Chapter 9: The Butler Who Carried The Last Secret
The gun was pointed at the floor.
But that did not make the room feel safer.
Because the person holding it was Thomas.
The man who had served the Blackwood family for decades.
The man who had protected Clara’s secret.
The man who had guided us through the hidden rooms.
The man who had stood beside me when I discovered who I truly was.
My heart sank.
Adrian stared at him.
I had never seen his expression like that before.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Betrayal.
“Thomas.””
The old butler’s hand trembled slightly.
But he did not lower the weapon.
“My lord.””
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“Put it down.””
Thomas looked at him.
“I cannot.””
“Why?””
A long silence followed.
Then Thomas said:
“Because I failed once already.””
The words confused me.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Failed who?””
Thomas looked at me.
And that answer hurt more than anything.
“Her.””
I froze.
“Me?””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“I failed your mother.””
Elena’s expression changed.
“Thomas…”
He looked at her.
“I promised her.””
His voice broke.
“I promised I would protect her child.””
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Then why are you holding a weapon?””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Because protection sometimes requires terrible choices.””
The sentence sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Everyone who had controlled my life had used those words.
Protection.
Sacrifice.
Necessary.
I stepped forward.
“No.””
Everyone looked at me.
I looked at Thomas.
“You don’t get to decide what happens to me anymore.””
The room became silent.
Thomas lowered his gaze.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
“I know.””
“Do you?””
My voice shook.
“Everyone knew who I was except me.””
I looked around the room.
“My mother.””
“Elena…”
“Clara.””
My eyes burned.
“Adrian.””
He flinched.
“I know you all wanted to protect me.””
I looked at Thomas.
“But nobody trusted me enough to tell me the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody could deny it.
Thomas slowly lowered the gun.
Not completely.
But enough.
“I deserve your anger.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“Then explain.””
Thomas looked toward the door.
“They are coming.””
Marcus’s voice echoed from outside.
“Thomas.””
The old butler froze.
Marcus appeared in the doorway with a cold smile.
“I was wondering how long you would keep pretending.””
Adrian immediately turned.
“What did you do?””
Thomas looked at him.
“I was trying to stop him.””
Marcus laughed.
“Stop me?””
He walked into the room.
“Thomas, you spent twenty years serving this family. Did you really think you could undo everything?””
Adrian looked between them.
“What is happening?””
Thomas answered quietly.
“I worked for your father.””
The words hit Adrian.
“I know.””
“No.””
Thomas looked at him.
“You don’t.””
The room went silent.
Thomas placed the gun on the desk.
“I worked for him because I was ordered to.””
Elena stared.
“Ordered?””
Thomas nodded.
“Your father knew I was loyal to your mother.””
Adrian frowned.
“Then why keep you?””
“Because he knew I was useful.””
Thomas looked at the old documents.
“I could access places others could not. I could move information. I could protect people.””
His eyes moved to me.
“That was why Elena trusted me.””
Elena whispered:
“You knew?””
Thomas looked at her.
“Yes.””
Her face changed.
“You knew she was alive?””
“Yes.””
Adrian stared.
“How long?””
Thomas swallowed.
“Twenty-six years.””
The answer destroyed something inside him.
“You knew my sister was alive all this time?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
Thomas looked down.
“She made me promise.””
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“My whole life was built on a lie.””
Thomas nodded.
“I know.””
“No.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“You don’t know.””
His voice cracked.
“You watched me mourn people who were still alive.””
Thomas looked like he wanted to speak.
But he couldn’t.
Because there was no excuse.
Then Marcus interrupted.
“This emotional reunion is touching.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus smiled.
“But it does not change the truth.””
Adrian looked at him.
“You knew too.””
“Yes.””
“About Elena?””
“Yes.””
“About Evelyn?””
“Yes.””
Adrian’s expression became dangerous.
“Then why?””
Marcus shrugged.
“Because information has value.””
Elena looked disgusted.
“You are exactly like my father.””
Marcus smiled.
“No.””
A pause.
“I am worse.””
The honesty was disturbing.
“I do not pretend I am protecting anyone.””
He looked at me.
“I wanted control.””
At least he admitted it.
No excuses.
No false kindness.
Just greed.
Adrian moved forward.
“You are leaving.””
Marcus laughed.
“You still think this is your decision.””
He pointed toward the documents.
“The Blackwood empire is already collapsing.””
“What?””
Marcus smiled.
“The moment Evelyn’s identity became public, every agreement your father created became vulnerable.””
I looked at Adrian.
“What does that mean?””
He did not answer.
Marcus did.
“It means the family fortune your mother protected can be taken.””
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“You planned this.””
“Yes.””
“For years?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Because you were the missing piece.””
My stomach tightened.
“I don’t understand.””
“You were hidden.””
He stepped closer.
“Which meant nobody could challenge the old agreements.””
He smiled.
“But now you exist.””
I hated how he said it.
Like I was a problem.
A document.
A piece on a board.
“You think I will sign anything?””
Marcus smiled.
“No.””
Then he looked at Thomas.
“That is why he will.””
Everyone turned.
Thomas went still.
Adrian looked confused.
“What?””
Marcus revealed another document.
An old one.
Thomas’s face changed.
“No.””
Marcus smiled.
“Yes.””
Adrian looked at him.
“What is that?””
Thomas did not answer.
Marcus held it up.
“The contract your father forced Thomas to sign.””
My heart sank.
“What contract?””
Marcus looked pleased.
“The contract that made Thomas responsible for protecting the family secrets.””
Thomas whispered:
“Stop.””
Marcus continued.
“And if those secrets were ever revealed, Thomas would be blamed.””
Adrian stared.
“Blamed?””
Marcus smiled.
“Legally.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Thomas.
He looked exhausted.
“You would go to prison.””
Thomas said nothing.
Because it was true.
Marcus turned to Adrian.
“So now you understand.””
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“You are threatening him.””
“Yes.””
“And me?””
Marcus smiled.
“You are not the only one who has something to lose.””
A sudden sound interrupted him.
A phone ringing.
Everyone looked around.
The sound came from the desk.
An old phone.
One that had been sitting there untouched.
Thomas looked terrified.
“That phone…”
Adrian picked it up.
Nobody spoke.
He answered.
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then Adrian’s face changed.
“What?””
Everyone watched him.
The color drained from his face.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then his expression broke.
“No.””
Elena stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
His eyes moved to me.
Then to Elena.
Then to the documents.
“My father.””
Nobody moved.
Adrian whispered:
“He’s alive.””
The room froze.
Marcus smiled.
Thomas looked horrified.
Elena took a step back.
“No…”
Adrian stared at the phone.
“The voice…”
His hands shook.
“I know that voice.””
A cold silence filled the library.
Then the phone rang again.
This time, I heard it.
A voice came through the speaker.
An old voice.
Calm.
Powerful.
Familiar.
And it said:
“Adrian.””
A pause.
“I see you finally found my daughter.””
My blood ran cold.
Because the voice continued:
“Now bring her to me.””
Another pause.
“Or I will take everything from you.””
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Adrian looked at me.
And I realized something.
The war had never been about the inheritance.
It had never been about the documents.
It had never been about the Blackwood name.
It had always been about one thing.
May you like
Me.
And the man who wanted to erase me was finally coming home.
