Chapter 13 - THE ORIGINAL HEIR
Robert had one demand.
I had to go with him.
My father refused.
Robert threatened to destroy the trust.
But Thomas had already called the police.
The room was surrounded.
Robert didn't know.
He kept talking.
“Your grandfather thought the first heir was Lillian.”
He pointed at my sister.
“He was wrong.”
My father stared.
“The original documents were changed.”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“Your mother.”
My mother nodded.
“I had no choice.”
Robert laughed.
“You always had choices.”
“You would have killed them.”
“I would have protected the family.”
“You wanted the company.”
“And now you have it.”
Dad stepped forward.
“You don't own anything.”
Robert smiled.
“Not yet.”
Then the lights went out.
Robert ran.
Security chased him.
He reached the hidden tunnel.
But Thomas knew the passage.
He blocked the exit.
Robert stopped.
“You.”
Thomas stared.
“You tried to kill me.”
“You were in the way.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“You took my childhood.”
“I gave you one.”
“You stole it.”
Police arrived.
Robert was arrested.
This time there was no escape.
The trust was secured.
The company was frozen.
And my father finally sat down with the attorneys.
The final documents were read aloud.
The four heirs had equal protection.
But the first heir had one special right.
The right to choose the trustee.
Everyone expected me to choose Dad.
Instead, I chose my mother.
She cried.
Dad smiled.
“Good choice.”
The board accepted the arrangement.
The mansion remained mine.
But Dad made one decision.
He removed the dining table.
I watched workers carry it away.
“Why?”
Dad said:
“Because you deserve a new table.”
He ordered a new one.
A large wooden table.
Round.
No head.
No end.
Everyone could sit together.
When it arrived, he placed my chair beside his.
“This one belongs to you.”
I smiled.
But that night, another envelope arrived.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph.
My mother.
My grandmother.
And another child.
A boy.
On the back:
THOMAS WASN'T THE THIRD HEIR.
Dad stared.
Thomas stepped closer.
“What?”
The envelope contained another birth certificate.
A child named:
Samuel Hayes.
Father:
Richard Hayes.
Mother:
Victoria Reed.
Dad looked at the date.
Samuel was born after Thomas.
That meant there were five heirs.
My grandfather had hidden another child.
Thomas whispered:
“I never knew.”
My mother looked devastated.
“Neither did I.”
Then a phone rang.
An unknown number.
Dad answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Samuel is alive.”
“Who are you?”
“Someone who has been protecting him.”
“Where?”
“Far away.”
“Why call now?”
“Because he is coming home.”
The call ended.
May you like
Dad looked at me.
The family story had just become bigger again.
