Chapter 10: The Brother Who Never Died
Richard stared at the photograph until the letters on the back blurred.
He read the name again.
Then again.
As if repeating it could somehow make it impossible.
*Alexander Bellacorte.*
His younger brother.
The man Richard had buried twenty years ago.
The man whose funeral he had attended.
The man whose death certificate sat inside the Bellacorte family archives.
Richard’s fingers tightened around the photograph.
“No.””
The word escaped quietly.
Elena stepped closer.
“Richard?””
He didn’t answer.
He couldn’t.
Because the face in the photograph was unmistakable.
Alexander.
Standing beside Elena.
Holding baby Noah.
Smiling.
Alive.
Thomas looked over Richard’s shoulder.
His expression changed immediately.
“You found it.””
Richard turned sharply.
“You knew?””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I knew Alexander was alive.””
The basement became silent.
Richard felt something break inside him.
“You knew my brother was alive?””
Thomas swallowed.
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was waiting for the right moment.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“The right moment?””
He held up the photograph.
“My grandson was abused. His mother was taken away. My son betrayed me. And you were waiting?””
Thomas accepted the anger.
Because he knew he deserved it.
“I was protecting Alexander.””
Richard stepped closer.
“From what?””
Thomas looked toward Mark.
“From him.””
Everyone turned.
Mark’s face went pale.
“No.””
Richard looked at his son.
“What does that mean?””
Mark shook his head.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Thomas pointed toward the photograph.
“Alexander discovered what Mark was planning before Noah was born.””
Richard looked confused.
“What was he planning?””
Thomas took a deep breath.
“To take control of the Bellacorte legacy.””
Richard stared.
“Mark already had that goal.””
“No.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
He pointed at Noah.
“Mark knew about the inheritance rules. He knew Noah was the key. But when Alexander found out, he tried to stop him.””
Elena looked down.
“Alexander helped me.””
Richard turned toward her.
“You knew him?””
She nodded.
“He was the only person who believed me.””
Richard felt the weight of every lie.
“Why did everyone think he was dead?””
Thomas looked away.
“Because Mark made sure they believed it.””
Mark suddenly stepped forward.
“That’s insane.””
Richard looked at him.
“You keep saying that.””
Mark’s breathing became heavier.
“Because it is.””
Thomas opened another folder.
Inside was a newspaper clipping.
A car accident report.
Richard recognized it immediately.
The accident that supposedly killed Alexander.
Thomas placed another document beside it.
A medical report.
Richard picked it up.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
“He survived.””
Thomas nodded.
“Barely.””
Richard looked at Mark.
“You knew.””
Mark said nothing.
Richard’s voice shook.
“You knew my brother was alive.””
Mark finally answered.
“I thought he was going to destroy everything.””
Richard stared.
“Everything?””
Mark looked at Noah.
“The company.””
Richard looked at him in disbelief.
“You mean your access to money.””
Mark looked away.
That was the answer.
Richard turned back to Elena.
“Where is Alexander now?””
Elena hesitated.
Richard noticed.
“Where?””
A tear fell from her eye.
“He’s close.””
The basement went silent.
“Close?””
She nodded.
“He wanted to come here tonight.””
Richard looked confused.
“Why didn’t he?””
Elena looked toward the entrance.
“Because he knew if he appeared too soon, Mark would run.””
Richard felt a chill.
Then footsteps echoed above them.
Everyone froze.
The lodge had been searched.
Everyone was supposed to be downstairs.
Except one person.
Richard slowly looked toward the stairs.
A shadow moved.
Then a man appeared.
Older.
Weaker.
But alive.
Richard forgot how to breathe.
The man looked exactly like the photograph.
Alexander Bellacorte.
His brother.
Twenty years gone.
Standing in front of him.
“Richard,” Alexander whispered.
Richard couldn’t move.
All the anger.
All the questions.
All the years of grief.
Everything collided.
“You’re alive.””
Alexander nodded.
“I am.””
Richard walked closer.
Then stopped.
“Why?””
Alexander looked down.
“Because I was afraid.””
Richard’s voice hardened.
“Afraid of what?””
Alexander looked toward Mark.
“Of what your son would do if I came back.””
Mark stepped backward.
For the first time, Richard saw his son truly afraid.
Alexander continued.
“I saw what happened to Elena.””
Richard looked at him.
“What happened?””
Alexander’s expression darkened.
“Mark didn’t just lie about Noah’s mother.””
He looked at Richard.
“He tried to erase everyone who stood in his way.””
The room became silent.
May you like
Then Alexander said the words Richard never expected to hear.
“Your son tried to kill me.””
