CHAPTER 13: THE LEGACY OF THE VANCE FAMILY
Arthur Vance stood completely still.
The name echoed in his mind.
Richard Vance.
His grandfather.
The man who built the foundation of the Vance empire.
The man whose portrait hung in the company headquarters.
The man everyone remembered as a brilliant businessman.
A visionary.
A legend.
And yet…
Someone had just used his name to threaten Arthur’s son.
“This is impossible.”
Arthur’s voice was quiet.
Thomas looked at him.
“I said the same thing when I first discovered it.”
Arthur turned sharply.
“You knew something about this?”
Thomas looked guilty.
“I knew pieces.”
Arthur’s anger returned.
“Pieces?”
He stepped closer.
“Everyone around me keeps knowing pieces while I lose everything.”
Thomas accepted the anger.
“I deserve that.”
Arthur looked toward the empty bed.
“But Benjamin doesn’t.”
His voice softened.
“That boy has spent his whole life surrounded by lies.”
Claire stepped beside him.
“Then we stop it now.”
Arthur looked at her.
“How?”
Claire took a deep breath.
“By finding out what Richard left behind.”
David immediately opened his laptop.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at him.
David’s fingers moved quickly.
“If Richard Vance created a private network, there should be records.”
Arthur shook his head.
“My grandfather destroyed most of his private files before he died.”
Thomas looked at him.
“No.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
Thomas stepped forward.
“He wanted people to think that.”
Arthur stared.
“What are you saying?”
Thomas looked at the others.
“Richard Vance never destroyed anything.”
A pause.
“He hid it.”
Two hours later, they were back at the Vance mansion.
The police had arrived.
Security surrounded the property.
But Arthur barely noticed.
His mind was focused on one thing.
Finding Benjamin.
David placed several old documents on the table.
“These are property records from fifteen years ago.”
Arthur looked through them.
“What am I looking for?”
“Anything connected to Richard.”
Thomas pointed at one page.
“There.”
Arthur looked.
An old property address.
A remote estate outside the city.
“What is that?”
Thomas answered:
“Richard’s private residence.”
Arthur frowned.
“I thought he sold it.”
“He told everyone he did.”
Claire looked concerned.
“But he didn’t.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
Arthur looked at the address.
“And you think Benjamin is there?”
Thomas nodded.
“I think whoever took him wants you to go there.”
Arthur stood.
“Then that’s where I’m going.”
David immediately stopped him.
“Arthur, wait.”
Arthur looked back.
“What?”
“This could be a trap.”
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“I know.”
“Then why go?”
Arthur looked toward Benjamin’s room.
“Because my son is there.”
Nobody argued.
Before leaving, Arthur found Maria standing alone in the hallway.
She looked exhausted.
“I’m sorry.”
Arthur stopped.
“For what?”
Maria lowered her eyes.
“For not telling you everything sooner.”
Arthur was quiet.
Then he asked:
“What else don’t I know?”
Maria swallowed.
“Thomas wasn’t the only person who investigated The Circle.”
Arthur waited.
“Your first wife did too.”
Claire looked over.
“What?”
Maria nodded.
“She found evidence before she disappeared.”
Arthur looked confused.
“What evidence?”
Maria reached into her bag.
A small envelope.
“I was keeping this because I didn’t know who to trust.”
Arthur took it.
Inside was a photograph.
His grandfather.
Richard Vance.
Standing beside someone else.
Someone Arthur recognized immediately.
His own father.
But the date on the photograph made his blood run cold.
It was taken after Richard was supposedly dead.
Arthur stared.
“That can’t be real.”
Maria whispered:
“It is.”
Claire looked at the picture.
“Richard never died?”
Maria shook her head.
“No.”
Arthur felt a terrible realization forming.
All these years…
The Vance family history had been a lie.
At midnight, Arthur arrived at the old Vance estate.
The place looked abandoned.
Broken gates.
Overgrown trees.
A house forgotten by time.
But Arthur knew someone had been there recently.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the air smelled old.
But there were fresh footprints on the floor.
“Benjamin?”
No answer.
Arthur moved deeper into the house.
Then he heard something.
A voice.
His son.
“Dad?”
Arthur’s heart jumped.
“Benjamin!”
He followed the sound.
At the end of the hallway was a locked room.
Behind the door, Benjamin was crying.
“Dad! I’m here!”
Arthur grabbed the handle.
“Stay back!”
He forced the door open.
The room was empty.
Except for a small table.
On it was a video screen.
The screen turned on.
A man appeared.
Older.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
Arthur froze.
Because he had seen that face his entire life.
The man smiled.
“Hello, Arthur.”
Arthur couldn’t speak.
The man continued.
“I know you have many questions.”
A pause.
“But first, I want you to understand something.”
The man leaned closer.
“Your son is safe.”
Arthur clenched his fists.
“Where is Benjamin?”
The man smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
Arthur stared at the screen.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled.
“You already know.”
A pause.
“I am Richard Vance.”
Arthur stepped backward.
Impossible.
The dead man was alive.
Richard continued:
“Your father lied to you.”
Arthur froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Richard’s eyes became cold.
“And now it is time for you to learn why.”
The screen went black.
Then one final message appeared.
"Come alone, Arthur. Or you will never see Benjamin again."
Arthur stared at the words.
He knew it was a trap.
He knew walking in alone could destroy him.
But he also knew one thing.
No force in the world could stop him from saving his son.
Arthur turned toward the door.
May you like
And walked into the darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED…
