Chapter 6: The Real Son
The old chapel stood behind the hotel, half-hidden by rain and overgrown ivy.
I had never been inside.
Daniel had.
At least, that was what he claimed.
He stopped beneath the stone archway.
“This place was locked after my grandfather died.””
Rachel glanced at the dark windows.
“Then someone unlocked it for us.””
The chapel door stood open.
Warm yellow light spilled across the wet steps.
I looked at Daniel.
“Still want to go in?””
He gave a humorless smile.
“No.””
“Then why are you?””
“Because I've spent my whole life being afraid of what I'd find.””
He pushed the door open.
“I'd rather be afraid of the truth.””
We stepped inside.
The smell hit me first.
Old wood.
Dust.
Burning candle wax.
And something faintly metallic beneath it.
The chapel was smaller than I expected.
Rows of wooden pews faced a stone altar.
A cross hung above it.
Behind the altar stood a massive stained-glass window depicting a white rose surrounded by blue flames.
Rachel moved slowly down the aisle.
“There's nobody here.””
Daniel looked around.
“Check the side rooms.””
Rachel disappeared through a narrow door.
I remained near the altar.
My phone was still in my hand.
The message was open.
*BRING DANIEL IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOUR FATHER DIED.*
I reread it.
Then I noticed something.
There was no request to bring Rachel.
Only Daniel.
Which meant whoever had sent the message knew exactly who was with us.
I looked up.
“Someone is watching.””
Daniel turned.
“What?””
“The message knew you were here.””
He stared at me.
Then at the ceiling.
“Cameras?””
“Probably.””
Rachel returned.
“Nothing.””
I pointed toward the stained glass.
“What's behind that?””
Daniel frowned.
“I don't know.””
“You said you knew this chapel.””
“I knew it as a kid.””
He approached the altar.
His fingers brushed the edge of the stone.
“Wait.””
He crouched.
“There are scratches.””
Rachel joined him.
“What kind?””
“Like something heavy was moved.””
Together they pushed against the base of the altar.
It shifted.
A narrow compartment opened beneath it.
Inside was a cassette recorder.
An old one.
Beside it sat a single envelope.
My name was written across it.
*EMILY.*
I reached for it.
Daniel caught my wrist.
“Don't.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because that's what they want.””
“And the last time we did exactly what they wanted, you got shot.””
He released me.
Rachel crouched beside the compartment.
“There's no obvious trigger.””
I took the envelope.
It was sealed with black wax.
My father's initials were pressed into it.
H.H.
My hands shook.
“That's his handwriting.””
Daniel watched me.
“Open it.””
I broke the seal.
Inside was one sheet of paper.
I unfolded it.
The first line read:
*Emily, if you're reading this, then Victoria failed to keep the truth buried.*
My breath stopped.
I continued.
*You have been taught that Henry Hart was your father. That part is true. What you were not told is why he spent years protecting the Mercer family.*
Daniel moved closer.
I read the next line.
*He was protecting his son.*
Daniel whispered, “What?””
I looked up.
The letter continued.
*The boy was born in 1992. Henry took him from the hospital after discovering that the Mercer family intended to make him disappear.*
My fingers went numb.
Daniel stared at the page.
“1992.””
His voice was barely audible.
“I was born in 1992.””
Rachel looked at him.
“Keep reading.””
I did.
*Your mother believed the boy was Henry's nephew. Victoria believed he was her husband's bastard child. Neither knew the whole story.*
My heart pounded.
Daniel stepped backward.
“No.””
I kept reading.
*The child was not born a Mercer.*
Silence.
*His biological father was Richard Mercer.*
Daniel stopped breathing.
Richard Mercer.
His father.
I looked at him.
He was staring at the paper as if it had become something alive.
“That's impossible.””
I continued.
*Richard had another son.*
The words blurred.
I blinked.
Read them again.
*Another son.*
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Rachel's voice was quiet.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
He backed away from us.
“My father had another child?””
I folded the letter.
“Apparently.””
“With whom?””
The chapel door slammed shut behind us.
We all turned.
A man's voice came from the shadows.
“With your mother.””
Victoria's voice.
Daniel froze.
She stepped from behind a stone pillar.
No weapon in her hand this time.
Her hair was disheveled.
Her face was wet from the rain.
She looked exhausted.
But her eyes were clear.
“You came,” she said.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You sent the message.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because you needed to hear this from me.””
Rachel moved toward her.
“Where's the envelope you stole?””
Victoria ignored her.
Her eyes stayed on Daniel.
“You've been lied to, my son.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's becoming the theme of my life.””
Victoria flinched.
“Richard had an affair before he met your father.””
“My father?””
“Your grandfather.””
Daniel stared.
“Richard was your grandfather's second son.””
The words hit like a physical blow.
“You're saying my father had a brother?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I'm saying Richard was the second son.””
