The Betrayal in the blood

The crash upstairs came again.

Louder this time.

Lydia grabbed Elena's wrist.

“We have to go.”

Elena looked at her.

“Who is coming?”

Lydia shook her head.

“There isn't time.”

Adrian moved toward the door.

“Everyone stays together.”

Catherine picked up the inheritance documents while Richard helped Amelia toward the corridor.

Lily stayed close to Elena.

They hurried through the hidden passage beneath the Vale estate.

The walls were narrow, and every sound seemed amplified.

Then footsteps echoed behind them.

Someone was following.

Adrian stopped.

“Keep going.”

Elena shook her head.

“I'm not leaving you.”

“Go.”

Lydia suddenly pulled Elena toward another doorway.

“There.”

They entered a small storage room.

Adrian followed and closed the door.

Everyone held their breath.

Footsteps approached.

Stopped.

Then continued.

Elena slowly exhaled.

Lydia whispered, “He's searching every room.”

“Who?” Elena asked.

Lydia looked at her.

“The man who killed the truth.”

Elena frowned.

“You said Daniel was there when Jonathan disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you accuse him?”

“I didn't accuse him.”

Lydia's voice was quiet.

“I told you what I saw.”

Elena stared at her.

“What exactly did you see?”

Lydia hesitated.

“Daniel was standing beside Jonathan.”

“And?”

“Jonathan was injured.”

Amelia covered her mouth.

“Daniel wouldn't hurt him.”

“I didn't say he did.”

Lydia looked at Elena.

“He was trying to help him.”

Elena's heart stopped.

“Then why did you say he betrayed him?”

“Because someone else came.”

“Who?”

Lydia shook her head.

“I couldn't see his face.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Then why are we blaming Daniel?”

“Because Daniel knew him.”

Silence.

Elena's thoughts raced.

Daniel had always been protective.

He had raised her.

He had kept secrets.

But could he have known about Jonathan?

Could he have known about her real identity?

Lydia reached into her coat.

“I have something else.”

She pulled out a small photograph.

Elena took it.

The image showed Jonathan standing outside the old Blackwood estate.

Beside him stood Daniel.

And behind them was another man.

His face was blurred.

But Elena recognized the coat.

She had seen it before.

At the Blackwood mansion.

On the night Victoria confronted them.

“Who is that?” Adrian asked.

Lydia shook her head.

“I don't know.”

Catherine examined the photograph.

Then she froze.

“I do.”

Everyone turned.

“Who?”

Catherine pointed to the man's hand.

A ring was visible.

A black stone surrounded by a silver crown.

“That ring belonged to Alexander Blackwood.”

Richard stepped backward.

“No.”

Catherine looked at him.

“Alexander was there.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“My grandfather?”

“Yes.”

Lydia shook her head.

“That doesn't make sense.”

“Why?”

“Because Alexander wasn't the man who came after Jonathan.”

Catherine stared.

“Then who was?”

Lydia looked at Elena.

“The man wearing Alexander's ring.”

Elena's stomach tightened.

“Someone pretending to be him?”

“Exactly.”

A sudden noise came from outside.

The door handle moved.

Adrian stepped in front of everyone.

“Stay back.”

The handle stopped.

Then a man's voice came through the door.

“Lydia.”

She went pale.

“It's him.”

The voice continued.

“You've hidden long enough.”

Adrian looked at Elena.

“Do you recognize the voice?”

Elena shook her head.

“No.”

The man laughed.

“You should.”

Elena's heart raced.

The door suddenly shook.

Someone was trying to force it open.

Adrian pushed against it.

“Find another exit.”

Catherine searched the walls.

“There must be one.”

Lydia pointed toward the floor.

“There.”

A small hatch was hidden beneath a rug.

Richard pulled it open.

A staircase descended.

“Go.”

Elena took Lily first.

Amelia followed.

Catherine and Richard went next.

Lydia waited.

Adrian looked at her.

“Come on.”

She hesitated.

“He won't stop.”

“Neither will we.”

They descended.

Adrian closed the hatch above them.

They continued through the underground tunnel.

After several minutes, they reached a stone door.

Lydia pushed it open.

They emerged behind the old Vale cemetery.

Rain poured down.

Elena looked around.

“We're outside.”

Adrian nodded.

Then he stopped.

“Where's Richard?”

Everyone turned.

Richard was gone.

Elena's heart dropped.

“He was right behind us.”

Catherine looked toward the tunnel.

“No.”

Amelia whispered:

“He stayed behind.”

Lydia shook her head.

“Why?”

Nobody answered.

Adrian immediately moved toward the entrance.

Elena grabbed his arm.

“Wait.”

“We have to find him.”

“If we go back, we could lose everyone.”

Adrian looked torn.

Then Elena's phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

A man's voice spoke.

“Your father is alive.”

Elena froze.

“Who is this?”

“You want Richard back?”

“Yes.”

“Then bring the inheritance record.”

Elena looked at the document in her hand.

“Where?”

“The Blackwood chapel.”

Lydia's face changed.

“No.”

Elena looked at her.

“What?”

“He knows about the chapel.”

The caller continued.

“Come alone.”

Elena's voice hardened.

“I won't.”

“Then Richard dies.”

The call ended.

Adrian stared at her.

“What did he say?”

Elena told him.

Adrian immediately shook his head.

“You're not going alone.”

“He asked for me.”

“He doesn't get to decide.”

Catherine stepped closer.

“We need to think.”

Elena looked at the document.

Then at Lily.

Then at Adrian.

“I think I know what he wants.”

“What?”

“The inheritance record.”

Lydia shook her head.

“No.”

Elena looked at her.

“Why?”

“Because the document isn't the real prize.”

“Then what is?”

Lydia stared at the crown symbol.

“The bloodline.”

Elena's expression changed.

“The person who controls the bloodline controls the agreement.”

“Yes.”

“And that's why everyone has been chasing me.”

Lydia nodded.

“But now they know about me too.”

A car suddenly appeared at the end of the road.

It stopped.

The headlights illuminated them.

The driver's door opened.

A man stepped out.

Elena couldn't see his face clearly.

But she recognized the black coat.

And the ring.

The same crown ring from the photograph.

He raised his head.

Then Elena saw his face.

Her breath caught.

She knew him.

Everyone did.

Lydia whispered:

“That's impossible.”

Adrian stared.

“Who is it?”

Elena couldn't answer.

The man smiled.

It was Daniel Bennett.

The man who had raised her.

The man she had trusted.

And the man Lydia had just accused of being at Jonathan's disappearance.

Daniel looked directly at Elena.

Then he said:

“You should never have found your sister.”