Mark flipped through the yellowed pages with trembling fingers.
The documents contained official stamps from a city probate court.
Thomas had been born three years before Mark was born.
The legal records showed a massive trust fund in Thomas's name.
Mark: Why was Thomas taken away from this family?
Eleanor: He was not taken away by force, Mark.
Eleanor: Your father hidden him away to protect his life.
Mark: Protect him from what kind of danger?
Eleanor walked into the chamber and touched a black safe.
Eleanor: Your grandfather was a powerful and dangerous businessman.
Eleanor: He wanted to control the entire family estate.
Eleanor: When Thomas was born, your grandfather tried to take him.
Eleanor: He wanted to raise Thomas as his sole heir.
Mark looked down at the court papers in his hands.
He saw letters written in his late father's handwriting.
They contained desperate pleas to local law enforcement officers.
Mark: Where did Dad send Thomas to live?
Eleanor: He sent him to live with my sister overseas.
Eleanor: We had to pretend Thomas never existed at all.
Mark: Why did you keep hiding this after Dad died?
Eleanor: Because the legal battle over the trust fund continued.
Mark saw a modern cell phone resting on a charger.
The screen lit up with a new incoming text message.
The message was addressed from a contact named Thomas.
Mark realized his mother had been talking to his brother.
Mark: Is Thomas still alive today, Mom?
Eleanor: Yes, he is living in the next town over.
Mark: Why would you keep my own brother from me?
Eleanor: Your grandfather's estate lawyer was watching our home.
Eleanor: If they knew Thomas returned, they would sue him.
Mark felt a wave of anger and sadness hit his heart.
His family had been broken apart by greed and fear.
He looked at his mother standing under the soft light.
She was just trying to protect her children from harm.