Rachel frowned.
“Then who is the first?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Henry Hart.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What?””
Victoria continued.
“Your father and Richard Mercer were brothers.””
Daniel stared at her.
“So Emily and I…”
“No.””
Victoria cut him off.
“Henry was Richard's half-brother. Your bloodlines are not what you think.””
I looked at Daniel.
He looked at me.
A million questions passed between us.
My voice shook.
“My father was born a Mercer?””
“Yes.””
“And my mother knew?””
Victoria shook her head.
“Not at first.””
“Then why was he Henry Hart?””
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“Because he changed his name.””
Rachel stepped forward.
“Why?””
“Because Richard's father wanted him erased.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“My grandfather.””
“Yes.””
“Why would he erase his own son?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Because Henry was the wrong heir.””
Daniel went still.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria inhaled.
“Your grandfather had a plan for the company. Richard was supposed to take over. Henry was too independent.
He kept questioning the accounts. He refused to participate in the family crimes.””
I stared.
“And Richard?””
Victoria shook her head.
“Richard obeyed.””
Daniel's voice was cold.
“And my mother?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Your mother married Henry after he left the family.””
I felt dizzy.
“What about Clara?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Clara was Richard's daughter.””
Daniel stared.
“So Clara is my…”
“Half-sister.””
He put both hands over his face.
“No.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“I tried to protect everyone.””
Daniel lowered his hands.
“You let me believe she was dead.””
“I had to.””
“Why?””
“Because your grandfather wanted her gone.””
Clara's voice came from behind us.
“He still does.””
We turned.
She stood in the doorway.
Daniel stared at her.
“You knew all this?””
Clara nodded.
“I knew enough.””
She walked toward us.
“Henry found out Richard was preparing to expose the company.””
I looked at her.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“He wasn't trying to destroy the Mercers.””
“No.””
“He was trying to stop them.””
Clara nodded.
“Your father was the first person who helped me escape.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why didn't he save you?””
“He tried.””
Her eyes dropped.
“That's why they killed him.””
My throat tightened.
“Who?””
Clara looked at Victoria.
“She knows.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
Clara moved closer.
“Yes.””
Daniel's voice became sharper.
“You were there the night he died?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“I went to confront him.””
“About what?””
“The ledger.””
Rachel stepped closer.
“What was in it?””
Victoria swallowed.
“Names.””
“Which names?””
“Everyone who had taken money from the family.””
Daniel looked at her.
“And Henry?””
“He was trying to remove your name.””
Daniel frowned.
“My name?””
Victoria nodded.
“He knew your grandfather intended to make you the public face of the company. He knew that meant you'd become responsible for crimes you didn't commit.””
I looked at Daniel.
“So my father tried to protect you.””
“Yes.””
Victoria's voice broke.
“He gave me the ledger and told me to take you and leave.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
She looked at the floor.
“Because Richard came.””
Daniel stared.
“Dad?””
Victoria nodded.
“He wanted the ledger back.””
“What happened?””
“They fought.””
Victoria's face twisted.
“Henry was stronger than Richard.””
Clara stepped forward.
“But not stronger than the gun.””
I looked at her.
“You saw it?””
“Yes.””
She touched the silver pendant at her neck.
“That night, I was hiding in the chapel.””
Daniel stared.
“You were there?””
“I heard the shot.””
“And then?””
“Richard ran.””
Victoria whispered, “I followed him.””
Rachel asked, “Why?””
“Because I found Henry alive.””
I stared.
“Alive?””
Victoria nodded.
“He wasn't dead when I reached him.””
The room seemed to contract.
“You could have saved him.””
Victoria looked at me.
“He told me to take the ledger.””
Her voice cracked.
“He told me not to call an ambulance.””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Because Richard had threatened you.””
I felt a chill.
“My father knew?””
“He knew they would come after you next.””
Daniel looked furious.
“You let him die.””
Victoria cried.
“I thought I was protecting you!””
“You let him die!””
Daniel's voice echoed through the chapel.
“You let my uncle die.””
Victoria stared at him.
Then she whispered:
“I let your father die.””
Silence.
Daniel went rigid.
“What did you say?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Richard wasn't your biological father.””
Daniel's face emptied.
“Then who was?””
Victoria looked toward me.
And before she could answer, the cassette recorder inside the altar clicked on by itself.
My father's voice filled the chapel.
Older.
Tired.
Terrified.
“Emily, if this recording is playing, then Victoria has told you enough to make you dangerous.””
I stepped toward it.
The recording continued.
“There is one truth they were never supposed to know.””
Static crackled.
Then my father's voice returned.
“Daniel is not Richard Mercer's son.””
Daniel stopped breathing.
The tape clicked.
May you like
And my father's final words came through the speakers:
“Daniel is my son.””
