My Twin System Activated

CHAPTER 7: Bloodlines and Bombshells

CHAPTER 7: Bloodlines and Bombshells

Rowan’s voice echoed through the hallway as he removed his coat.

“I'll have Dinner by 8, Clara. Make sure everything’s light. I’m not in the mood for anything heavy tonight.”

“Noted sir”. Clara, one of the maids noted on her notepad.

He turned the corner into the sitting room and stopped dead in his tracks.

Aurora was there, seated on the velvet couch like she owned it. Dressed in a slim black dress that clung to her like a second skin, her lips painted blood-red, one leg crossed over the other, dangerously high.

“Sofia’s asleep,” she said softly. “I brought her... thought you might want to see her.”

Rowan’s jaw clenched. “You’re not supposed to be here. You could’ve called. What do you want?”

Aurora stood, walking slowly toward him. “Baby, I wanted to apologize... in person.”

‘System Alert: Emotion Deception Detected. Intent: Manipulation.’

She placed a hand on his chest. “You’re different now Rowan. Confident. Powerful.That’s the man i fell in love with. The man i married”

“Stop it, Aurora.”

She didn’t. “I miss you. I miss... us.”

Rowan stepped back. “There never was an us, Aurora. Just a setup. And a lie. Your lie”

“But Rowan…”

He raised his voice, low but sharp. “Leave. Before I call security.”

She held his gaze for a beat too long,then her smile cracked.

“This isn’t over. I want you. And you know me, Once I want something, I always get it” she whispered.

She walked out, heels clicking like gunshots.

LATER THAT EVENING

Raven Stormont dragged her suitcase down the corridor, inspecting the walls like she was mentally calculating what needed to change.

“I see you took the east wing,” she said to Rowan.

“You're here.” he said, with a smile on his face, but it faded when Raven rolled her eyes at him instead. “ I figured it was more private,” he continued, sipping a glass of wine from the stair railing.

“Cute. I’ll take the west. I want the sun in the mornings.”

She turned to him, eyes sharp.

“You do realize this isnt Temporary. Right?”

“I was hoping it wouldn’t be. You're my sister”

‘System Alert: Twin Sync Opportunity Available.’

“Don’t hope,” she said coldly. “Hope makes you weak.”

She brushed past him toward her new room.

Rowan muttered to himself, “And hate makes you predictable.”

****

LATER THAT SAME NIGHT

Raven sat across from Mrs. Astrid Stormont, elegant, poised, and glowing with polished malice.

“You’ve finally activated your system, Congratulations” Astrid said. “But you’re falling behind.”

Raven frowned. “Behind? I’ve been completing every task thrown at me.”

“Your twin is outpacing you.”

Raven’s fists clenched. “I don’t care. I’ll surpass him.”

Astrid poured tea calmly. “His system is older... but stronger, Raven. It's Refined. He has access to neural-interfaces, adaptive response, and even subconscious manipulation.”

“And mine?”

She scrunched her face, belittling Raven’s System. “Surface-level cognition. Telemetry. Minor hacking. He could read your lies before you even form them. It's nothing compared to his darling”

Raven’s eyes narrowed. “Then give me something he doesn’t have. What do I need to do?”

Astrid smiled. “You’ll perform a Dual Sync Task together.”

“What kind of task?”

“A memory dive. You’ll both be dropped into a shared simulation to unlock your father’s last encrypted message.”

“Together?” Raven grimaced. “We’ll kill each other in there.”

“That’s the point,” Astrid said. “Survive each other... or fail. You see dear, I looked for you so that your brother wouldn't enjoy all your inheritance alone. I got you there, but you have to fight your way to the top. Rowan is an obstruction. You might not know that now, but with time, you figure that out”.

‘Raven’s System Task: Dual Sync with Subject RS-001

Status: Required. Result: Failed. Penalty: Sync Regression 3%’

While back at the mansion, the moment Raven’s sync dropped, Rowan staggered slightly.

System Desync Detected. Cause: Twin System Instability.

********

THE NEXT MORNING

Rowan sat in his office, reviewing incoming appointments.

His system pinged.

‘Visitor Detected: Peter Brown. Status: Awaiting in Lobby.’

Rowan’s eyes lit up.

Peter.

The only friend he’d trusted in university. The guy who lent him cab fare when he was broke. The one who laughed with him during endless nights of ramen and late-night exams.

“Send him in,” Rowan said quickly.

The door opened and in came Peter, smiling with a familiar warmth.

“Rowan,my man” he said, arms open. “Look at you.”

Rowan moved to hug him but froze.

ALERT: Betrayal History Detected.

Logs Show: Peter Brown – Sold Internal Data to Mr Cooper and Carson Donovan. Intent: Fatal Setup.

Memory Review Suggested.

Rowan staggered back.

Peter’s smile faltered. “Everything okay?”

Rowan’s eyes burned. “Why?”

Peter blinked. “Why... what?”

“You gave them everything. You sold me out.”

“What are you talking ab….”

‘System Playback Initiated.’

The system connected to the Tv and a video played.

Peter’s voice echoed through the air:

“Rowan won’t see it coming. He trusts me. I’ll get what you need. You just make sure he disappears afterward.”

Rowan’s voice was ice. “Get out.”

“Rowan, listen…”

“GUARDS!”

Two huge Security guys burst into the office .

“Escort him out of the building. If he resists, use force.”

Peter’s eyes flashed with rage. “What? Don't do this Rowan. You’re going to embarrass me’

“Get him out of here”. Rowan yelled

You’ll regret this.” Peter Snarled.

Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “I already do.”

As Peter was dragged out, he screamed over his shoulder,

“You think you’ve won? I’ll tear your little empire down brick by brick!”

********

Later that day, a woman walked into the executive wing, tall, caramel-skinned, silver-streaked hair twisted in a high braid, wearing a tailored navy blazer and boots that clicked with authority.

“Valeria Dane,” she said, handing Rowan her card. “I specialize in corporate infiltration defense and counter-cyber warfare. Heard you’ve got a lot of enemies.”

Rowan studied her in a flirty way. “You come highly recommended.”

“By Gabriel Grant,” she said, smirking. “He says you’re worth betting on. So I’m here to clean your digital skeletons... and set traps.”

Rowan nodded slowly. “Welcome aboard then.”

‘System Update: Valeria Dane Added to Trust Circle

Skill Acquired: Advanced Firewall Layering – Passive’

******

Later that night, Rowan sat by the fireplace, half-asleep with a book in hand, when the system flickered violently.

‘Emergency Sync Attempt Detected. Dual Memory Dive Simulation Failed.’

Raven stormed into the room, face pale, shaking.

“You almost killed me in there!” she shouted.

“You almost stabbed me in the gut!”

“That was part of the program!”

“You didn’t even try to connect. You just attacked.”

“Because I know how this ends, Rowan!” she snapped. “You win. I lose. I’ve always lost.”

Rowan stared at her, breath caught in his throat.

“What are you talking about? I don’t want to fight you,” he said quietly. “ You're my sister. But I will if I have to. I don't know you like that”

Raven’s voice was cold. “Then you’ll lose.”

She turned and left, but not before dropping a torn black velvet ribbon on the floor, the same kind their mother used to wear.

Rowan stared at it for a long time.

‘A third system has just been activated.”

Source: Unknown. User: UNKNOWN’