Chapter 9: The Man Who Never Died
For a long time, Adrian just stared at the note.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
The hidden room felt like it had stopped existing around us.
There was only one impossible sentence.
I am alive.
Adrian slowly picked up the note.
His hands were shaking.
"My brother wrote this.""
I nodded.
"But everyone said he died.""
"I saw the funeral.""
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I buried him.""
The pain in those words was impossible to miss.
I looked at the photograph again.
His brother was standing beside Victoria.
Alive.
Standing.
Smiling.
Like death had never touched him.
Then a sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Adrian immediately turned.
"We need to leave.""
We grabbed the files and moved quickly.
But before we reached the exit, a voice came from the doorway.
"Looking for answers?""
We froze.
A man stood there.
Older.
Tired.
But familiar.
Adrian dropped the papers in his hand.
"No.""
The man looked at him.
"Hello, little brother.""
Adrian couldn't speak.
Because the impossible was standing in front of him.
His brother.
Alive.
"James?""
The man's face tightened.
"Yes.""
Adrian stepped back.
"This isn't possible.""
James looked at him sadly.
"I know.""
For a moment, neither brother moved.
Then Adrian walked forward.
His voice broke.
"You let me believe you were dead.""
James looked down.
"I had no choice.""
"No choice?""
Adrian's anger exploded.
"You disappeared. You let me bury an empty coffin. You let me think I failed you.""
James closed his eyes.
"I was trying to protect you.""
"By destroying me?""
The silence between them was painful.
I stood back, watching two brothers face a truth that was years too late.
Finally, James looked at Lily.
His expression softened.
"You found her.""
Adrian turned.
"You knew?""
James nodded.
"She was the reason I stayed away.""
Lily looked confused.
"Uncle James?""
The man looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Start talking.""
James looked around the hidden room.
"You need to understand something.""
He pointed at the files.
"Victoria was never afraid of losing money.""
"Then what was she afraid of?""
James looked directly at him.
"Being exposed.""
"For what?""
James took a deep breath.
"She wasn't just stealing from the company.""
The room became silent.
"She was buying children.""
My blood went cold.
Adrian's face hardened.
"Why?""
James looked at Lily.
"Because she was creating a fake family network.""
I didn't understand.
James continued.
"Children with no one looking for them. Children she could control.""
Adrian looked sick.
"And Lily?""
"Your brother's daughter was the one child she couldn't control.""
Lily lowered her head.
"My mom fought her.""
James nodded.
"Your mother discovered everything.""
Adrian stared.
"And you?""
James looked away.
"I helped her.""
The answer shocked him.
"You helped her?""
"I helped them escape.""
"Then why disappear?""
James's eyes filled with regret.
"Because Victoria made sure I had no choice.""
He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out an old phone.
"Your brother's phone.""
Adrian stared.
"How did you get that?""
"Because I kept the last message he sent.""
James turned it on.
One video appeared.
Recorded years ago.
Adrian pressed play.
His own brother appeared on the screen.
But this time, he wasn't afraid.
He was angry.
"If you're seeing this, Victoria knows everything.""
He paused.
Then looked directly at the camera.
"Adrian, the person you trust most is the person you should fear.""
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
"Who?""
James looked at him.
His expression was full of warning.
"You still haven't figured it out.""
A terrible feeling settled in my chest.
Because the answer wasn't about Victoria anymore.
It was someone closer.
Someone inside the mansion.
Someone who had been helping her from the beginning.
May you like
James whispered:
"The person who betrayed you was standing beside you the entire time.""
