The screen flickered.
Alexander smiled.
Ethan stared at the man who had just called him little brother.
For several seconds, the chamber seemed to shrink around him.
“No,” Ethan whispered.
Alexander’s smile widened.
“That seems to be your favorite word.”
Clara stepped closer to Ethan.
“Who is he?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
He couldn’t.
He was staring at Alexander’s face.
There were similarities.
The same dark eyes.
The same sharp jaw.
The same slight crease between the eyebrows when angry.
But there was something else.
Something that unsettled Clara more than the resemblance.
Alexander looked at Ethan as though he had been waiting his entire life to meet him.
The speakers crackled.
Alexander leaned toward the camera.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
Ethan finally found his voice.
“What?”
“That you don’t remember me.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“I’ve never seen you.”
Alexander laughed softly.
“Of course you haven’t.”
“Who are you?”
“I told you.”
“That’s not enough.”
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
“My name is Alexander Shaw.”
He paused.
“And I am your older brother.”
Clara looked around the chamber.
“Where is Gabriel?”
Alexander glanced away from the camera.
“Alive.”
Ethan stepped toward the screen.
“Put him on.”
“Not yet.”
“Now.”
Alexander smiled again.
“You still give orders like Father.”
Ethan froze.
Clara caught it.
“You knew Richard?”
Alexander’s eyes shifted toward her.
“I knew him better than either of you ever did.”
Ethan’s voice became colder.
“Then tell me why we’re here.”
Alexander leaned back.
“Because you’ve spent your whole life believing you were the victim.”
“I was.”
“No.”
Alexander’s eyes hardened.
“You were the survivor.”
The words echoed.
Ethan clenched his fists.
“What happened to me?”
Alexander looked at Clara.
“What did they tell you?”
Clara answered before Ethan could.
“They told him his mother abandoned him.”
Alexander laughed.
“They lied.”
“They said his father was Richard.”
“They lied again.”
“They said Gabriel disappeared.”
“Another lie.”
Clara stepped forward.
“Then tell us the truth.”
Alexander looked at her for a long moment.
“You really are different.”
“From what?”
“From the women Richard usually surrounded himself with.”
Clara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not afraid of him.”
“He’s dead.”
Alexander’s expression changed.
“No.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“Richard Calloway is not dead.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
“Marcus said he’s dying.”
“Dying isn’t dead.”
“Where is he?”
Alexander smiled.
“You’ll see him soon.”
A chill moved through Clara.
“Why?”
“Because that’s where this ends.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.
This is where it begins.”
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
“Good.”
He pressed something.
The screen changed.
An old video appeared.
A hospital room.
A young Margaret sat on a bed.
She looked exhausted.
Beside her stood Gabriel.
Young.
Angry.
Terrified.
And in his arms was a small child.
Alexander.
Clara watched silently.
Then the video shifted.
Margaret was holding another baby.
A newborn.
Ethan.
Richard entered the room.
Margaret’s face changed immediately.
Fear.
The video had no sound.
But Clara could read her lips.
Stay away from him.
Richard walked toward the baby.
Gabriel stepped between them.
Richard shoved him.
The camera shook.
Then the recording ended.
Ethan stared at the black screen.
“That was real?”
Alexander’s voice came through.
“Yes.”
“When was it recorded?”
“The day you were born.”
Ethan swallowed.
“Why did you have it?”
“I didn’t.”
Alexander paused.
“Richard did.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
“Then how did you get it?”
Alexander smiled.
“Because I stole it.”
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
Ethan’s eyes sharpened.
“You were involved that night.”
Alexander didn’t answer.
“Yes.”
Clara’s stomach tightened.
“What did you do?”
Alexander looked directly into the camera.
“I stopped your brother from finding you.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you weren’t supposed to marry Clara.”
Ethan stepped closer to the screen.
“Why?”
Alexander’s voice became quiet.
“Because if you married her, you would eventually find Room Seven.”
Clara’s heart pounded.
“You knew about this place?”
“I’ve known about it since I was six.”
“What’s here?”
Alexander smiled.
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That Richard destroyed our family.”
Ethan looked around the chamber.
“Where?”
Alexander nodded toward the files.
“Everything is there.”
Clara walked toward the nearest stack.
She picked up a folder.
Inside were newspaper clippings.
BUSINESSMAN DISAPPEARS AFTER CALLoway ACQUISITION
Another:
WITNESS FOUND DEAD IN HOTEL ROOM
Another:
CALLoway EXECUTIVE RESIGNS WITHOUT EXPLANATION
Clara’s blood ran cold.
She opened another.
Photographs.
Bank transfers.
Police reports.
Names.
Dates.
Locations.
A pattern emerged.
Richard Calloway wasn’t merely ruthless.
He had built his empire on destruction.
Ethan stood beside her.
He picked up a photograph.
His face went pale.
“That’s Gabriel.”
The photograph showed Gabriel being escorted from a courthouse.
His hands were cuffed.
A newspaper headline beneath it read:
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR CHARGED IN MURDER OF MARGARET VALE
Ethan’s fingers trembled.
“He was framed.”
“Yes,” Alexander said.
“Who framed him?”
“Richard.”
“Why?”
“Because Gabriel knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
Alexander looked at him.
“That you were his son.”
Ethan stared.
“But Richard knew?”
“Yes.”
“And he still raised me?”
