office showing that they planned to take control of a charitable inheritance.”

“Hope's inheritance?”

Natalie nodded.

“I didn't know who Hope was until I saw her name in the documents.”

Evelyn gestured toward a chair.

“Please tell me everything.”

Natalie sat down.

“My father always told me that the Whitmore family destroyed his mother's life. He said Richard abandoned him and refused to acknowledge him.”

Evelyn listened carefully.

“Did Thomas know Richard was his father?”

“Yes. He found out when he was eighteen. After that, he became obsessed with getting what he believed belonged to him.”

“Did he ever tell you about Victor?”

Natalie nodded.

“He said Victor promised to help him reclaim his father's fortune.”

Evelyn looked at the documents Natalie had brought.

There were copies of financial transfers, company registrations, and private correspondence.

One message caught her attention.

Once Hope's claim is invalidated, the secondary beneficiary can take control of the trust. The foundation will become irrelevant.

Evelyn handed the document to Daniel, who had just entered the room.

“This is important evidence,” he said.

Natalie looked frightened.

“Will my father go to prison?”

Daniel answered honestly.

“That will depend on the investigation and the evidence. But if these documents are authentic, they could establish his involvement.”

Natalie lowered her head.

“I don't want to protect him anymore. I know he's my father, but what he's doing is wrong.”

Evelyn gently touched her hand.

“You did the right thing by coming forward.”

That night, Samuel received another letter.

It was delivered to the old seaside chapel.

The envelope contained a photograph of a woman standing beside Richard.

Samuel immediately recognized her.

It was Margaret Reed.

On the back was a message.

You found the forgotten heir. But you still don't know who ordered Isabella's death.

Samuel's face turned pale.

He immediately called Daniel.

“There's something we need to discuss.”

Daniel arrived within the hour.

Samuel showed him the photograph.

Daniel examined it carefully.

“Where did this come from?”

“I don't know. But look at the date.”

It had been taken several months before Isabella's death.

Daniel noticed something unusual.

Richard was holding a small envelope.

On the front was a handwritten name.

Victor Hale.

Samuel looked at him.

“Richard knew Victor was planning something. I believe he tried to stop him.”

“Then why did Richard continue working with him?”

“Because Victor had something to threaten him with.”

Daniel studied the photograph.

“What?”

Samuel slowly turned it over.

There was another handwritten message.

The truth about the first child belongs to the woman who raised him.

Daniel looked confused.

“Who raised Thomas?”

Samuel shook his head.

“Margaret Reed disappeared shortly after Richard's first marriage ended. Thomas was reportedly raised by another family.”

Daniel's expression changed.

“Then Thomas may not know everything about his own childhood.”

Samuel nodded.

“There's a possibility that someone lied to him about his mother, too.”

The next morning, Evelyn received a call from Hope.

“Evelyn, I need you to come here.”

Her voice sounded frightened.

“What happened?”

“Someone came to my house last night.”

Evelyn immediately stood.

“Who?”

“I don't know. But he left something outside my door.”

“What was it?”

Hope hesitated.

“An old photograph of Isabella holding me as a baby.”

Evelyn's heart tightened.

“Did he leave a message?”

“Yes.”

Hope began crying.

“He wrote that if I continue claiming the inheritance, I'll lose the only family I have.”

Evelyn immediately contacted Adrian.

Within minutes, they were on their way to Hope's house.

When they arrived, Adrian checked the surroundings while Daniel examined the photograph.

On the back was a short message.

Your biological mother knew the truth about Thomas. Ask Samuel who really raised Richard's forgotten son.

Evelyn looked toward Samuel, who had arrived shortly afterward.

He stared at the photograph.

Then he slowly sat down.

“What's wrong?” Eleanor asked.

Samuel's voice trembled.

“I think I know who raised Thomas.”

“Who?” Adrian asked.

Samuel looked at Eleanor.

Then he answered.

“Isabella.”

Everyone froze.

Evelyn shook her head.

“That's impossible. Isabella had her own daughter to protect.”

Samuel nodded.

“But after Margaret Reed disappeared, Isabella secretly helped raise Thomas for several years.”

Hope looked confused.

“Why would she do that?”

Samuel closed his eyes.

“Because Thomas wasn't simply Richard's forgotten son.”

He paused.

“Thomas was the child Isabella had once promised Margaret Reed she would protect.”

Eleanor covered her mouth.

Daniel immediately stood.

“Are you saying Thomas and Isabella had a connection before the foundation was established?”

Samuel nodded.

“And I believe Victor used that connection to manipulate both of them.”

Evelyn looked at Adrian.

The family history was becoming more complicated with every revelation.

But the most disturbing question remained unanswered.

If Isabella had helped raise Thomas, why had he spent his entire life trying to destroy everything she had built?

Samuel slowly reached into his coat and removed another envelope.

“This contains the final letter Isabella wrote before she died.”

He handed it to Evelyn.

“Read it carefully. Because the truth about Thomas may change everything you believe about Richard, Isabella, and the foundation.”

Evelyn opened the envelope.

But before she could read the first line, her phone rang.

It was Daniel's investigator.

“Mr. Daniel, we've located Margaret Reed.”

Daniel immediately looked at Samuel.

“Is she alive?”

The investigator answered.

“Yes. And she has agreed to speak with us.”

Then came the shocking revelation.

“She says Thomas Reed isn't Richard's biological son.”

Evelyn slowly lowered the letter.

Adrian stared at Daniel.

And Samuel whispered the words nobody expected.

“Then whose son is he?”