Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO KNEW MY NAME
I moved in front of the children.
"Who are you?"
The man didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on me.
Noah grabbed my shirt.
"Dad, that's him."
My blood went cold.
"What?"
"The man from the basement."
Vanessa came rushing from the east wing.
When she saw him, she stopped.
"Michael."
The man's expression changed.
For the first time, I saw something like sadness in his eyes.
"You still remember me."
I looked at Vanessa.
"You know him?"
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa."
She swallowed.
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
The man answered for her.
"Your brother."
The hallway seemed to tilt.
I stared at him.
"My what?"
"Your brother."
I laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
"I don't have a brother."
Michael's eyes hardened.
"That's what your father wanted you to believe."
I looked at Vanessa.
"Is this true?"
She nodded.
I couldn't process it.
For thirty-eight years, I had believed I was an only child.
My father had never mentioned another son.
My mother had never mentioned another child.
And now a stranger was standing in my hallway claiming to be my brother.
I looked at him again.
There was something familiar about his face.
Something that made my stomach hurt.
Michael reached into his coat.
I immediately tensed.
He pulled out a photograph.
He held it toward me.
I didn't move.
Vanessa whispered:
"Daniel, look."
I took it.
The photograph showed my father.
Beside him stood a younger woman.
And between them was the same boy from the east-wing photograph.
Michael.
On the back was a handwritten note.
My first son.
I stared at the words.
"Why didn't I know?"
Michael's voice was quiet.
"Because your father erased me."
"Why?"
"Because I knew something he didn't want you to know."
"What?"
Michael looked at Noah.
My son stepped closer to me.
Michael said:
"Your father didn't leave this mansion to you."
I frowned.
"What?"
"The estate isn't yours."
I looked around.
"This house was transferred to me when he died."
"That's what the documents said."
"And?"
Michael stepped closer.
"The real inheritance belongs to Noah."
My son's face went blank.
I shook my head.
"He's eight."
"Exactly."
"Why would my father leave everything to an eight-year-old?"
"Because Noah is the only person who can legally unlock what your father hid."
Vanessa suddenly interrupted.
"Michael, stop."
He looked at her.
"You knew this."
"I knew enough."
I turned toward her.
"You've been lying to me."
"I was trying to protect you."
"You were standing beside my daughter when she almost fell from the roof."
"I know."
"And now you're telling me my father left everything to my son?"
Michael stepped forward.
"Your father knew someone would come for Noah."
"Who?"
Michael looked toward the front doors.
Before he could answer, a car horn sounded outside.
He went pale.
"They found us."
I looked through the window.
Three black vehicles were entering the estate.
"Who?"
May you like
Michael's answer was barely audible.
"The people your father spent his whole life running from."
