Chapter 13 - The BrotherHis name was Adrian Sterling.
He had been erased from every family record.
Every photograph.
Every inheritance document.
Every memory.
Meredith stared at the screen displaying his image.
He looked older than Julian.
Perhaps ten years older.
His face carried the same eyes as their father.
The same sharp jaw.
The same cold composure.
Julian whispered:
“How did I never know?”
Adrian answered through the speaker.
“Because our mother wanted you to believe you were an only son.”
“You murdered people.”
“I exposed people.”
“You threatened Meredith.”
“I warned her.”
“You attacked our estate.”
“I needed to know whether the security system still worked.”
Julian stepped closer.
“You’re insane.”
Adrian laughed.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I am the consequence of your family's choices.”
Meredith finally spoke.
“Why me?”
Silence.
“Because you inherited the trust.”
“And?”
“You inherited Father's loyalty.”
Meredith's eyes narrowed.
“You think I'm responsible?”
“No.”
Adrian's voice became emotional.
“You're the only person who can destroy Meridian.”
Julian looked at her.
Adrian continued.
“That is why everyone wants you dead.”
Meredith swallowed.
“Then help me.”
“Help you?”
“Yes.”
A long silence followed.
Then Adrian said:
“I already am.”
The vault door opened.
A man entered.
Richard.
Blood covered his shirt.
Julian moved toward him.
“What happened?”
Richard staggered.
“Adrian betrayed Meridian.”
Meredith stared.
“Why?”
Richard looked at her.
“Because your father was right.”
“About what?”
Richard held up the original archive.
“This organization wasn't built to control the world.”
Julian frowned.
“It was built to protect it.”
Meredith looked confused.
Richard explained.
“Meridian began as a secret coalition of powerful people who believed governments were becoming corrupt.”
“And then?”
“They became corrupt themselves.”
He handed her the archive.
“Your brother took control because he wanted to destroy them from inside.”
Meredith stared.
“So Adrian isn't the villain.”
Richard shook his head.
“Not entirely.”
“Then what is he?”
Richard looked toward the screen.
“A man who became monstrous while trying to defeat monsters.”
Suddenly the vault doors slammed shut again.
Adrian's voice returned.
“Richard.”
A pause.
“You failed.”
Richard looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“The archive was incomplete.”
Meredith's heart stopped.
“Where is the final file?”
Adrian answered:
“With Genevieve.”
Everyone turned.
Genevieve stepped backward.
“I don't have anything.”
Adrian laughed.
“You do.”
He said one final sentence.
“The evidence is inside the ring you refused to return.”
Genevieve stared at her engagement ring.
Then slowly understood.
The diamond.
It wasn't a diamond.
May you like
It was a storage crystal.
And suddenly every person in the vault looked at her.
