banana

Chapter 5 - The Brother Who Wanted The Crown

Caleb was kept inside Mercer Estate.

Not imprisoned.

Not yet.

Adrian wanted answers first.

They met alone in the library.

The same room where they had played as children.

The irony wasn't lost on either of them.

Caleb stood near the window.

“You always were better at making people afraid.”

Adrian sat across from him.

“And you always confused fear with respect.”

Caleb looked back.

“I was tired of standing behind you.”

“You were my brother.”

“I was your shadow.”

Adrian stared.

“You wanted my chair.”

Caleb smiled bitterly.

“I wanted people to see me.”

A long silence followed.

Then Adrian asked:

“Was the attack your idea?”

Caleb looked down.

For the first time, guilt appeared.

“No.”

Adrian noticed.

“Who?”

Caleb didn't answer.

“Caleb.”

His brother closed his eyes.

“Daniel.”

Adrian expected the answer.

But hearing it still hurt.

“Why?”

“Because he believed you were destroying the organization.”

Adrian laughed.

“By protecting people?”

Caleb looked at him.

“You changed.”

Adrian became still.

“What?”

“You used to be ruthless.”

“Yes.”

“You stopped.”

Adrian looked away.

“Because I learned something.”

“What?”

“That an empire built on fear eventually eats itself.”

Caleb looked at him.

“And now?”

Adrian stood.

“Now I rebuild.”

At that moment, Hannah entered.

“Mr. Mercer.”

Adrian turned.

“What happened?”

She handed him a document.

“We found Daniel's final message.”

Adrian opened it.

Only one sentence was written.

You never knew who the real enemy was.

Below it was an address.

Adrian looked up.

May you like

“This isn't finished.”

---

Other posts