For several seconds, Adrian could only stare at Isabella.The name hung in the air. Lucian. It meant nothing to him and yet the reaction on Isabella's face told him it meant everything.Victor was the first to speak."Who is Lucian?" Isabella didn't answer."Isabella."Still nothing. Victor stepped closer."You said he started the Nightingale war."Her eyes remained fixed on Adrian's phone."And you said Alexander killed him."Isabella slowly looked up."Your father believed he did." Adrian's brows furrowed."Believed?"Isabella nodded."He saw the building explode.""Then how could Lucian survive?""He wasn't inside."Adrian's expression hardened. "Then where was he?"Isabella's eyes darkened. "Standing across the street."A chill went down Adrian's spine. "He watched your father walk into the building."She paused. "And he watched him walk out."Adrian's breathing slowed. "My father survived?"Isabella nodded. "Yes."Victor stared at her. "Then why did everyone believe he died?" "

"ADRIAN!" Emilia's scream tore through the mansion. Adrian sprinted up the stairs. His shoulder burned where Victor's bullet had passed through it, but he barely noticed. All he could think about was Emilia. He reached the upper floor and stopped. The corridor was empty. No Emilia, No Victor, No guards, Nothing. "Emilia!" His voice echoed through the hallway. No response.Adrian's breathing became heavier. He pulled out his phone. No signal. Of course. He looked around. The mansion was completely different from when they had entered. The lights had been turned off. Only a few dim emergency lamps illuminated the corridor. Then he noticed something on the floor. Blood. Adrian crouched. He touched it. Still warm. His expression hardened. "Victor!" A faint sound came from the room at the end of the hallway. A groan. Adrian immediately rushed toward it. He kicked the door open. Victor was lying against the wall. His gun was several feet away. Blood covered his f

"The Nightingale family you've been fighting to understand..." Daniel's eyes remained fixed on Adrian. "...isn't your family at all." Nobody spoke. Even the hum of the machines in the underground chamber seemed to disappear. Adrian stared at Daniel. Then he laughed. It wasn't a happy laugh. It was the kind of laugh that came when someone's mind simply refused to accept what it had just heard. "That's your big truth?" Daniel didn't respond. Adrian shook his head. "You expect me to believe that?" "I expect you to question everything." "Everything?" Adrian pointed toward Alexander. "My father is standing right there." Then he pointed toward his mother. "That's my mother." His eyes moved to Daniel. "And you're supposedly my brother." He gave a bitter smile. "Yet you're telling me none of this is my family." Daniel's expression remained serious. "Not in the way you think." Adrian stepped closer. "Then explain it." "I will." "Now." Da

Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. The image on the screen remained frozen for a moment. Then Augustus stepped fully into view. Older. Thinner. His hair had turned completely white. But his eyes were the same. Cold and Calculating. The same eyes Adrian remembered from the years he spent under his grandfather's roof. The same man everyone had mourned. The same man whose funeral had been held twenty-two years ago. Yet there he stood. Alive. Holding a gun against Emilia's head. Adrian's hands slowly curled into fists. "Let her go." Augustus smiled. "Still the same." Adrian's eyes narrowed. "What?" "You walk into a room filled with enemies, discover your entire life is a lie, and the first thing you worry about is someone else." His smile faded. "That's your weakness." Adrian stepped forward. "And yours is that you keep talking." Augustus chuckled. "Good." He looked toward the others. "Very good." Alexander stepped forward. "Augustus." The smile

For several seconds, Adrian couldn't move. His eyes moved from the stranger to Victor.Then back to the stranger. Both men stood silently. Both carried the same name. But only one of them looked afraid.Victor."He's lying," Victor said. His voice was low.The stranger smiled. "Of course."Victor raised his gun. "Don't listen to him."Adrian didn't look at Victor. "Put the gun down."Victor froze."Adrian—""I said put it down."Victor slowly lowered the weapon.The stranger chuckled."You still trust him."Adrian finally looked at him."I don't trust anyone right now.""Good."The stranger took another step forward."That's the first sensible thing you've said tonight."Daniel stepped in front of Adrian."Stay back."The stranger glanced at him."You must be Daniel."Daniel's eyes narrowed."How do you know me?""I know everyone."He looked around the room."That's what happens when you've spent twenty years watching people from the shadows."Lucian's expression darkened."You've be