Chapter 8: The Heir They Tried to Erase
Alexander Bennett stared at the photograph until the ink on the back blurred.
*The first Bennett heir.*
Four words.
Four words that turned his entire life into a lie.
Rain soaked through his coat, but he didn’t feel the cold.
He only felt the weight of everything he had believed collapsing.
His father.
His mother.
His family.
All of it had been built on a secret.
Eliana stood beside him, watching the pain cross his face.
“Alexander…”
He looked at her.
“How long?””
Her eyes lowered.
“How long did you know?””
A long silence followed.
“Since before Malik was born.””
The answer hurt.
Not because she knew.
Because everyone knew.
Everyone except him.
He looked at Victoria.
“And you?””
His mother looked broken.
“I knew Daniel existed.””
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“But you never told me.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Victoria looked toward the dark road where Daniel disappeared.
“Of losing you.””
Alexander laughed quietly.
A painful sound.
“You lost me anyway.””
The words struck her.
She looked like she wanted to argue.
But she couldn’t.
Because it was true.
For years, she had protected him from the truth.
And the truth was the thing that separated them.
Eliana stepped closer.
“There’s something else you need to know.””
Alexander looked at her.
“What?””
She hesitated.
“Daniel wasn’t lying about one thing.””
“What?””
“Your father did have another heir.””
Alexander looked at the photograph.
“But why hide him?””
Eliana took a deep breath.
“Because Daniel knew something.””
“What?””
“He knew about the original company documents.””
Alexander remembered the papers.
The hidden records.
The evidence.
“The same documents Richard wanted.””
Eliana nodded.
“Your father created two sets of agreements. One public. One secret.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew people would fight over the company.””
Alexander looked confused.
“So he created a backup plan?””
“No.””
Eliana’s voice lowered.
“He created a test.””
The rain continued falling.
“A test for his children.””
Alexander stared.
“That doesn’t sound like my father.””
Eliana gave him a sad look.
“You never knew the worst parts of him.””
The words hurt because they were true.
“What was the test?””
She looked at the photograph.
“The person who protected the family instead of destroying it would inherit everything.””
Alexander frowned.
“Then why did I inherit the company?””
Eliana looked at him.
“Because Daniel disappeared.””
A chill moved through him.
“What?””
“He was gone before the decision was made.””
“Gone where?””
Eliana shook her head.
“Nobody knew.””
Alexander looked back at the mansion in the distance.
All those years.
All those questions.
And the answer had been hidden inside his own family.
A phone rang.
Everyone turned.
It was Alexander’s phone.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
“Where is he?””
A quiet laugh came from the other side.
Daniel.
“You sound desperate.””
Alexander’s voice became cold.
“If you touch him—”
“You still think I’m the villain.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“You never ask why I took him.””
Alexander paused.
The question bothered him.
Because Daniel could have taken money.
He could have attacked him.
But he took Malik.
Why?
Daniel continued.
“Your father took everything from me.””
Alexander said nothing.
“He gave you my place.””
“That’s not my fault.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“That’s why I don’t hate you.””
The statement surprised him.
“I hate what you represent.””
Alexander looked at Eliana.
“What do you want?””
“The evidence.””
“You already said that.””
“No.””
Daniel paused.
“I want the original evidence.””
Alexander frowned.
“What’s the difference?””
“The original evidence proves who destroyed my family.””
A silence followed.
Alexander understood.
This wasn’t only about money.
It was about revenge.
“Where is Malik?””
Daniel answered:
“Somewhere safe.””
“I want proof.””
A moment later, a video appeared on Alexander’s phone.
He opened it.
Malik was sitting in a small room.
Alive.
Scared.
But unharmed.
“Mr. Bennett?””
Alexander immediately stepped closer to the screen.
“Malik.””
The boy looked relieved.
“You came.””
Alexander’s throat tightened.
“I’m coming for you.””
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“See?””
The call switched back.
“He trusts you.””
Alexander stared.
“Because he’s my son.””
Daniel was quiet.
Then he said something unexpected.
“I know.””
The call ended.
Alexander looked at the screen.
For the first time, he realized Daniel’s anger wasn’t aimed only at him.
It was aimed at a lifetime of being forgotten.
Richard walked closer.
“You cannot give him the evidence.””
Alexander looked at him.
“You’re suddenly concerned?””
Richard ignored the comment.
“If Daniel gets those documents, everything collapses.””
“What collapses?””
“Bennett Industries.””
Alexander stared.
“That’s what everyone cares about.””
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Richard looked exhausted.
“The evidence doesn’t only expose your father.””
A pause.
“It exposes me.””
The confession surprised everyone.
Richard continued.
“And Victoria.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Alexander looked at her.
“What did you do?””
She whispered:
“I helped hide the truth.””
“How?””
She took a shaky breath.
“The night Eliana disappeared…”
Alexander waited.
“I was there.””
Eliana looked at her.
“You saw me.””
Victoria nodded.
“I found her after the crash.””
Alexander’s face changed.
“You found my wife.””
“Yes.””
“And you left her.””
Tears filled Victoria’s eyes.
“I thought she was dead.””
Eliana shook her head.
“You knew I was alive.””
Victoria looked at her.
“I knew you were injured.””
The words hit.
Alexander stared.
“You left her injured?””
“I called Charles.””
Everyone looked at the doctor.
Victoria continued.
“He told me he would handle it.””
Charles looked away.
Alexander stepped toward him.
“You were supposed to save her.””
Charles said nothing.
“You were a doctor.””
Charles finally spoke.
“I was.””
“And?””
His face was full of regret.
“And I was also afraid.””
Alexander couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You all watched her disappear.””
Nobody denied it.
The silence was worse.
Eliana wiped away a tear.
“That’s why I stayed hidden.””
Alexander looked at her.
“Because of them?””
She nodded.
“Because I knew if they could abandon me once, they could do worse if they found Malik.””
Alexander closed his eyes.
Seven years.
His wife survived alone.
His son grew up without him.
And everyone around him chose silence.
Then his phone buzzed again.
A message.
From Daniel.
A location.
And one sentence.
*Bring the evidence alone. No police. No family.*
Alexander looked at the message.
Eliana saw his expression.
“What did he say?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Because he knew something.
This was exactly what Daniel wanted.
Divide them.
Make him choose.
But Malik was waiting.
His son needed him.
Alexander looked at everyone.
“I’m going.””
Eliana immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“He has Malik.””
“And he wants you alone.””
“I know.””
“That’s why it’s dangerous.””
Alexander looked at her.
“Seven years ago, you went alone to protect him.””
Her eyes filled with emotion.
“Alexander…”
He took her hand.
A small gesture.
The first time they had touched in seven years.
“I lost my wife once.””
He looked toward the darkness.
“I’m not losing my son.””
Before anyone could respond, a message arrived.
Not from Daniel.
From Malik.
Only three words.
*Don’t trust him.*
Alexander stared at the screen.
Because the message was not about Daniel.
May you like
It was about someone else.
Someone who was standing right beside him.
