Chapter 12: The Brother Behind The Conspiracy
Nobody spoke.
The image on the screen remained frozen.
A man standing behind Richard Vale.
A man everyone thought had disappeared.
A man whose existence changed everything.
Victor Hayes looked like he had seen a ghost.
Because in a way...
He had.
"My brother."
The words left his mouth quietly.
Daniel turned toward him.
"You never told me you had a brother."
Victor didn't answer.
His eyes stayed fixed on the screen.
Because the person standing behind Richard wasn't just someone from his past.
He was the reason Victor became the person he was.
His name was Adrian Hayes.
And twenty years ago, Adrian was supposed to be dead.
The old memories returned.
Before Carter Technologies became an empire.
Before Daniel became famous.
Before Victor became his enemy.
There were two brothers.
Victor and Adrian Hayes.
They were completely different.
Victor was an inventor.
A dreamer.
Someone who believed ideas could change the world.
Adrian was different.
He believed the world was already controlled by powerful people.
And the only way to survive was to become one of them.
As children, they often argued.
Victor wanted to build.
Adrian wanted to dominate.
Victor believed people created the future.
Adrian believed people controlled it.
Two brothers.
Two completely different visions.
And one company would eventually bring them together.
"When did he disappear?"
Daniel asked.
Victor finally looked at him.
"Fifteen years ago."
"What happened?"
Victor's expression darkened.
"Adrian discovered something."
"The hidden system?"
Victor nodded.
"He found out about the underground operations before anyone else."
Daniel looked confused.
"But why would he help Richard?"
Victor looked away.
"Because Adrian believed Richard was right."
The answer shocked everyone.
"He believed Carter Technologies was too powerful to belong to one person."
David frowned.
"So he wanted control?"
Victor nodded.
"Adrian didn't want money."
A pause.
"He wanted influence."
Back at the old Carter house...
Emily watched Richard carefully.
She wasn't afraid.
And that worried him.
Most adults were afraid of him.
They saw his money.
His power.
His reputation.
But Emily only saw a person.
A person who was making bad choices.
"Why are you sad?"
The question surprised Richard.
"What?"
Emily pointed at him.
"Your face."
"My face?"
"You look angry."
Richard almost smiled.
"You're very observant."
"My mommy says people get angry when they are hurt."
Richard looked away.
For a moment, he saw Eleanor Carter.
The same kindness.
The same honesty.
The same ability to see through people.
And that bothered him.
Because Eleanor had always seen the good in him.
Even when he didn't deserve it.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Adrian Hayes entered.
Richard turned.
"You're late."
Adrian ignored him.
His eyes moved toward Emily.
"So this is the girl."
Emily looked at him.
"You look like Mr. Victor."
Adrian stopped.
The innocent observation hit him.
"Do I?"
Emily nodded.
"You have the same eyes."
For the first time, Adrian looked uncomfortable.
"Don't compare me to him."
Emily tilted her head.
"Why?"
Adrian said nothing.
Because the answer was complicated.
He hated Victor.
But he also spent his entire life trying to prove he was better than him.
Back at the underground facility...
Daniel looked at Victor.
"You knew your brother was involved."
Victor nodded.
"But I didn't know how far."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Victor looked at him.
"Because I was ashamed."
The answer surprised Daniel.
Victor continued.
"When Adrian disappeared, I spent years believing I failed him."
"He was my little brother."
Daniel frowned.
"Younger?"
Victor nodded.
"I thought I could save him."
A bitter smile appeared.
"But I couldn't."
Daniel was quiet.
For the first time, he saw something beyond Victor's anger.
A person carrying guilt.
A person who had been broken long before their betrayal.
Andrew interrupted.
"We have a bigger problem."
Everyone turned.
"What?"
Andrew pointed at the screen.
"Richard and Adrian are not trying to escape."
Daniel frowned.
"Then what are they doing?"
Andrew zoomed in.
A document was visible on the table beside Emily.
The original founder agreement.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"They have it."
Thomas stepped forward.
"No."
His face became pale.
"They found the final document."
David looked confused.
"What is so important about that?"
Thomas answered:
"Because the document doesn't just prove ownership."
A pause.
"It reveals the truth about how Carter Technologies was created."
Daniel looked at him.
"And?"
Thomas looked at the screen.
"It names everyone who tried to control it."
Everyone became silent.
The document wasn't just evidence.
It was a weapon.
A weapon that could destroy some of the most powerful people in the world.
At the old Carter house, Richard opened the document.
Adrian watched.
"This is it."
Richard nodded.
"After all these years."
Adrian looked at him.
"And when we release it?"
Richard smiled.
"Everyone falls."
Adrian looked toward Emily.
"And the girl?"
Richard's expression changed.
"She goes home."
Adrian seemed surprised.
"You trust him?"
Richard looked at him.
"Who?"
"Daniel."
A long silence.
Then Richard answered:
"No."
He looked at Emily.
"But I trust his choice."
The underground facility suddenly received a message.
Every screen changed.
A live video appeared.
Richard was on the screen.
But this time...
Daniel noticed something.
Richard looked tired.
Not powerful.
Not confident.
Tired.
"Daniel."
Everyone watched.
Richard continued.
"You have spent your whole life believing this was a fight between good and evil."
A pause.
"But it isn't."
Daniel stared.
"It's a fight between people who believe they are right."
Richard looked directly into the camera.
"Your father wanted to protect the world."
"Victor wanted recognition."
"Adrian wanted control."
"I wanted order."
Then he said something nobody expected.
"And you..."
Daniel waited.
Richard's voice softened.
"You wanted to be loved."
The words hit harder than any accusation.
Because they were true.
Daniel had spent his life building something massive.
But deep inside...
He had always wanted his father's approval.
His mother's pride.
His family's acceptance.
Richard continued.
"That is why you are dangerous."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
"Because unlike us..."
Richard looked away.
"You still care."
The screen went black.
Then one final message appeared.
COME ALONE, DANIEL.
BRING THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE EMILY AGAIN.
Everyone immediately reacted.
"No."
Rachel's voice came through the phone.
She had been listening.
"You are not going alone."
Daniel looked at the message.
He knew this was a trap.
Everyone knew.
But he also knew something else.
Emily was waiting.
His daughter believed he would come.
And a father does not abandon his child.
Daniel picked up the document.
Victor stepped forward.
"I'm coming."
Daniel looked at him.
"Why?"
Victor answered quietly:
"Because this started with me."
Thomas stepped forward too.
"And it started with me."
Andrew grabbed his jacket.
"And I know the security system."
David sighed.
"And apparently I owe you an explanation."
Daniel looked at all of them.
The people who betrayed him.
The people who hurt him.
The people who had lied.
But also...
The people who could help him end this.
For the first time in years, they weren't fighting against each other.
They were fighting the same enemy.
Richard Vale.
Adrian Hayes.
And the truth hidden beneath Carter Technologies.
As they prepared to leave...
A hidden camera inside the underground facility turned on.
Someone was watching.
Someone who had heard everything.
Someone who had access to the entire system.
The person smiled.
Because Daniel believed he was going to save Emily.
But he didn't know the final secret yet.
The secret that would change everything.
The secret about who had truly protected him all these years.
The camera focused on a file.
A hidden file.
Created twenty years earlier.
The title appeared:
PROJECT DANIEL: THE LAST PROTECTION
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End of Chapter 12
(Chương tiếp theo: Chapter 13: Project Daniel And The Final Betrayal.)
