Chapter 9 - Adrian woke to darkness.His wrists were tied.

His mouth was dry.

Something metallic pressed against the back of his neck.

A voice whispered:

“Don't move.”

Adrian recognized it.

Marcus.

“You drugged me.”

“Yes.”

“Emma?”

“Alive.”

“Daniel?”

“Alive.”

“Lily?”

Silence.

Adrian's heart slammed against his ribs.

“Where is she?”

“Safe.”

“You said that already.”

Marcus pulled Adrian upright.

“You need to understand what I'm about to tell you.”

“Then untie me.”

“I can't.”

“Why?”

“Because if I do, you will kill the wrong person.”

Adrian stopped.

“What does that mean?”

A light turned on.

The room was not Archive Zero.

It was the underground chamber beneath the mansion.

Emma and Daniel were tied to chairs.

Both conscious.

And standing between them was a man wearing an expensive black suit.

Victor Hale.

Alive.

He looked older than Adrian remembered.

But unmistakably Victor.

Beside him stood another man.

Adrian.

Or someone who looked exactly like him.

The second man's hair was slightly longer.

His expression colder.

But the resemblance was terrifying.

“Who is he?”

Victor smiled.

“Your family's insurance policy.”

The double stepped forward.

“You've spent your whole life believing you inherited this empire.”

Adrian stared.

“You want my company?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“The name.”

Adrian frowned.

The man smiled.

“My name.”

Michael stepped from the shadows.

Adrian turned.

“You said you were Michael.”

“I am.”

Then he pointed at the other man.

“And he is the one who wants to become Adrian Moretti.”

The double smiled.

“I already have.”

Adrian stared.

Victor placed a file on the table.

“Your biometric records have been duplicated.”

Adrian looked down.

Fingerprints.

Retinal scans.

Blood type.

Voice samples.

Everything.

“How?”

“Six years ago.”

Daniel spoke.

“Victor didn't take me because of the ledger.”

Adrian looked at him.

“He took me because I knew the replacement program existed.”

“The what?”

Victor answered.

“Identity substitution.”

Adrian laughed bitterly.

“You expect me to believe someone can replace me?”

Victor nodded.

“Not someone.”

He pointed at the double.

“Someone who was raised to.”

Adrian looked at the man's face.

“Who is he?”

Victor's smile disappeared.

“Matthew.”

Adrian froze.

“Matthew who?”

“Matthew Moretti.”

Michael whispered:

“Our father had him before you.”

Adrian's thoughts collided.

Three brothers.

Michael.

Matthew.

Two hidden sons.

Victor continued.

“Your father believed the Moretti name needed a spare.”

Adrian stared.

“A spare.”

“A replacement.”

“What happened to Matthew?”

Victor looked at the double.

“He was trained.”

Adrian studied him.

“For what?”

“To become you.”

Emma suddenly spoke.

“Adrian…”

He turned.

Her face was pale.

“I know him.”

The double looked at her.

“You don't.”

“I do.”

Emma's eyes filled with tears.

“You were there the night Daniel disappeared.”

Matthew smiled.

“You remember.”

Adrian turned toward Emma.

“How?”

“He was the man I saw in the hallway.”

The child.

The voice.

The face.

Everything connected.

Lily had said the man looked like Adrian.

Because he did.

Victor stepped closer.

“Here's the part you haven't understood.”

He opened another file.

“Daniel discovered the network six years ago. Matteo wanted out. Michael tried to expose it. I was ordered to eliminate them both.”

Michael shook his head.

“You failed.”

Victor smiled.

“Not entirely.”

He pointed at Daniel.

“Daniel survived.”

Then at Michael.

“Michael disappeared.”

Then Adrian.

“And you kept living.”

Adrian stared.

“Where is my brother Matteo?”

Victor didn't answer.

Daniel did.

“He's not dead.”

Adrian froze.

Victor's smile returned.

“He's the reason this started.”

Adrian's voice became a whisper.

“Where is Matteo?”

A door opened behind them.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

A man entered the room.

Older.

Gray at the temples.

A scar along his cheek.

Adrian stared.

He knew that face.

He had buried it eight years ago.

Matteo Moretti looked at his brother.

And said:

“You should have listened when I told you to stay out of the east wing.”

Adrian's blood went cold.

Emma began crying.

Michael lowered his head.

Victor stepped back.

And Matteo looked at Adrian with an expression that contained no affection at all.

“Now,” he said.

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“We can finally discuss why I let you think I was dead.”

:::