Chapter 16 - THE BROTHER WHO WAS ERASEDNobody reacted.
Nobody could.
The stranger standing at the entrance looked like a ghost.
Not because he was frightening.
Because he shouldn't exist.
I stared at him.
"Who are you?"
The man slowly walked into the room.
Every guard raised their weapons.
But he didn't look afraid.
He looked hurt.
"My name is Adrian Whitmore."
The name meant nothing.
Until he placed the photograph on the table.
The same photograph from the old family records.
My father.
My mother.
And a baby.
A baby I had never known existed.
My eyes moved between the picture and the man.
"No..."
Adrian looked at me.
"I was your brother."
The room exploded with whispers.
Matteo stepped forward.
"Impossible."
Adrian smiled sadly.
"That's exactly what they wanted everyone to believe."
My mother appeared on the security screen again.
Her face was filled with pain.
"Adrian..."
The man looked at the screen.
For the first time, his expression changed.
"You left me."
My mother closed her eyes.
"I was trying to save you."
"No."
His voice broke.
"You saved him."
He pointed toward me.
"And erased me."
The silence was unbearable.
I looked at my mother.
"Is this true?"
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
My whole life had been a carefully designed story.
And I was finally reading the missing pages.
Adrian placed a small box on the table.
Inside was a ring.
The same family symbol.
The same ring seen in the hidden video.
My blood ran cold.
"That ring..."
Adrian nodded.
"The one you saw in the recording."
Everyone froze.
"Who was wearing it?"
Adrian looked at Matteo.
Then at me.
"The person who ordered everything."
My voice became a whisper.
"Who?"
Adrian slowly turned.
And pointed toward the only person who had remained silent the entire night.
The person standing beside me.
The person who claimed to protect our family.
The person who brought me the truth.
My eyes widened.
Because the answer was impossible.
Adrian whispered:
"The person who destroyed the Whitmore family..."
A pause.
"...was your mother."
The room went completely silent.
My mother looked at me through the screen.
Tears in her eyes.
But she didn't deny it.
She only said one sentence:
"I'm sorry, my son."
Then the screen went black.
And on the table...
May you like
My father's final message appeared.
"The person you trust most will be the last person you should believe."
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