Chapter 18: The Heir
The word hung in the corridor.
Heir.
Daniel stared at Evelyn.
“You said Victor wanted his heir back.”
“Yes.”
“Not me?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
She looked past him toward the hospital room.
“Your children.”
Claire immediately pulled the twins closer.
Daniel stepped in front of them.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Evelyn's eyes hardened.
“Victor didn't spend twenty-three years searching for you because he loved you. He spent twenty-three years building an empire around your bloodline.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Don't listen to her.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You're still protecting Claire?”
“I always will.”
“You should have protected her five years ago.”
Michael's expression changed.
Daniel looked at him.
“What does she mean?”
Michael remained silent.
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“Michael.”
Before he could answer, Evelyn spoke.
“Ask him what happened the night Claire gave birth.”
Claire's face went pale.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Claire?”
She couldn't meet his eyes.
“What happened?”
Claire's lips trembled.
“I thought the babies were dead.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“When they were born, the doctor told me there had been complications.”
She wiped away a tear.
“They took Emma and Ethan away.”
Daniel's heart broke.
“For how long?”
“Almost six hours.”
“And you didn't know where they were?”
“No.”
Claire looked at Michael.
“He found them.”
Daniel turned.
Michael nodded.
“The hospital had been infiltrated.”
“By Victor?”
“No.”
Michael's voice became quieter.
“By Evelyn.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
She didn't deny it.
“I only wanted to know whether the babies had survived.”
Claire shook her head.
“You wanted to take them.”
“I wanted to protect them.”
“You wanted to control them!”
Evelyn's face hardened.
“You don't understand what Victor would have done.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then tell me.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Victor's organization has been searching for the Hale bloodline for years.”
Daniel frowned.
“My bloodline?”
“No.”
Evelyn pointed toward the twins.
“Their bloodline.”
Silence.
Michael suddenly stepped forward.
“She's right about one thing.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What?”
Michael pulled out the last document from the black folder.
“This is why Victor wanted the children.”
Daniel read it.
His eyes widened.
The document described an old trust established before Daniel was born.
A trust worth billions.
But there was a condition.
The fortune could only pass to the first legitimate descendants of Victor Hale.
Daniel looked up.
“The twins.”
Michael nodded.
“Emma and Ethan are the legal heirs.”
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“How much?”
Michael didn't answer immediately.
“Enough to make powerful people kill for it.”
Claire held the twins tighter.
“So this was never about revenge.”
“No,” Michael said.
“It was about inheritance.”
Evelyn suddenly laughed.
“You're finally beginning to understand.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“Then why did you destroy my marriage?”
“Because Claire was going to expose everything.”
“And the twins?”
“I tried to hide them.”
Claire stared at her.
“You separated me from my babies.”
“I kept them alive.”
“You stole five years from us!”
Evelyn's expression softened for the first time.
“I know.”
Then she looked at Daniel.
“And now I need you to do something for me.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Why would I ever help you?”
“Because Victor is coming.”
The corridor fell silent.
Michael's phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
Daniel looked at him.
“What happened?”
Michael swallowed.
“Three private jets just landed.”
“Where?”
“Carter International.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“Victor?”
Michael nodded.
“He's here.”
A distant sound echoed through the hospital.
Helicopters.
Multiple.
Security officers began running through the corridor.
Then every television screen suddenly switched to the same live broadcast.
A silver-haired man appeared.
Victor Hale.
He stood in front of a massive black vehicle.
Behind him were dozens of armed men.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Daniel.”
Daniel stared.
Victor smiled.
“I know you're watching.”
Daniel stepped toward the screen.
“Where is my father?”
Victor's expression changed.
“You mean Arthur?”
“Yes.”
Victor shook his head.
“Arthur isn't your father.”
“I know.”
Victor smiled.
“But he was the man who raised you.”
For a brief moment, something almost human appeared in Victor's eyes.
Then it vanished.
“Bring me the twins.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“No.”
Victor continued.
“If you refuse, every secret contained in that vault will be released.”
Michael froze.
“What secrets?”
Victor looked directly at the camera.
“The names of every politician, banker, judge, and businessman who helped build the Carter empire.”
Daniel stared.
Victor smiled.
“Your family will fall.”
Daniel stepped closer to the screen.
“And if I give you the children?”
“You walk away.”
Claire whispered:
“Don't.”
Daniel looked at her.
Then at the twins.
He already knew his answer.
“No.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Then I'll take them myself.”
The broadcast ended.
Suddenly, the hospital doors exploded inward.
Security officers opened fire.
People screamed.
Daniel grabbed Claire and the twins.
Michael shouted:
“Emergency exit!”
They ran.
Behind them, footsteps thundered through the hospital.
Daniel carried Ethan.
Claire carried Emma.
Victoria ran beside them.
They reached the stairwell.
Then a voice echoed from below.
“Daniel!”
He stopped.
Victor Hale stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Alone.
No guards.
No weapon.
Just an old man staring at the son he had lost twenty-three years ago.
Victor slowly looked at the twins.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel…”
His voice broke.
“I didn't come for the money.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Then why are you here?”
Victor looked at Emma and Ethan.
“Because someone is going to kill them.”
He pointed behind Daniel.
“And the person who ordered it…”
May you like
Victor's face turned toward Evelyn.
“…is your mother.”
