Chapter 3 - DANGEROUS TRUTHS
By midnight, Dr. Sterling had arrived, drawn blood from both Julian and Leo, and left with the samples under heavy security escort.
Leo was given a luxurious guest room, but he couldn't sleep. The bed was too soft, the room too quiet. Used to the constant vigilance required on the streets, his instincts warned him that danger was close.
He slipped out of bed and crept down the dimly lit hallway. As he passed Arthur's private study, he saw a sliver of light beneath the heavy mahogany doors and heard muffled voices.
He pressed his ear against the cold wood.
"...cannot let Eleanor see the real files, Dr. Sterling," Arthur's voice was sharp. "If she finds out that Leo wasn't stolen, but traded, she will destroy me."
"Arthur, the boy's facial structure is identical," Dr. Sterling’s voice replied nervously over a speakerphone. "Even if I fake the DNA test results tomorrow, any second test will expose us. And what about the trust fund? Old man Vance's will explicitly stated that the inheritance only unlocks if both heirs are present, or if one is officially declared deceased with a verified death certificate. You forged the death certificate fifteen years ago!"
"I did what was necessary to secure the family fortune!" Arthur snarled. "My father was going to leave half the empire to a charity if I had twins, to 'teach them humility.' I couldn't allow that. One heir was enough. The other had to vanish."
"And Martha?" Dr. Sterling asked. "You paid her off, but she kept the boy alive!"
"Martha had a soft heart," Arthur sneered. "She was supposed to drop him at an anonymous orphanage in another state. Instead, she kept him near, waiting for the right moment to blackmail me. Well, her time ran out, and so will the boy's."
Behind the door, Leo’s blood ran cold. His own father hadn't just abandoned him—he had treated him like an unwanted line item on a balance sheet. He was traded to protect a fortune.
Leo took a step back, but his foot caught the edge of a decorative brass pedestal. It wobbled and struck the door with a loud THUD.
"Who's there?" Arthur's voice boomed.
Leo panicked. He sprinted down the hallway, taking corners sharply, heading straight for Julian's room. He burst through the door, waking Julian up.
"Julian! Get up!" Leo hissed, grabbing his brother by the shoulders.
"Leo? What's going on?" Julian rubbed his eyes, startled.
"Your father... he's a monster," Leo whispered fast, his heart pounding. "He faked my death for money! He's going to fake the DNA test tomorrow and then kill me!"
Julian stared at Leo, shocked. "No... Dad is strict, but he wouldn't—"
Suddenly, the room door flew open. Arthur walked in, flanked by two armed guards. His expression was no longer cold; it was terrifyingly calm.
"I see you were listening, Leo," Arthur said softly. "A bad habit. Street children really lack manners."
"Arthur! What is the meaning of this?!"
Eleanor rushed into the room, wearing a silk robe, her face pale with terror as she saw the guards holding guns.
"Eleanor, step back," Arthur said without looking at her. "This boy is an intruder. A grifter who broke into our home trying to extortion us."
"You're lying!" Leo shouted. "Tell her about the will! Tell her about the death certificate you forged fifteen years ago!"
Eleanor froze. Her eyes locked onto Arthur. "What is he talking about, Arthur? What death certificate?"
Arthur didn't answer her. Instead, he signaled the guards. "Take the boy downstairs. We will hand him over to our private security team for 'questioning'."
"No!" Julian jumped out of bed, throwing himself in front of Leo. "If you take him, you take me too!"
"Julian, move!" Arthur demanded.
"No!" Julian yelled.
In the chaos, Eleanor grabbed a heavy crystal vase from a nightstand and smashed it against the back of one guard's head. The man crumpled to the floor. The second guard turned in surprise, giving Leo enough time to tackle him to the ground.
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"Run!" Eleanor screamed, grabbing Julian and Leo by their hands. "Run!"
They sprinted out of the penthouse, down the emergency stairwell as the blaring red alarm lights began to flash throughout the building.
