Ethan arrived at the Cole estate shortly before midnight, but he did not drive straight through the gates. He stopped several hundred meters away and studied the mansion from inside his car. Market Mapping revealed eight security cameras, six motion sensors, and four active communication signals surrounding the property. Someone had restored the estate's security recently.Daniel's voice came through the encrypted earpiece. “I can disable the cameras for three minutes, but after that, their backup network will restart.”“Three minutes is enough.”Victoria spoke from the second channel. “You are not really going in alone, are you?”“I am going inside alone. You and Daniel stay outside and monitor everything.”“That sounds like a terrible plan.”“It probably is.”Ethan ended the call before either of them could argue further.He stepped from the car, adjusted his jacket, and walked toward the gates. The moment he approached, the heavy iron doors opened by themselves.No guard appeared.

The screen went dark, but Ethan remained motionless. The last words Adrian had spoken seemed to hang inside the chamber.The man who ordered your memory erased.For twenty-four years, Ethan had believed his past had been stolen by circumstance. Now he understood that someone had deliberately taken it from him.“Who is he?” Ethan asked.Adrian did not answer immediately.“Elena.”She stepped forward. “His name is Julian Cross.”Ethan frowned. “Why does that name sound familiar?”“Because you met him when you were young,” Adrian said.Another memory fragment surfaced. A tall man standing in the Cole house, placing a hand on Ethan’s shoulder while Richard watched from across the room.Ethan stepped backward.“He was there.”“Yes.”“Then why didn't I remember him?”“Because Julian personally supervised the procedure that removed those memories.”Ethan looked at Elena. “And you allowed it?”Her expression tightened.“I chose between your memories and your life.”“I deserved the truth.”“Yo

Chapter 15: The Boy in the ChamberEthan left the estate before dawn with Adrian, Elena, Daniel, and Victoria. The city was beginning to wake, but the four people inside the vehicle were already preparing for a battle that could change everything.Daniel drove while Ethan studied the information appearing through Market Mapping. Cole International looked normal from the outside. Its financial records were active, employees were arriving, and security systems showed no unusual activity. Beneath the company, however, another structure existed.“Marcus entered through the executive parking level,” Daniel said. “He bypassed three security layers using Richard’s authorization.”“Where is Richard?” Ethan asked.“Still inside the headquarters.”Adrian leaned forward.“Then we have a problem.”Ethan looked at him.“Because Richard knows about the facility?”“Because Richard has never been authorized to enter it.”The vehicle became quiet.Ethan studied his father.“Then how did he get access?

The countdown began beneath the laboratory.Ten.Nine.Eight.Ethan stared at the numbers while Alex remained beside him. The system warned that synchronization had already reached four percent.“Daniel, what is that machine?” Ethan asked.“I’m trying to access its controls.”“Try faster.”“I am.”Seven.Six.Adrian studied the chamber. “That machine was never part of the original laboratory.”Samuel smiled from across the room.“Because it wasn't built by us.”Ethan turned toward him.“Who built it?”Samuel's expression changed.“The people who financed Project Echo.”Julian appeared on the balcony above them.“They are called the Meridian Council.”The name meant nothing to Ethan, but Adrian reacted immediately.“They were supposed to be gone.”“They were never gone,” Julian replied. “They simply stopped showing themselves.”Five.Four.The laboratory doors began locking one after another.Elena rushed to the central console.“The facility is entering containment mode.”“Can you sto

The chamber became completely silent after Ava spoke.You are not the first Ethan Cole.Ethan stared at her, waiting for the system to contradict her. Nothing happened.He could barely breathe. Silence returned.“What does that mean?” he asked.Ava stepped out of the chamber. “It means the name Ethan Cole belonged to someone before you.”Adrian immediately moved toward her. “Ava, stop.”She looked at him. “You cannot keep lying to him.”“I am trying to protect him.”“You said that twenty-four years ago.”Ethan turned toward his father. “Twenty-four years ago?”Adrian's expression changed.Ava continued. “The first Ethan was born before the system existed. He was the original genetic template used for Project Echo.”Ethan looked confused. “Then who was he?”Ava pointed toward the central console.“The man Julian calls the Original Architect.”Ethan's eyes widened.“Julian?”“No,” Ava said. “Someone older.”[Historical identity conflict detected.][Restricted record available.][Warning