Chapter 12: The Brother Who Chose the Wrong Family
The call ended before I could ask another question.
I stared at the phone.
"Adrian knows Julian is my brother?""
James nodded slowly.
"That would explain why he kept Julian close all these years.""
Daniel paced across the study.
"He's been using his own business partner without telling him who he is.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Julian.
My brother.
The little boy my mother had spent years searching for.
The man who had stood beside Adrian while my husband dismantled everything she had built.
"Where is the Moreau headquarters?"" I asked.
James reached for his car keys.
"Paris.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We're not going in without a plan.""
I turned toward him.
"Vanessa is being held there. The archive could be destroyed. My brother is walking into a trap.""
"Which is exactly why we need help.""
I called Celeste.
She answered after several rings.
"Claire.""
Her voice was strained.
"Where are you?""
"At the headquarters.""
"Is Adrian there?""
A pause.
"Yes.""
"Does he have Vanessa?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then listen carefully. I know about the recording.""
Silence.
"I know you were involved in the attempted transfer. I know about the eighteen million euros. And I know you were there when my mother confronted Adrian.""
Celeste exhaled.
"I was afraid this day would come.""
"Why did you help him?""
Her voice broke.
"Because I made a terrible decision eleven years ago. I believed Adrian had evidence that could destroy Moreau International. He told me Eleanor had been stealing company funds and planned to sell the Bennett archive.""
"That was a lie.""
"I know that now.""
"Did you know about my mother's accident?""
"I knew Adrian had arranged a meeting with her that night. I didn't know he had tampered with her car until much later.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who did it?""
Celeste whispered:
"Robert Vale.""
My blood ran cold.
"Adrian's father?""
"Yes. Robert had discovered Eleanor's plans to expose the stolen designs. He wanted control of the archive and the trust.""
"Why did Adrian help him?""
"Because Robert promised him the company.""
I looked at James.
His expression was grim.
Celeste continued.
"Claire, you must understand something. Adrian wasn't simply trying to inherit your mother's business. He was trying to erase every record connecting his father to the thefts.""
"Then why keep Julian close?""
"Because Robert believed Julian was the rightful heir. Adrian was jealous of him long before either of them understood why.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is the archive?""
"Below the original Moreau headquarters. There is a private vault beneath the design studio.""
"Can you get us inside?""
Celeste was silent.
Then she said:
"Yes. But you must promise me one thing.""
"What?""
"Don't let Adrian open the final cabinet.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because it contains Eleanor's original ownership ledger. It identifies everyone involved in the conspiracy, including me.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stared at me.
"Can we trust her?""
"No.""
"Then why are we going?""
I picked up my mother's letter.
"Because even if she's lying, the truth is inside that vault.""
At 8:45 p.m., we arrived at Moreau International.
The building was illuminated from top to bottom.
A private fashion exhibition was taking place in the main gallery. Guests moved between glass displays containing original couture pieces.
Celeste met us near the service entrance.
She wore a black suit and carried a security badge.
"You're late," she whispered.
I looked at her.
"Where's Vanessa?""
"Lower level. Adrian has locked her inside the archive room.""
"And Julian?""
"Already inside.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why did he go alone?""
Celeste looked away.
"Because Adrian promised him answers about his biological parents.""
I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
"He's using him.""
"Yes.""
Celeste led us through a narrow corridor and down two flights of stairs.
At the bottom stood a steel door.
She placed her hand against the biometric scanner.
The lock clicked.
Inside was a vast underground archive.
Hundreds of original sketches lined the walls.
Mannequins stood beneath protective covers.
Glass cabinets contained jewelry, fabric samples, and handwritten design notes.
I recognized my mother's handwriting on several folders.
My eyes filled with tears.
She had spent her life creating this place.
And I had never known it existed.
Then I heard voices.
"Where is the key, Julian?""
Adrian.
We moved behind a display cabinet.
Julian stood beside a long table.
His hands were tied.
Adrian held the emerald necklace.
Vanessa sat in a chair nearby, her wrists secured with plastic restraints.
"Give me the second key," Adrian demanded.
Julian shook his head.
"I don't have it.""
Adrian slapped a document onto the table.
"Your biological father signed these papers. He gave you the right to the archive. All you have to do is cooperate.""
Julian laughed bitterly.
"My biological father?""
Adrian leaned closer.
"James Whitmore.""
Julian went still.
"You're lying.""
"Ask Claire.""
I stepped out from behind the cabinet.
"He's not lying about that.""
Julian turned.
Our eyes met.
For the first time, I saw my own face reflected in someone else's.
"Claire?""
I nodded.
"I'm your sister.""
He stared at me.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
Adrian laughed.
"Beautiful family reunion. Unfortunately, it changes nothing.""
He held up the necklace.
"Once I open the archive, every original design and ownership record will belong to my new company.""
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"You don't understand what you're holding.""
Adrian turned toward her.
"Be quiet.""
She lifted her chin.
"The key isn't in the necklace anymore.""
Adrian froze.
"What?""
Vanessa smiled through her tears.
"I gave it to Claire.""
He turned toward me.
I reached into my handbag and removed the tiny silver key.
For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely frightened.
But before I could move, the lights went out.
A metallic door slammed shut.
And a voice came through the security speakers.
"Thank you for bringing me the key, Claire.""
I recognized the voice immediately.
Robert Vale.
Adrian's father.
The man my mother had believed was dead.
And somewhere in the darkness, a machine began counting down.
*Ten minutes until archive destruction.*
Adrian whispered:
"No. Father, you promised me the company.""
Robert's voice answered coldly.
"I promised you nothing, son. You were always just the replacement.""
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Then the countdown dropped to nine minutes.
And I realized that the man who had spent eleven years pretending to love me might be just as disposable to his own father as everyone else in this room.
