Adrian stared at the photograph.His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.“No.”Richard said nothing.Adrian looked at the photograph again.The man standing beside Cassian in the old picture was unmistakable.Victor.His trusted protector.The man who had saved Lucas.The man who had spent years protecting the Nightingale family.The man who had stood beside Adrian through everything.Adrian slowly raised his head.“Victor is my brother?”Richard nodded.“He is the firstborn Nightingale son.”The room seemed to tilt.Emilia lowered her eyes.Adrian looked at her.“You knew.”“I suspected it,” she whispered. “I found the records, but I couldn't prove they were authentic.”Adrian turned back to Richard.“Then why did Victor never tell us?”“Because he doesn't remember.”Adrian froze.“What?”Richard opened another file.“Victor was eleven when the Sovereign decided he was too dangerous to remain the heir.”Adrian's expression hardened.“They erased his identity?”“Not complet

Adrian stared at Margaret.“Frozen?”Margaret nodded.“If Victor is legally recognized as the firstborn son, every transaction made under the false succession documents can be challenged.”Julian stepped forward.“Does that mean the companies could stop operating?”“Not necessarily,” Margaret said. “But the family trust can be placed under court supervision. Major transfers, acquisitions and withdrawals could be suspended.”Richard's expression darkened.“You can't do that.”Margaret looked at him calmly.“I can.”She tapped the briefcase.“The original agreement gives me that authority.”Richard turned toward Victor.“You don't understand what you're doing. Thousands of employees depend on these companies.”Victor stared at him.“And how many people did you destroy to keep control?”Richard said nothing.Adrian looked at Margaret.“How long would the process take?”“Once Victor's identity is verified, I can file an emergency petition immediately.”“And Alexander?”“He will fight it.”

Adrian read the final sentence again.The Sovereign was never created to protect the Nightingale family.It was created to protect Adrian.His fingers tightened around the letter.For several seconds, he simply stared at the words.Then Victor spoke.“What does it say?”Adrian slowly lowered the page.“It says the Sovereign was created to protect me.”Victor's expression changed.Richard looked genuinely stunned.“That can't be right.”Bennett said nothing.Adrian turned toward him.“You knew?”“I knew there was a second purpose behind the Sovereign.”“You knew it was about me?”Bennett hesitated.“Not entirely.”“That isn't an answer.”Bennett sighed.“I knew your grandfather created a separate protection structure around you. I didn't know how far it extended.”Adrian looked down at the letter.“Then why was I erased?”Bennett's face became grim.“Because protection failed.”Victor stepped closer.“What happened?”Bennett closed the briefcase.“Your grandfather understood that Adria

The clock on the wall showed 11:14 PM.Elena Nightingale stared across the small room at the man sitting opposite her.Twenty-six years had passed since she had last seen him.Yet she recognized him immediately.“You were supposed to be dead.”The man gave a tired smile.“So were Victor and Adrian.”Elena's face tightened.“Who are you working for?”“No one.”“That isn't an answer.”“It is tonight.”He leaned back in his chair.“My name is Daniel Cross.”Elena shook her head.“That name means nothing to me.”“It shouldn't.”He placed an old photograph on the table.Elena looked down.Her breath caught.It showed her, Cassian, Victor, and a newborn Adrian.The photograph had been taken before everything fell apart.Before Victor disappeared.Before Adrian was erased.Before Cassian vanished from her life.Elena touched the photograph.“Where did you get this?”“From the original Sovereign archives.”Her eyes lifted.“You're one of them.”“I was.”Elena's expression hardened.“What happ

Adrian stared at the phone.IT'S TIME MY SONS CAME HOME.The words remained on the screen for several seconds before disappearing.Nobody spoke.Victor was the first to break the silence.“That's impossible.”Richard was still staring at the phone.“No.”Adrian looked at him.“You said his name.”Richard swallowed.“Edmund Nightingale.”“Our grandfather.”“Yes.”“The man who died twenty-two years ago.”Richard nodded slowly.Adrian's expression hardened.“Then why did you look afraid?”Richard didn't answer.Adrian stepped toward him.“You knew.”“I suspected.”“You knew.”“I suspected he might still be alive.”Victor grabbed Richard by the shoulder.“When did you last see him?”Richard's face tightened.“Twenty-two years ago.”“That's not what I asked.”Richard looked at Victor.“The night before his supposed death.”Victor released him.“And you never questioned it?”“I did.”“Then why didn't you tell anyone?”Richard's voice dropped.“Because anyone who questioned Edmund's death di