Chapter 45 - The Brother Who Betrayed UsNobody spoke.
The screen showed Michael standing beside Jonathan's security team.
The same Michael who had helped me uncover the truth.
The same Michael who had warned me about danger.
The same Michael who had saved my life.
"No..."
Claire whispered.
"He can't be."
I stared at the screen.
My mind rejected what my eyes were seeing.
Jonathan smiled.
"I expected confusion."
"That's usually the first stage of betrayal."
The screen changed.
A second video appeared.
Michael entering Jonathan's office.
Michael handing over documents.
Michael saying:
"I'll bring him to the truth."
"And when he trusts me..."
Jonathan's voice answered:
"We finish this."
My knees nearly gave out.
"No."
Eleanor looked at me sadly.
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't know."
I shook my head.
"He saved me."
"Yes."
"He saved you because he needed you alive."
The room went silent.
Then Rose spoke.
"That's not true."
Everyone looked at her.
The little girl pointed at the screen.
"Uncle Michael was crying."
I frowned.
"What?"
"When he talked to Grandpa."
"He said he was sorry."
"He said he didn't want to hurt us."
Elizabeth looked surprised.
"Rose..."
"You saw him?"
Rose nodded.
"Before we came here."
She looked toward the screen.
"He told me..."
"Everything would be okay."
A strange feeling entered my chest.
Something didn't make sense.
Michael was many things.
Complicated.
Secretive.
But not cruel.
I looked closer at the video.
Something was wrong.
The footage.
The angle.
The lighting.
"Stop."
Claire paused it.
"What?"
"Play it again."
She did.
I watched Michael carefully.
His hands.
His face.
His movements.
Then I saw it.
The watch.
Michael always wore a black leather watch.
In the video...
He wasn't wearing one.
"This isn't real."
Everyone looked at me.
I pointed at the screen.
"It's edited."
Claire analyzed the footage.
Five seconds later...
Her eyes widened.
"You're right."
Jonathan's smile disappeared.
The screen flickered.
A new message appeared.
SYSTEM OVERRIDE ATTEMPTED.
Then Michael's voice came through the speakers.
Not from the video.
Live.
"Finally."
Everyone froze.
"Someone noticed."
The basement door opened.
Michael stepped inside.
Alone.
No guards.
No weapon.
Just exhaustion on his face.
Elizabeth immediately moved in front of Rose.
"Stay away from my daughter."
Michael stopped.
"I know."
His voice was broken.
"I know exactly who she is."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
He looked at me.
And for the first time...
I saw fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
"Because Jonathan has something you don't know."
He looked at Elizabeth.
"He never planned to kill everyone inside this mansion."
The lights flickered.
Michael continued.
"He planned to erase one person."
My heart raced.
"Who?"
Michael looked directly at me.
"You."
Silence.
Then the mansion speakers turned on again.
Jonathan laughed.
"Good."
"Now we're finally being honest."
Michael looked upward.
"Jonathan."
"Stop this."
My father's voice answered.
"You were always weak, Michael."
"You cared about them."
Michael clenched his fists.
"Because unlike you..."
"I know what family means."
A loud alarm began.
03:00
Michael turned toward us.
"We don't have much time."
"There is a way to stop the system."
"Where?"
He looked at Rose.
"With the original heir."
Everyone looked at the little girl.
Rose stepped backward.
"No."
Michael shook his head.
"Not you."
He looked at me.
"The first child."
My blood turned cold.
"Me?"
Michael nodded.
"Your father never wanted you to inherit the empire."
"He wanted you to activate something."
"What?"
May you like
Michael answered quietly.
"His final experiment."
