Chapter 11 - Nobody moved.The screen showed Isabella sitting in a room lit by a single lamp.

She looked almost identical to Elena.

But there was something colder in her eyes.

Ava whispered:

“I thought you were dead.”

Isabella smiled.

“You all did.”

Elena stared.

“Why didn't anyone tell me?”

“Because everyone wanted you innocent.”

Elena shook her head.

“Who are you?”

“I am the first daughter.”

Ava frowned.

“No.”

Isabella laughed.

“Mother told you that.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“Isabella survived.”

“How?”

“Victor took her.”

“Why?”

Daniel answered:

“Because she had a different blood type.”

Julian looked confused.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Isabella smiled.

“Everything.”

The screen changed.

A medical file appeared.

Julian's birth record.

The name of his mother had been altered.

The father's name had been removed.

A second document appeared.

DNA analysis.

Julian's biological father was not Daniel Sterling.

Elena looked at Daniel.

“What?”

Daniel couldn't look at her.

Julian's voice became quiet.

“Who is my father?”

Isabella answered.

“Victor Sterling.”

Silence.

Julian staggered backward.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My mother had an affair?”

“No.”

Isabella smiled.

“You were created.”

Elena felt sick.

“What does that mean?”

“Victor wanted an heir.”

Daniel interrupted.

“He used Victoria's DNA.”

“And mine,” Isabella said.

Elena's eyes widened.

Isabella continued.

“Julian is genetically linked to all three Sterling daughters.”

Ava stepped forward.

“That makes no sense.”

“It does.”

Isabella looked at them.

“We were part of an experiment.”

Elena's hand moved protectively over her stomach.

“What experiment?”

“Control.”

Ava whispered:

“The vault.”

Isabella smiled.

“Exactly.”

She explained.

The Sterling family had been used to create a biometric system capable of recognizing genetic descendants.

Only specific bloodlines could access Black Meridian's most secure assets.

Julian was the final component.

The heir.

The key.

The child Victor had designed to inherit everything.

Elena felt dizzy.

“You're saying Julian is the key.”

Isabella nodded.

“But not the vault.”

Julian stared.

“Then what?”

“The network.”

She leaned toward the camera.

“Your blood can authorize every Black Meridian account.”

Daniel looked at Elena.

“That's why Victor never killed him.”

Julian's expression hardened.

“He used me.”

“Yes.”

“And my mother knew?”

Victoria's voice suddenly came from behind them.

Everyone turned.

She stood in the doorway.

Still wearing the clothes from the arrest.

One hand was bleeding.

She had escaped.

Julian stared at her.

“You knew.”

Victoria looked at her son.

“I knew part of it.”

“Did you know Victor was my father?”

She closed her eyes.

“Yes.”

Julian's face broke.

“You lied to me my entire life.”

“I was trying to keep you alive.”

“By letting me believe Daniel was my father?”

“Yes.”

Julian laughed bitterly.

“And Elena?”

Victoria looked at her.

“I was trying to save you too.”

Elena's voice trembled.

“You chose Ava.”

Victoria nodded.

“Because Victor believed you were dead.”

Elena stared.

“And Isabella?”

Victoria looked at the screen.

“Isabella was the one I couldn't save.”

Isabella smiled.

“You never tried.”

Victoria looked devastated.

“I did.”

“You abandoned me.”

“I searched for you.”

“Too late.”

Victoria stepped forward.

“My children.”

Isabella laughed.

“No.”

She leaned toward the camera.

“You don't have children anymore.”

The screen went black.

Ava suddenly noticed a timer appearing on the wall.

00:29:58.

Julian frowned.

“What is that?”

Daniel's face changed.

“Run.”

“Why?”

“The vault is being opened.”

Elena looked toward Victoria.

“By whom?”

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Victoria whispered:

“Isabella.”