Chapter 7: The Name Hidden Behind the Mask
The name on the screen burned into everyone’s mind.
*VICTORIA HAWTHORNE.*
Malik stared at the photograph.
Victoria.
The woman who had looked at him like he was an intruder.
The woman who had questioned whether he belonged.
The woman who had stood in the ballroom pretending to be shocked.
She wasn’t just connected to the Hawthorne family.
She was one of them.
Malcolm stepped closer to the screen.
“No.””
His voice was barely a whisper.
Adrian looked at him.
“You didn’t know.””
It wasn’t a question.
Malcolm shook his head slowly.
“Victoria Vale…”
He stopped.
“Her name was never Hawthorne.””
Adrian looked toward the old files.
“That’s because she changed it.””
Thomas stared at the screen.
“I investigated her background years ago.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“You knew she had secrets?””
Thomas looked ashamed.
“I knew everyone around this family had secrets.””
Adrian walked toward the table.
“But you never found the biggest one.””
He opened another file.
Inside were documents showing old family records.
Birth certificates.
Ownership papers.
Private agreements.
Malik watched his father’s face.
He had spent years imagining what Adrian would be like.
He had expected anger.
Or sadness.
But he never expected this.
A man carrying twenty years of unfinished battles.
Adrian placed one document in front of Malcolm.
“Read it.””
Malcolm looked down.
His expression changed.
“What is this?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That Victoria is your half-sister.””
The room went silent.
Malcolm looked up.
“My what?””
Adrian nodded.
“Your father had another child.””
Thomas took a step back.
“No one knew.””
“That was the point.””
Malcolm stared at the papers.
His entire understanding of his family was collapsing.
“My father had a daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Why hide her?””
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Because she was born from the one person he couldn’t control.””
Malcolm looked confused.
“Who?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at the old recording device on the table.
“Your father kept records of everything.””
He opened another folder.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman.
Malcolm picked it up.
His face changed.
Because he recognized her.
“My mother.””
Adrian nodded.
“No.””
A pause.
“Victoria’s mother.””
Malcolm stared.
The woman in the photograph was not his mother.
But she was someone he remembered.
Someone who had worked at the Hawthorne estate when he was young.
“She was a housekeeper.””
“Yes.””
Malcolm looked angry.
“My father…”
“Had a relationship with her.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“That’s why he sent her away.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“And you said nothing?””
Thomas looked broken.
“I was young. I thought protecting the Hawthorne name meant protecting your father.””
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“And that mistake destroyed everything.””
Malik looked between them.
“So Victoria is my aunt?””
Adrian nodded.
“Your father’s sister.””
The boy looked at the screen.
“But why would she want to hurt us?””
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Because she believes the Hawthorne family stole everything from her.””
Malcolm frowned.
“She had money.””
“She had money.””
Adrian looked at him.
“But she never had the name.””
The words hung in the air.
For the first time, Malik understood something.
This wasn’t just about wealth.
It was about identity.
About people who spent their entire lives feeling erased.
Adrian continued.
“Victoria discovered the truth years ago.””
“When?””
“Before I disappeared.””
Malcolm looked shocked.
“You knew she was your sister?””
“I knew someone was connected to the old secrets.””
Adrian looked at the files.
“I didn’t know who until it was too late.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“What happened the night you vanished?””
Adrian became quiet.
Malik noticed.
His father had been answering everything.
Except that.
Finally, Adrian spoke.
“I was supposed to meet Victoria.””
Malcolm froze.
“Why?””
“Because I thought she was an ally.””
Adrian looked away.
“She told me she wanted to expose our father’s crimes.””
“And?””
“She was telling the truth.””
A pause.
“Until she wasn’t.””
Malik listened carefully.
“What did she do?””
Adrian’s eyes became distant.
“She used me.””
The vault went quiet.
“She knew I had evidence. She knew I had the documents that could destroy everything.””
Malcolm clenched his fists.
“She wanted the evidence.””
“Yes.””
“But she didn’t kill you.””
Adrian shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“Then who did?””
Before Adrian could answer, the lights flickered.
The vault door shook.
Someone was trying to force it open.
Thomas moved toward the control panel.
“We don’t have much time.””
Malcolm looked at Adrian.
“You need to tell us.””
Adrian nodded.
“The person who attacked me twenty years ago wasn’t Victoria.””
The pounding outside grew louder.
“It was someone Victoria was working with.””
Malik looked at the door.
“Who?””
Adrian looked at Malcolm.
The answer was painful.
“Someone inside Hawthorne Industries.””
Malcolm’s face tightened.
“But everyone involved is here.””
Adrian shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at the screen.
“The person who planned this never needed to be inside.””
The door shook again.
Thomas worked quickly.
“Adrian, we need another exit.””
Adrian looked toward the back wall.
“There is one.””
Malcolm frowned.
“Where?””
Adrian walked to an old bookshelf.
He pulled one of the books.
Nothing happened.
Then he pulled another.
A hidden mechanism clicked.
The wall opened slightly.
Malik stared.
“How many secrets does this house have?””
Adrian almost smiled.
“More than anyone should.””
They moved toward the opening.
But before they entered, Adrian stopped.
He looked at Malik.
“I need you to know something.””
The boy looked up.
“What?””
Adrian took a breath.
“The reason your mother told you never to trust anyone who offered you the Hawthorne name…”
Malik waited.
“…was because she knew this family could destroy you.””
Malik looked down.
“Did she hate this family?””
Adrian’s face softened.
“No.””
A pause.
“She loved this family.””
Malik looked confused.
“Then why?””
“Because she loved you more.””
The words stayed with him.
Then a loud crash came from the vault door.
Someone had broken through the outer lock.
Thomas looked back.
“They’re coming.””
Adrian pushed Malik toward the hidden passage.
“Go.””
Malcolm grabbed his son’s arm.
“We’re not leaving you.””
Adrian looked at him.
“Father.””
The old billionaire stopped.
Adrian’s voice softened.
“I lost twenty years with my son.””
He glanced at Malik.
“I’m not losing another second.””
The vault door exploded open.
Security personnel rushed inside.
But they weren’t Hawthorne security.
They wore black uniforms.
Unknown.
Armed.
Malcolm stepped forward.
“Who sent you?””
Nobody answered.
Then a voice came through their communication devices.
A woman’s voice.
Calm.
Controlled.
Victoria.
“Bring me Malik.””
The boy froze.
Adrian moved in front of him.
“No.””
The voice continued.
“Adrian, you always were too emotional.””
Adrian stared at the speaker.
“You’re afraid.””
Victoria laughed softly.
“No.””
A pause.
“I’m finally taking back what should have been mine.””
The hidden passage door began closing.
Malcolm grabbed Malik’s hand.
Thomas pulled Adrian back.
But before the opening disappeared, Malik heard Victoria’s final words:
“Enjoy your reunion.””
A pause.
“Because by sunrise, everyone will know the truth about what Adrian Hawthorne did twenty years ago.””
The door sealed shut.
And deep beneath the Hawthorne estate, Malik realized something terrifying.
May you like
His father had returned.
But someone had been waiting twenty years for the perfect moment to destroy him.
