The declaration of betrayal

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Evelyn's warning echoed in their minds.

Alexander had found the original declaration.

And he had already opened it.

Jonathan moved towards the door.

“We have to get to the chapel.”

Adrian grabbed his keys.

“Then let's go.”

Richard remained beside the table, staring at the photograph of Amelia holding baby Adrian.

“Before we leave, I need to know something.”

Jonathan turned.

“What?”

“Why did Amelia give Adrian a different name? Why was he raised as a Blackwood?”

Jonathan sighed.

“Because Charles Vale and Alexander made an agreement. They wanted Adrian to become the public face of the Blackwood family. If he inherited the empire under his original identity, the Vale family would have had a legitimate claim to everything Alexander controlled.”

Samuel frowned.

“So they changed his identity to keep the inheritance within the Blackwoods?”

“Exactly.”

Adrian looked at Jonathan.

“Did my mother agree to this?”

Jonathan hesitated.

“Amelia believed it was the only way to keep you safe. She thought Alexander would protect you.”

“And you?”

“I disagreed. But by the time I discovered what they had planned, Amelia had disappeared.”

Adrian looked away.

He had spent his entire life believing that his identity was settled. Now even his name seemed to belong to someone else's decision.

Elena touched his arm.

“We'll find the truth.”

He nodded.

But his expression remained troubled.

---

The Blackwood chapel stood behind the mansion, separated from the main building by an old garden.

When they arrived, the entrance was open.

Jonathan stopped immediately.

“This is wrong.”

Samuel looked around.

“Why?”

“Alexander never leaves this entrance open.”

Adrian stepped inside first.

The chapel was quiet.

Rows of wooden benches faced a small altar. Several portraits of former Blackwood family members hung along the walls.

But the large painting above the altar had been removed.

Behind it was a narrow wooden compartment.

And inside that compartment lay an empty document case.

Elena approached it.

“The declaration was here.”

Jonathan examined the case.

“He has taken it.”

Richard noticed something on the floor.

A torn piece of paper.

He picked it up and read the words written across it.

THE FIRST HEIR MUST SURRENDER BEFORE THE THIRD CAN RISE.

Samuel looked confused.

“What does that mean?”

Jonathan's expression darkened.

“It means Alexander intends to force the first heir to give up his claim.”

Adrian looked at him.

“Who is the first heir?”

Jonathan didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at Samuel.

“According to the original agreement, the first heir is Samuel Vale.”

Samuel stared at him.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“But Alexander said Adrian was the first heir.”

“Alexander changed the records. Adrian was raised as a Blackwood, but Samuel was Jonathan's firstborn son. The original declaration recognised Samuel's position.”

Samuel stepped backwards.

“Then why was I never told?”

“Because your mother wanted you to have a normal life. She believed the inheritance would destroy you.”

Samuel looked down at the torn paper.

“And now Alexander wants me to surrender?”

Jonathan nodded.

“Because he knows the third heir cannot be recognised while the first heir's position remains disputed.”

---

A noise came from behind the altar.

Everyone turned.

A side door opened.

Victoria walked into the chapel.

Adrian's expression hardened.

“Where is Alexander?”

Victoria ignored the question.

“He has the declaration.”

“We know,” Samuel replied.

“Then you need to understand what he's planning.”

Jonathan stepped forward.

“Why should we trust you?”

Victoria looked at him.

“You shouldn't. But you should listen.”

She placed a brown envelope on the altar.

Inside were several photocopies of the original declaration.

Elena examined the first page.

Three names appeared beneath the heading:

FIRST HEIR — SAMUEL VALE.

SECOND HEIR — ELENA ROSE VALE.

THIRD HEIR — SEALED UNTIL THE GUARDIAN'S APPROVAL.

Elena's hands trembled.

“I'm the second heir?”

Jonathan nodded.

“Yes.”

Adrian studied the document.

“Then why was I never listed?”

Victoria answered.

“Because you were never part of the original inheritance arrangement. Your name was added later to protect you from Charles.”

Adrian looked at her.

“You knew all this?”

“I knew some of it.”

“That's not good enough.”

Victoria lowered her eyes.

“I was afraid of Alexander. I made choices I cannot defend.”

Elena continued reading.

At the bottom of the second page was a handwritten instruction:

The third heir shall not be revealed until the first and second heirs freely accept their responsibilities.

Samuel looked at Jonathan.

“What responsibilities?”

Jonathan took the paper.

“To decide whether the inheritance should remain under the control of one family or be divided among the people who were denied their rights.”

Richard frowned.

“And where do I fit into this?”

Jonathan looked at him.

“You were entrusted with the evidence. You were never meant to be an heir.”

Richard's expression tightened.

“So all these years, I was protecting something that wasn't mine?”

“You were protecting people who deserved the truth.”

---

Suddenly, Elena's phone rang.

It was Lydia.

Elena answered immediately.

“What's wrong?”

“Someone is outside the apartment.”

Elena stood.

“Who?”

“I don't know. He keeps asking for Lily.”

Adrian moved closer.

“Lydia, lock the door. Don't let anyone inside.”

“I have.”

A man's voice sounded faintly through the phone.

“Miss Lydia, we only want to speak with the child.”

Lily, who had been sitting beside Margaret, looked up.

“Mummy?”

Elena's heart raced.

“Stay away from the door, Lydia. We're coming.”

The call ended.

Adrian turned towards Samuel.

“Take Jonathan and Richard back to the mansion. Keep them together.”

“What about you?”

“I'm going to Lydia's.”

Elena immediately shook her head.

“I'm coming with you.”

Adrian nodded.

They hurried out of the chapel.

---

Meanwhile, Victoria remained behind with Samuel's copy of the declaration.

She stared at the three names.

Then she noticed something she had missed earlier.

A fourth line had been written beneath the sealed third heir's name.

It was faint, almost invisible.

She tilted the page towards the light.

The words slowly became clear.

THE GUARDIAN SHALL BE THE PERSON WHO BETRAYED THE FAMILY FIRST.

Victoria's hands began to tremble.

She turned the page over.

A signature appeared beneath the instruction.

Not Alexander's.

Not Jonathan's.

It belonged to Charles Vale.

Victoria immediately called Jonathan.

He answered after the second ring.

“Victoria?”

“You need to come back.”

“What happened?”

She looked towards the chapel entrance.

“There's another name on the declaration.”

“Whose?”

Victoria swallowed.

“Charles Vale.”

Jonathan fell silent.

Then Victoria whispered:

“And according to this document, Charles is the guardian of the third heir.”

---

At Lydia's apartment, Adrian and Elena arrived to find the front door slightly open.

Adrian stepped inside.

“Lydia?”

There was no answer.

The living room was empty.

A small toy lay on the floor.

Elena hurried towards Lily's room.

“Lily!”

The room was empty too.

On the bed lay a folded piece of paper.

Elena opened it with shaking hands.

YOU FOUND THE FIRST TWO HEIRS. NOW FIND THE MAN WHO CREATED THE THIRD.

Below the message was a name.

CHARLES VALE.

Adrian stared at the paper.

Then his phone rang.

An unknown number.

He answered.

A familiar male voice spoke calmly.

“Hello, son.”

Adrian froze.

It was the first time he had heard his biological father's voice.

Charles Vale continued.

“If you want your daughter back, come to the Vale estate.”

A pause followed.

“And Adrian, don't bring Jonathan. He knows what happened to your mother.”

The call ended.

Elena looked at Adrian.

“What did he say?”

Adrian lowered the phone.

Then he whispered:

“My father has Lily.”