CHAPTER 8 — The Brother Who Never Existed
The vault security cameras suddenly switched on.
A man's voice echoed through hidden speakers.
"If you're hearing this..."
"...she's finally gone."
Michael froze.
He knew that voice.
It sounded exactly like his own.
The screen flickered.
An old video began playing.
A young man stood inside the same vault nearly twenty-five years earlier.
Same blue eyes.
Same smile.
Same voice.
Except...
He wasn't Michael.
"My name is David Carter."
"If you're watching this..."
"...I'm your brother."
Michael could barely breathe.
"My brother died as a baby..."
Emily whispered.
"Did he?"
David continued.
"Margaret told everyone I died."
"The truth is..."
"She sold me."
The room went silent.
David explained everything.
Margaret had built an underground business selling newborn identities to wealthy families desperate for perfect children.
Michael had been stolen.
David had been sold.
Dozens of children had simply vanished into new lives.
David spent years searching for Michael.
He finally discovered the truth.
But before he could expose Margaret...
he disappeared.
The video ended with one chilling sentence.
"If I'm dead..."
"...don't trust the man called Victor Kane."
One of the federal investigators suddenly turned pale.
"I know that name."
Michael looked at him.
"Who is Victor Kane?"
The investigator whispered,
"He owns the company that just bought your mother's medical empire."
Emily's heart stopped.
"But that sale was canceled."
The investigator slowly shook his head.
"No..."
"It went through yesterday."
At that exact moment...
Every light inside the mansion went dark.
May you like
A deep metallic lock slammed shut.
Someone had sealed every exit.
