Chapter 6 - Marcus stared at the weapon pointed at his chest.“Sir.”

Adrian didn't blink.

“Stay where you are.”

“That badge isn't mine.”

“You said that.”

“I've never seen it.”

Daniel was watching Marcus.

Not with surprise.

With recognition.

“You know him,” Daniel said.

Marcus looked at him.

“No.”

Daniel's eyes narrowed.

“You were there.”

Marcus's face changed.

Adrian saw it.

A flicker.

A memory.

Something buried.

“Marcus?”

The security chief swallowed.

“I worked here six years ago.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“You told me you joined eight years ago.”

“I did.”

“Then why don't I remember you from the night Matteo died?”

Marcus said nothing.

Daniel answered for him.

“Because Marcus wasn't working security.”

Adrian looked between them.

“What was he doing?”

Marcus lowered his weapon.

“I was young.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“I was twenty-four.”

“What was your job?”

Marcus looked at the floor.

“Driver.”

Adrian felt the pieces shifting.

“Whose driver?”

“Matteo's.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“You drove my brother.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you tell me you were hired two years later?”

Marcus took a long breath.

“Because Victor told me to.”

Adrian took a step forward.

“Victor Hale?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Marcus looked at Daniel.

“Because your brother wasn't supposed to die that night.”

Adrian's face went cold.

“What happened?”

Marcus closed his eyes.

“Matteo found out about the accounts.”

Daniel nodded.

“He was going to expose them.”

“Who?”

“I never knew.”

“Then why was he killed?”

Marcus whispered:

“Because he changed his mind.”

Adrian frowned.

“About what?”

“About protecting Adrian.”

Silence.

Adrian felt the room tilt.

“What does that mean?”

Marcus looked directly at him.

“Your brother knew someone was preparing to kill you.”

Adrian's voice dropped.

“And he chose himself instead.”

Emma began to cry.

Daniel looked away.

Adrian stared at Marcus.

“You expect me to believe Matteo sacrificed himself for me?”

“Yes.”

“Then why hide it?”

“Because Victor told me the next death would be yours.”

A crash came from upstairs.

Everyone turned.

Adrian ran.

Emma followed.

Daniel grabbed Marcus.

“Don't let him trust anyone.”

Marcus looked at him.

“You still haven't told him the worst part.”

Daniel's eyes hardened.

“I will.”

Upstairs, Adrian reached his bedroom.

The door stood open.

The secret passage beneath the floor was gone.

The broken boards had been replaced.

As if nothing had happened.

Then he saw the bed.

A white envelope rested on his pillow.

He opened it.

Inside was a single photograph.

Adrian at age twelve.

Standing beside his father.

Behind them was the original east wing.

The second photograph showed Matteo.

At the same age.

Standing beside the same man.

But the third photograph showed someone else.

A boy.

Same dark eyes as Adrian.

Same jawline.

Same family scar near the eyebrow.

Adrian stared.

On the back:

YOU WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT MICHAEL.

He turned.

Emma had gone pale.

“Who is Michael?”

Emma shook her head.

“I don't know.”

Daniel appeared behind her.

His face had gone white.

“You do.”

Adrian turned toward him.

“Who is Michael?”

Daniel looked at Emma.

Then at the photograph.

“He's your brother.”

Adrian laughed once.

Not because it was funny.

Because the alternative was too absurd to process.

“I had two brothers.”

“No.”

Daniel's voice was quiet.

“You had three.”

Adrian's hands tightened around the photograph.

“My parents had two sons.”

Daniel shook his head.

“They had three.”

“What happened to him?”

“He disappeared.”

“When?”

“Same year you were born.”

Adrian looked at Emma.

“How did you know?”

“I didn't.”

Daniel answered.

“Victor knew.”

Adrian stared at him.

“What does this have to do with Lily?”

Daniel's eyes darkened.

“Everything.”

He pointed at the photograph.

“Michael was taken.”

“By whom?”

“We don't know.”

Daniel looked toward the east wing.

“But six years ago, I found a file.”

“What file?”

“Michael Moretti.”

Adrian leaned closer.

“What did it say?”

Daniel hesitated.

“That he was alive.”

Emma covered her mouth.

Adrian's voice became almost a whisper.

“Where?”

Daniel looked at Marcus.

“Under this house.”

Nobody spoke.

Then the old grandfather clock struck midnight.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Adrian counted.

Eleven.

Twelve.

The final chime never came.

Instead the clock stopped.

At 12:00.

Every light went out again.

And from the hallway came a woman's voice.

Emma gasped.

It was her own voice.

“Adrian…”

Everyone froze.

The voice repeated.

“Adrian…”

Then another voice.

A little girl.

“Daddy, don't open the door.”

Adrian looked at Emma.

She was standing right beside him.

Her lips were trembling.

“I didn't say that.”

Adrian slowly turned toward the bedroom door.

Someone on the other side whispered:

“That's the problem.”

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