Chapter 5 part 5

The night in London always has its own charm. The city lights shimmer, casting shadows on the cobblestone streets, damp from the light drizzle that had just kissed the earth. Alexander stood before St. Paul's Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece towering magnificently under the dark sky.

He had come alone, as instructed by the mysterious call from the previous night. However, he knew that Evelyn and James would never let him face this without their protection. In the end, they had agreed to wait in the car parked nearby, ready to act if anything suspicious happened.

Alexander took a deep breath before ascending the grand staircase and stepping inside the cathedral. His footsteps echoed against the stunning marble floor, while the towering walls around him were adorned with paintings and carvings reflecting the grandeur of the past.

At the far end, near the altar, a shadowed figure stood waiting.

"Alexander Sterling," the voice resonated-deep and slightly hoarse.

Alexander narrowed his eyes, trying to recognize the elderly man before him. His hair had turned white, his face was lined with wrinkles that spoke of his age, yet his gaze remained sharp and full of secrets.

"Who are you?" Alexander asked, keeping his distance from the mysterious man.

The man gave a thin smile. "Names are of little importance to me. What matters is what I know about you and your ancestors."

Alexander crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. If you claim to know something about me, then tell me-what really happened to the Fairfax family in the past?"

The man stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You have uncovered part of a truth long buried. The Fairfax family did not simply disappear-they were eradicated by the Sterling family. But one descendant survived."

Alexander swallowed hard. "Charlotte Fairfax."

The man nodded. "Correct. And more than that... you must understand, Alexander, that Fairfax blood runs strong in your veins as well."

Alexander felt his entire body tense at the shocking revelation. "That's impossible. I am a Sterling! I am their descendant!" he protested in disbelief.

"Are you certain?" The man's gaze pierced through him. "Who told you that? Your ancestors? The history written by your own family? Or did you simply assume it yourself?"

Alexander was at a loss for words. He had no answer to the old man's question.

The man pulled out a brown envelope from inside his coat and handed it to Alexander. "These documents will answer the questions in your mind. But be warned-the closer you get to the truth, the more enemies you will face ahead."

Before Alexander could ask anything else, the man turned and walked toward the cathedral's side door. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished into the shadows beyond Alexander's reach.

Alexander remained standing there, feeling something he had never experienced before-doubt about everything he had ever believed. Watching the mysterious man disappear, he finally decided to leave the cathedral, carrying a thousand unanswered questions.

---

Back in the car, Evelyn and James turned to him with expectant expressions.

"What did he say?" Evelyn asked curiously.

Alexander stared at the envelope in his hands. "He said... I might not be a Sterling."

James furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

With slightly trembling hands, Alexander opened the envelope. Inside were several aged documents-birth records, family registers, and a letter from someone named Edmund Fairfax.

Evelyn quickly scanned one of the documents. "Alexander... this shows that your great-grandmother, Margaret Sterling, was actually Margaret Fairfax. She married a Sterling after her family was wiped out, and from that moment, the Fairfax name was buried in history."

The world around Alexander seemed to spin. All this time, he had believed himself to be the rightful heir of the Sterling family, a billionaire with a business empire. But if Fairfax blood truly ran through his veins... then everything he owned now was never truly his.

Evelyn placed a comforting hand over his. "Alexander, what will you do now, knowing all this?"

Alexander stared at the documents in silence before finally saying, "I need to find Charlotte Fairfax. I need to hear the truth from someone who is still alive. I need to know everything from the rightful heir of the Fairfax family."

James nodded in agreement. "Then we leave for Bath tonight."

Without wasting another moment, they started the car and drove toward a fate that would change their lives forever-especially the life of Alexander Sterling.

---

The night deepened as their car crossed into the borders of Bath, a city rich in Roman history and Georgian architecture, its grand structures illuminated along the streets. Evelyn gazed out the window, admiring the cobblestone roads bathed in golden streetlight. The city felt so different from London-quieter, yet holding mysteries just as deep.

James parked the car in front of an old inn near the Royal Crescent. Meanwhile, Alexander still clutched the documents tightly, his face tense.

"According to these records, Charlotte Fairfax still lives in her family's old house, by the River Avon," Alexander said. "We need to see her before the night gets any later."

Evelyn sighed. "Are you sure she'll welcome us just like that?"

"No," Alexander admitted. "But I can't wait any longer. If she's the only one who can explain this truth, I have to speak with her tonight."

Without waiting for their response, Alexander stepped out of the car. Evelyn and James exchanged a look before following him.

---

The Fairfax family estate lay on the outskirts of the city, a grand Victorian mansion surrounded by towering iron gates. Light still glowed from a second-floor window-a sign that someone inside was still awake.

As Alexander approached the gate, preparing to knock, it creaked open by itself.

"We were expected," James murmured.

They stepped inside the yard, where ancient oak trees loomed over them. On the front porch stood an elderly woman in a long, dark purple dress. Her sharp eyes scrutinized their arrival with careful intent.

"Alexander Sterling," she said, her voice low yet commanding. "I have been waiting for you."

Alexander swallowed hard. "Charlotte Fairfax?"

The woman nodded before stepping aside, gesturing for them to enter. Evelyn cast a wary glance at Alexander before they all followed Charlotte inside.

---

Inside, the house felt warm and welcoming, with a crackling fireplace and bookshelves lining the walls. Charlotte settled into a large armchair, while the three of them took seats on the sofa opposite her.

"So," Charlotte began, her wrinkled hands gripping a cup of freshly brewed tea. "You have finally uncovered the truth."

Alexander held up the documents he had brought. "I found these at St. Paul's Cathedral. A mysterious old man gave them to me and told me that I might not be a true Sterling."

Charlotte gave a small, knowing smile. "You wish to hear the truth, Alexander? Very well. Listen carefully-because this is not a pleasant story for me, and perhaps not for you either."

She took a deep breath before continuing.