The secret beneath the chapel

The chapel door began to open.

Adrian immediately moved in front of Elena while Lydia pulled Lily behind a wooden pew.

“Stay close,” he whispered.

The caretaker stood frozen, staring at the entrance.

“Don't let her inside,” he warned.

Catherine stepped into the chapel.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes moved quickly across the room.

“Elena, we need to leave.”

Elena didn't move.

“Why should I trust you?”

Catherine looked at the caretaker.

“Because that man has been lying to you.”

The caretaker shook his head.

“She knows what happened to Jonathan. She was there.”

Catherine's expression hardened.

“You have no idea what you're talking about.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Enough. Both of you will explain yourselves.”

Catherine looked at him.

“Alexander has discovered that you found the pendant. He knows Lily may be connected to the third heir. If you remain here, none of you will be safe.”

Elena held Lily's hand.

“Then tell us the truth. Who is the third heir?”

Catherine hesitated.

Before she could answer, the caretaker moved towards a small wooden cabinet.

“There's no more time.”

He unlocked it and removed an old leather book.

“This belonged to Jonathan.”

Adrian took the book.

“What does it contain?”

“The original record of the three heirs. The agreement you found was only a copy.”

Catherine stepped forward.

“Don't open it.”

Adrian ignored her.

He turned to the first page.

Three names had been written beneath the heading.

FIRST HEIR — ADRIAN ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD.

SECOND HEIR — ELENA ROSE BENNETT.

The third line had been covered with black ink.

Elena stared at it.

“Whoever wrote this didn't want the name discovered.”

The caretaker nodded.

“Jonathan covered it himself. He believed revealing the third heir would put that child in danger.”

Lydia examined the page.

“There must be another way to uncover the name.”

She turned to the final pages and found a sealed envelope.

Adrian carefully opened it.

Inside was a short letter.

To the person who discovers the truth,

The third heir is not a stranger. The child was born into the family before the inheritance was stolen. I entrusted the truth to someone I believed would protect it.

If that person has failed, find Margaret. She knows why the child was given away.

Elena's eyes widened.

“My mother.”

Catherine lowered her head.

“Yes. Margaret knows.”

Elena turned towards her.

“You knew she was involved all along?”

“I knew she had been protecting something. I didn't know where she had hidden it.”

The caretaker gave a bitter laugh.

“You still expect them to believe you?”

Catherine faced him.

“You should be careful about accusing people when you have spent years hiding your own actions.”

Adrian closed the book.

“Where is Margaret?”

Catherine looked at Elena.

“Alive. And closer than you think.”

---

A noise came from outside.

Adrian moved towards the window and noticed two vehicles approaching the chapel.

“We have company.”

The caretaker quickly opened a narrow door behind the cabinet.

“There's an underground passage. It leads to the old estate.”

Lydia looked at him suspiciously.

“Why should we follow you?”

“Because the people outside are not here to negotiate.”

Elena turned towards Catherine.

“Are you coming?”

Catherine shook her head.

“I need to make sure they don't follow you.”

Adrian frowned.

“You're staying behind?”

“Someone has to distract them.”

Elena hesitated.

“Catherine, if you've been lying to us—”

“I know,” Catherine interrupted. “You may never forgive me. But right now, getting Lily somewhere safe matters more than your anger towards me.”

Elena took Lily's hand.

“Let's go.”

They entered the passage.

Adrian followed behind them, carrying Jonathan's book.

The caretaker locked the entrance just as the chapel doors opened.

---

The passage was narrow and damp.

Lily held tightly to Elena's hand.

“Mum, are we going to find Grandma?”

Elena looked down at her.

“I hope so.”

“Will she explain everything?”

“Yes, sweetheart. She will.”

After several minutes, they reached a staircase leading into an abandoned storage room.

Adrian opened the door carefully.

They had emerged inside the old Vale estate.

Lydia immediately recognised the building.

“This is where we found the first photograph.”

Adrian placed the leather book on a table.

“We need to examine the remaining pages.”

Elena stood beside him.

The black ink covering the third heir's name looked different from the surrounding writing. It appeared to have been added much later.

Adrian carefully lifted the edge of the damaged paper.

A faint impression appeared beneath the ink.

He leaned closer.

“There's something written underneath.”

Elena held her breath.

“What does it say?”

Adrian read the faded letters slowly.

“Jonathan's daughter.”

Lydia frowned.

“Another daughter?”

Elena looked at the photograph of Jonathan and Amelia.

“Then who was the mother?”

Before Adrian could answer, footsteps sounded behind them.

A woman entered the room.

She wore a blue dress.

Elena turned.

“Margaret?”

The woman nodded.

“My daughter.”

Elena rushed towards her, but stopped just before reaching her.

“Where have you been?”

Margaret's eyes filled with tears.

“Trying to protect you.”

“From whom? My own family?”

Margaret looked at Adrian, then at Lily.

“From the people who wanted Jonathan's child erased from history.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Who is Jonathan's daughter?”

Margaret looked directly at Elena.

“Before I tell you, you must understand that the child was never lost.”

Elena frowned.

“Then where is she?”

Margaret's voice broke.

“She was raised under another name.”

She paused before adding:

“And she's already standing in this room.”

Everyone went silent.

Elena looked at Lydia.

Then at Lily.

Finally, she turned back towards her mother.

“Who are you talking about?”

Margaret reached for Elena's hand.

“I'm talking about you.”