CHAPTER 9: THE RACE TO SAVE BENJAMIN
Arthur Vance had faced powerful enemies before.
Business rivals.
Corrupt executives.
People who smiled at him during meetings while secretly planning his downfall.
But none of them had ever made him feel the fear he felt now.
Because this time, the person in danger wasn’t his company.
It wasn’t his money.
It was his son.
“Where is he?”
Arthur’s voice was low and controlled.
Everyone in the room knew that was more dangerous than anger.
Thomas looked at him.
“Michael won’t tell you.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“Then help me find him.”
Thomas remained silent.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“You came here claiming you wanted justice. Fine. This is your chance.”
Thomas looked toward Elena.
Then back at Arthur.
“You still trust me?”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“Trust?”
He pointed around the room.
“I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”
The words hurt everyone.
But they were true.
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That’s fair.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small device.
“I tracked Michael.”
Arthur looked at it.
“What is that?”
“A location tracker.”
Maria looked surprised.
“You were watching him?”
Thomas answered quietly.
“I knew he would make a move eventually.”
Arthur stared.
“You knew my brother would take Benjamin?”
Thomas’s expression hardened.
“I knew Michael would take something valuable.”
Arthur’s face changed.
“My son isn’t something.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I know.”
For a moment, the two men stared at each other.
Two fathers.
Two men who had lost years because of lies.
Then Arthur took the device.
“Where is he?”
Thomas pointed.
“An old Vance property outside the city.”
Arthur immediately grabbed his coat.
“I’m going.”
Maria stepped forward.
“Mr. Vance, you can’t go alone.”
Arthur looked at her.
“You’ve done enough already.”
Maria’s expression fell.
Arthur regretted the words immediately.
But he was hurting.
He didn’t know who to believe.
Maria understood.
“I know you’re angry.”
She paused.
“But Benjamin needs people who love him right now.”
Arthur looked away.
Because she was right.
Thirty minutes later, Arthur, David, Thomas, and Maria arrived at the abandoned property.
The old warehouse stood in the middle of nowhere.
Broken windows.
Rusting metal.
A place forgotten by everyone.
Except someone who had planned this.
Arthur stepped out of the car.
Thomas stopped him.
“Wait.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
Thomas pointed toward the building.
“Michael knows you’re coming.”
Arthur frowned.
“How?”
Thomas looked serious.
“Because he wanted you to.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
“He wants a confrontation.”
“Yes.”
Arthur looked at the warehouse.
“Then he’ll get one.”
They entered carefully.
Inside, the building was dark.
The air smelled old and dusty.
Then they heard a voice.
“Arthur.”
Everyone stopped.
Michael Vance stepped out from the shadows.
Arthur’s own brother.
The man who had hugged him.
Supported him.
Pretended to protect him.
Now standing across from him like an enemy.
“Where is Benjamin?”
Michael smiled.
“Straight to the point.”
Arthur walked forward.
“I’m not playing games.”
Michael laughed.
“Games?”
He looked around.
“Do you know how long I waited for this moment?”
Arthur’s eyes burned.
“You kidnapped my son.”
“No.”
Michael shook his head.
“I protected him.”
Arthur’s anger exploded.
“Protected him?”
“You don’t understand.”
Michael walked closer.
“Everything you built should have been mine.”
Arthur stared.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
Michael smiled.
“You always thought you deserved everything because you worked harder.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
His voice became cold.
“I built something. You wanted to steal it.”
Michael’s face changed.
“You had everything.”
Arthur looked confused.
“What are you talking about?”
Michael laughed.
“You had the company. The money. The family.”
He pointed toward Thomas.
“And even when Thomas discovered the truth, you still believed you were the hero.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“Michael, this ends now.”
Michael laughed.
“You’re still pretending you’re innocent?”
Thomas froze.
Arthur noticed.
“What does he mean?”
Michael smiled.
“Ask him.”
Arthur looked at Thomas.
“What is he talking about?”
Thomas said nothing.
Michael continued.
“Thomas didn’t disappear because of me.”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“Then why?”
Thomas looked down.
And that silence was enough.
Arthur felt betrayed again.
“Thomas?”
The man finally spoke.
“I made a mistake.”
Arthur stared.
“What mistake?”
Thomas looked at him.
“I found out the truth about Benjamin…”
A pause.
“And I was too late to stop it.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“What did you do?”
Before Thomas could answer…
A scream echoed from another room.
“Dad!”
Arthur’s heart stopped.
Benjamin.
He ran toward the sound.
Michael smiled behind him.
“Go ahead.”
Arthur stopped.
“What?”
Michael’s smile disappeared.
“Find out what your son knows.”
Arthur opened the door.
Inside was Benjamin.
But he wasn’t alone.
A woman stood beside him.
Arthur froze.
Because he recognized her.
A woman he thought had disappeared years ago.
A woman connected to the biggest secret of his life.
Benjamin looked at him with tears in his eyes.
“Dad…”
The woman stepped forward.
And whispered:
“Arthur… it’s time you met Benjamin’s real mother.”
Arthur couldn’t breathe.
May you like
Because the impossible had just become reality.
TO BE CONTINUED…
