Chapter 12 - Adrian couldn't breathe.Two photographs.

Same name.

Different faces.

Same family.

Different histories.

He stared at the screen until his eyes hurt.

Matteo stood beside him.

“You were taken six years ago.”

Adrian whispered:

“Who am I?”

Matteo hesitated.

“Your name is Adrian Moretti.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

“You were chosen.”

“Chosen for what?”

“To survive.”

Adrian laughed bitterly.

“That's supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Matteo nodded.

“You were Adrian's personal protection officer.”

Silence.

Daniel stared.

Emma stared.

Marcus slowly sat down.

Adrian shook his head.

“No.”

“You were assigned to him.”

“No.”

“You looked enough like him to fool most people from a distance.”

“No.”

“You had a similar voice.”

“Stop.”

“You knew his schedule.”

“Stop.”

Matteo continued.

“The night at 11:48, the real Adrian was killed.”

Adrian's knees weakened.

He caught himself against the wall.

“You replaced him.”

“I didn't choose to.”

“Who did?”

“Your father.”

Adrian looked at the screen.

The two photographs.

“You forced me?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Matteo's voice softened.

“You were dying.”

Daniel looked at him.

“What?”

Matteo continued.

“You'd been shot protecting Adrian.”

“I don't remember.”

“Because they altered your memories.”

Emma whispered:

“Why would anyone do that?”

“Because they needed someone to wear the name.”

Adrian stared at himself in the mirror.

“I've been living inside another man's life.”

“Yes.”

“For six years.”

“Yes.”

“Then where is my real life?”

Matteo didn't answer.

Adrian stepped closer.

“Where?”

Matteo finally spoke.

“Gone.”

The word landed like a blade.

Adrian's phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

Silence.

Then a woman's voice.

“You want to know who ordered the replacement?”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“Who?”

“Your mother.”

He went still.

The call ended.

Emma looked at him.

“What did they say?”

“My mother.”

Matteo shook his head.

“That isn't possible.”

“Why?”

“She died before all this began.”

Adrian stared at the phone.

“No.”

Matteo's expression changed.

“What?”

Adrian remembered something.

A memory.

His mother sitting in the east wing.

A black suitcase.

A clock.

11:48.

She had said:

“Don't trust anyone who knocks.”

He had forgotten it.

Or thought he had.

Now he remembered.

Not fully.

Fragments.

A man's hand.

Blood.

His father's voice.

His mother crying.

And Lily's face.

Except Lily had been a baby.

She couldn't have been there.

Unless the memory wasn't his.

Adrian looked at Emma.

“Did I meet Lily before tonight?”

Emma hesitated.

“Yes.”

Adrian felt his stomach tighten.

“When?”

“Three years ago.”

“But I don't remember.”

“You held her.”

“Where?”

“In this house.”

“Why?”

Emma's voice cracked.

“Because the real Adrian wasn't there.”

Adrian stepped back.

Everything was becoming a maze with mirrors for walls.

Then Marcus stood.

“We have company.”

A sound came from the corridor.

Footsteps.

Several.

Matteo grabbed a weapon.

Daniel untied Emma.

Adrian looked at Lily.

“Stay with your mother.”

The door burst open.

Security officers stormed inside.

Adrian recognized every face.

Men who worked for him.

Men who had eaten at his table.

Men who had sworn loyalty.

They pointed guns.

Their captain stepped forward.

“Mr. Moretti, you're under arrest.”

Adrian almost laughed.

“On what charge?”

“Murder.”

Whose murder?

The captain raised a photograph.

The real Adrian Moretti.

Dead.

Six years ago.

Then he raised another photograph.

Lily.

Emma.

Daniel.

And finally one of Adrian.

“Your fingerprint was found on the weapon.”

Adrian stared.

“I wasn't there.”

The captain shook his head.

“That's what the evidence says.”

Matteo stepped in front of him.

“Shoot me first.”

The captain looked at him.

“Matteo Moretti. You are also wanted.”

Daniel raised both hands.

“By whom?”

The captain answered:

“The United States government.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“You're federal?”

The captain smiled.

“No.”

He removed his badge.

It was fake.

Every one of them wore fake badges.

Marcus whispered:

“Victor's men.”

The captain nodded.

“Exactly.”

Then the mansion speakers came alive.

Victor's voice:

“Adrian, you have ten minutes.”

A countdown appeared on the wall.

10:00.

9:59.

9:58.

“Bring me Emma.”

Adrian stared at the timer.

“Why?”

Victor answered:

“Because she's the only person who can identify the original.”

Adrian looked at Emma.

“Identify what?”

Emma's eyes filled with tears.

“The real Adrian.”

The countdown continued.

8:41.

7:59.

Then Lily tugged at Adrian's sleeve.

“Mr. Moretti?”

He crouched.

“What?”

She whispered:

“Mommy told me the truth.”

Adrian looked at Emma.

“What truth?”

Lily pointed to the mirror.

“You aren't pretending to be him.”

Adrian's heart stopped.

“Then what am I?”

Lily whispered:

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“You are him.”

:::