The deal with Charles Vale

The photograph remained in Elena's hands.

Catherine stared at the unfamiliar man.

“His name was Jonathan Vale.”

Elena looked at her.

“Who is Jonathan?”

“My brother.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Why have we never heard of him?”

“Because he was erased from the family history.”

Charles had disappeared, but his threat remained.

Elena looked at the photograph again.

“Why was he erased?”

Catherine's expression darkened.

“Because Jonathan discovered what Alexander had done.”

“What did Alexander do?”

“He stole control of the Blackwood trust.”

Adrian frowned.

“The trust belonged to the Blackwoods.”

“Not originally.”

Catherine shook her head.

“The Vale family financed the early Blackwood expansion. Alexander promised that the Vale family would retain a controlling share.”

“And he broke the promise.”

“Yes.”

“Jonathan found proof?”

“He did.”

Elena looked at the photograph.

“What happened to him?”

“He disappeared.”

“Did Alexander kill him?”

“We never found his body.”

Adrian looked toward the warehouse entrance.

“Then Charles wasn't working alone.”

Catherine shook her head.

“No.”

“Who is he working for?”

Catherine looked at Elena.

“That's what we need to discover.”

Lily tugged at Elena's sleeve.

“Mum.”

Elena looked down.

“What is it?”

“When I was with Uncle Charles, he talked to someone.”

Elena's heart raced.

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“What did he say?”

Lily thought for a moment.

“He called him…”

She paused.

“Grandfather.”

Richard's face went pale.

“My father is dead.”

Catherine looked at him.

“Alexander may be dead.”

She paused.

“But the person Charles called grandfather may not be Alexander.”

Elena frowned.

“Then who?”

Catherine didn't answer.

Instead, she looked at the photograph.

“Jonathan had a son.”

Everyone went silent.

Adrian's expression changed.

“A son?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

“We don't know.”

Elena stared at the picture.

“Could he be alive?”

“Yes.”

“And could he be controlling Charles?”

“Possibly.”

Richard stepped forward.

“Catherine, you never told me Jonathan had a son.”

“You weren't supposed to know.”

“Why?”

“Because Alexander was afraid the boy would inherit everything Jonathan had discovered.”

Elena's mind raced.

“So the real enemy could be Jonathan's son.”

Catherine nodded.

“That's what I believe.”

Adrian looked at Elena.

“We need to protect Lily.”

Elena held her daughter closer.

“We will.”

Catherine looked at Lily.

“She is more important than you realize.”

Elena's expression hardened.

“She is my daughter. That's all that matters.”

Catherine nodded.

“And that may be exactly why she is safe with you.”

A phone suddenly rang.

Everyone froze.

It was Elena's phone.

Unknown number.

She answered.

No one spoke.

Then a man's voice said,

“You found Catherine.”

Elena's blood ran cold.

“Who are you?”

“You know my family.”

“Where is Charles?”

“Alive.”

“Where is Lily supposed to be?”

“With you.”

Elena looked at her daughter.

“What do you want?”

“The original agreement.”

“We don't have it.”

“You have something better.”

“What?”

“You.”

The call ended.

Adrian looked at her.

“What did he say?”

Elena told him.

Catherine's expression became serious.

“They want you.”

“Why?”

“Because the agreement cannot be completed without your bloodline.”

Elena looked at Lily.

“And if they get me?”

Catherine's voice was quiet.

“They will have the heir.”

Elena looked down at her daughter.

“No one is taking her.”

Then she noticed something on the photograph.

A small mark on Jonathan's sleeve.

Three interlocking circles.

Beneath them was another symbol.

A crown.

Elena showed it to Catherine.

Catherine's eyes widened.

“I know that symbol.”

“What is it?”

Catherine looked toward the darkness.

“The symbol of the first Blackwood heir.”

Adrian frowned.

“I thought the heir was Alexander.”

Catherine shook her head.

“No.”

“Then who?”

Catherine looked at Elena.

“The heir before Alexander.”

Elena's heart began to race.

“Who?”

Catherine whispered,

“Jonathan Vale.”