“He had plans for you.”
“What plans?”
Alexander’s voice became colder.
“You were supposed to inherit everything.”
Ethan frowned.
“I was?”
“Yes.”
“Then why stop me from marrying Clara?”
“Because marriage creates loyalty.”
Alexander looked at Clara.
“Richard wanted Ethan loyal to the family.”
Clara understood.
“If Ethan married me…”
“He would choose you.”
“And Richard couldn’t control him anymore.”
Alexander nodded.
“Exactly.”
Ethan looked at the files.
“So everything was about control.”
“No.”
Alexander’s voice changed.
“Everything was about blood.”
Ethan looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Alexander leaned closer to the camera.
“Richard didn’t just adopt you.”
Silence.
“He changed your identity.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because Nathaniel Vale was dangerous.”
Clara frowned.
“Why?”
Alexander looked directly at Ethan.
“Because Nathaniel wasn’t supposed to inherit Calloway Holdings.”
He paused.
“He was supposed to expose it.”
A sound came from behind them.
Clara turned.
Nothing.
“Did you hear that?”
Ethan nodded.
Alexander’s voice came through the speakers.
“You don’t have much time.”
“Time for what?”
“They’re coming.”
“Who?”
Alexander’s expression became serious.
“Richard’s men.”
Ethan moved toward the door.
It wouldn’t open.
“Unlock it.”
“I can’t.”
“You locked us in.”
“No.”
Alexander shook his head.
“I warned you.”
“What?”
“You were never the only ones looking for Room Seven.”
Clara stepped closer to the screen.
“Who else?”
Alexander looked away.
Then whispered:
“Your sister.”
Ethan froze.
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“She doesn’t work for Richard.”
Alexander laughed.
“You really don’t know her.”
“Tell me.”
“Ask her what happened to the second child.”
Clara frowned.
“What second child?”
Alexander’s eyes darkened.
“Not me.”
Ethan went still.
“What?”
“There were three children.”
Clara stared at the screen.
“Three?” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Alexander nodded.
“Margaret gave birth to three children.”
Ethan’s voice became barely audible.
“I have one brother.”
“You have two.”
The chamber seemed to lose oxygen.
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
Alexander smiled.
“That’s what Richard wanted you to believe.”
Clara looked at the photograph on the wall.
Alexander.
Ethan.
Then another child.
A little girl.
She had been standing beside Margaret.
Clara moved closer.
“Who’s the girl?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Ethan stared.
“Alexander.”
The man on the screen remained silent.
“Who is she?”
Finally, Alexander said:
“Her name was Evelyn.”
Clara’s heart stopped.
“Was?”
Alexander’s expression darkened.
“She died.”
“How?”
“That’s the question.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
Clara’s breath caught.
The same year they had broken up.
Alexander continued.
“Three days before you were supposed to marry Clara.”
Ethan stepped backward.
“No.”
Alexander looked at him.
“She was killed because she knew about Room Seven.”
Clara whispered:
“Who killed her?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Instead, he said:
“Your sister knows.”
Ethan’s eyes hardened.
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
The speakers suddenly crackled.
Alexander looked over his shoulder.
His expression changed.
“They’re here.”
“Who?”
“Get out.”
The chamber lights flickered.
Ethan ran toward the door.
It remained locked.
“Alexander!”
“I can’t open it.”
“You brought us here!”
“I brought you to the truth.”
A loud impact shook the door.
Clara jumped.
Another impact.
The hinges rattled.
Alexander’s voice became urgent.
“Look beneath the table.”
Ethan dropped to his knees.
“There!”
A small metal lever was hidden beneath it.
He pulled.
Nothing happened.
“Again!”
He pulled harder.
A section of the wall slid open.
A narrow passage appeared.
Ethan grabbed Clara’s hand.
“Go.”
She looked at the screen.
“What about Gabriel?”
Alexander stared at her.
“I’ll get him.”
“You promise?”
Alexander smiled faintly.
“I’ve been waiting twenty-seven years to keep one.”
They entered the passage.
Behind them, the chamber door exploded inward.
Men rushed inside.
Gunfire erupted.
Clara screamed.
Ethan pulled her deeper into the tunnel.
They ran.
The passage twisted beneath Bellmont.
Then they reached a staircase.
Ethan pushed open a hatch.
They emerged behind the old chapel.
Clara bent over, trying to breathe.
Ethan looked around.
“Where are we?”
She looked at the building.
“The chapel.”
He stared at it.
“Room Seven.”
Clara nodded.
Then she noticed something.
A figure stood inside the chapel.
Victoria.
She was holding a gun.
Ethan stopped.
“Victoria?”
She looked at them.
Tears were running down her face.
“I told you to stop.”
Ethan stared.
“Did you kill Evelyn?”
Victoria’s hand trembled.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
She looked at Clara.
Then Ethan.
Then the chapel floor.
“I did.”
Silence.
Ethan’s face went white.
“What?”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“I didn’t kill her.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I left her.”
Clara stepped forward.
“Where?”
Victoria pointed toward the chapel.
“Underneath.”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“What is underneath?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“The third room.”
Clara’s heart began pounding.
“Room Eight?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
She whispered:
“Room Zero.”
A gunshot cracked through the night.
Victoria collapsed.
And beneath the chapel floor, something began knocking from inside the earth.
END OF CHAPTER 10