The man who raised her

Daniel stood beneath the rain, his face calm despite the shock on Elena's face.

For years, she had called him Dad.

For years, she had trusted him.

Now he stood before her wearing the same crown ring that had appeared in the photograph beside Jonathan.

Elena could barely breathe.

“Dad?”

Daniel's expression changed.

“Don't call me that.”

The words hurt more than she expected.

Lily moved closer to Elena.

Adrian stepped forward.

“What did you do to Richard?”

Daniel looked at him.

“Richard is alive.”

“Where is he?”

“That depends on Elena.”

Elena's hands tightened around the inheritance record.

“What do you want?”

Daniel looked at the document.

“You already know.”

“You want the inheritance.”

“No.”

His answer surprised her.

“I want what the inheritance can reveal.”

Lydia stepped forward.

“You've been searching for this for years.”

Daniel looked at her.

“And you have been hiding from me for years.”

Lydia's face hardened.

“You're the reason I disappeared.”

Daniel shook his head.

“No. I was the reason you survived.”

Elena stared at him.

“What does that mean?”

Daniel looked at her.

“Your mother wanted you both protected.”

“Both?”

“You and Lydia.”

Elena's heart raced.

“Then why did you separate us?”

Daniel's eyes lowered.

“Because Alexander was looking for you.”

Lydia stepped forward.

“You told everyone I was dead.”

“I had to.”

“You erased me.”

“I saved you.”

“You stole my family.”

Daniel's expression tightened.

“I saved your life.”

Elena stepped between them.

“Enough.”

Everyone became silent.

She looked directly at Daniel.

“I want the truth.”

Daniel nodded.

“You deserve it.”

“Then tell me what happened to Jonathan.”

Daniel looked toward the dark road.

“Jonathan discovered Alexander's plan.”

“What plan?”

“To take control of the Blackwood trust permanently.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“And my father tried to stop him.”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

Daniel hesitated.

“Jonathan was betrayed.”

“By whom?”

Daniel looked at Elena.

“By someone he trusted.”

“Who?”

Daniel didn't answer.

Elena's patience broke.

“You keep giving me half-truths.”

“I am trying to keep you alive.”

“I don't need protection anymore.”

Daniel's expression changed.

“You don't understand what you're dealing with.”

“I understand enough.”

She held up the inheritance record.

“This document proves everything.”

Daniel shook his head.

“No.”

Elena frowned.

“What?”

“The document is incomplete.”

Lydia immediately stepped closer.

“I told you.”

Daniel looked at her.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“Then you know where the missing page is.”

Lydia said nothing.

Daniel's voice hardened.

“Where is it?”

“I don't have it.”

“Then who does?”

Lydia looked toward Elena.

“She does.”

Elena stared at her.

“What?”

Lydia pointed at the silver bracelet Elena had found in the archive.

“The page was hidden inside that bracelet.”

Elena immediately looked down.

“The bracelet?”

Daniel stepped forward.

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

“Elena.”

“You've lied to me enough.”

Daniel's expression became desperate.

“You don't know what will happen if you open it.”

“Then I'll find out.”

She removed the bracelet.

There was a tiny seam along the inside.

Adrian noticed it.

“There's something there.”

He carefully pressed the clasp.

The bracelet opened.

A tiny folded piece of paper fell into Elena's palm.

Everyone stared.

Daniel's face went pale.

Elena unfolded it.

There were only a few lines.

The first heir shall inherit the name.

The second heir shall inherit the truth.

But neither shall rule alone.

Beneath the words was Jonathan's signature.

And another name.

Amelia Vale.

Elena looked at Adrian.

“What does this mean?”

Amelia stepped closer.

“It means Jonathan never intended one person to control the inheritance.”

Daniel nodded.

“The two heirs were supposed to work together.”

Adrian looked at Elena.

“You and me.”

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.”

Lydia stepped forward.

“And Lily?”

Daniel looked at her.

“She is the protected descendant.”

Elena suddenly understood.

Jonathan had created a chain.

Adrian was the first heir.

Elena was the second.

Lily represented the future bloodline.

Together, they could unlock everything Alexander had hidden.

Daniel looked at Elena.

“That is why they are afraid of you.”

“Who?”

“Everyone who benefited from the Blackwood fortune.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“My father?”

Daniel looked at him.

“Richard tried to expose them.”

“Then why did you take him?”

“I didn't.”

Elena frowned.

“You told us you had him.”

Daniel shook his head.

“Someone else took Richard.”

“Who?”

Daniel looked toward the trees.

Before he could answer, headlights appeared.

Another vehicle approached.

Daniel's face changed.

“They found us.”

Adrian moved toward Lily.

“Who?”

Daniel stepped backward.

“The people who have been following you since the beginning.”

The vehicle stopped.

Three men stepped out.

One of them held a phone.

He spoke to someone.

Then he looked at Daniel.

“Give us the document.”

Daniel shook his head.

“No.”

The man raised his hand.

A second man pulled out a weapon.

Adrian immediately moved everyone behind the car.

Elena held Lily tightly.

Daniel stepped into the road.

“Leave them alone.”

The man laughed.

“You were supposed to bring us the second heir.”

Daniel looked at Elena.

Then at Lydia.

“You never told me there were two.”

Daniel's expression hardened.

“I didn't know.”

The man looked at Elena.

“Then we'll take both.”

Lydia grabbed Elena's arm.

“Run.”

They moved toward the trees.

Adrian stayed behind them.

Daniel followed.

The men chased after them.

Branches struck Elena's arms as she ran.

Lily held her hand tightly.

“Mom, I'm scared.”

“I know.”

Adrian caught up.

“Keep moving.”

Behind them, Daniel shouted.

“Take the eastern path!”

Elena looked back.

“Dad!”

Daniel stopped.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Elena saw the same man who had carried her when she was sick.

The same man who had attended her school events.

The same man who had protected her when she was afraid.

Whatever else he had done, part of him still loved her.

Then a loud sound came from behind them.

Daniel fell.

“Dad!”

Elena tried to turn back.

Adrian grabbed her.

“No!”

“He's hurt!”

“We have to keep moving.”

Elena fought against him.

But Lydia pulled her forward.

“Trust me.”

They reached the edge of the forest.

A hidden car waited there.

Catherine was behind the wheel.

“Get in!”

They rushed inside.

As the car sped away, Elena looked through the rear window.

Daniel was gone.

So were the men.

She stared into the darkness.

“I left him.”

Adrian placed a hand on her shoulder.

“We'll find him.”

Elena looked down at the inheritance record.

Then she noticed something.

A small red mark had appeared beside Jonathan's signature.

It formed the shape of a crown.

Catherine saw it.

Her face went pale.

“That mark wasn't there before.”

Elena looked at her.

“What does it mean?”

Catherine whispered:

“It means the inheritance has been activated.”

Lydia looked terrified.

“Then they know.”

“Who?”

Lydia stared out the window.

“The person who has been waiting for the heirs to reunite.”

Elena's phone suddenly buzzed.

A message appeared.

YOU FOUND THE TWO HEIRS.

Another message followed.

NOW FIND THE THIRD.

Elena's heart stopped.

She looked at Lily.

“Third?”

Lydia's face went pale.

Catherine slowly turned toward them.

“No.”

Elena whispered:

“What?”

Catherine looked at Lily.

“The agreement only named two heirs.”

Lydia shook her head.

“Then someone has changed it.”

The final message appeared.

THE THIRD HEIR IS ALREADY INSIDE YOUR FAMILY.