LOGINThe courtroom emptied in controlled chaos.Lawyers gathered their files.Reporters rushed for the exits, phones already pressed to their ears.Every news outlet in the city had received the same alert.Explosion Reported at NovaGene's Original Research Laboratory.Arthur was the first to move."We're leaving. Now."Damien was already dialing his security chief."Status."A strained voice answered immediately."The fire department has arrived.""Casualties?""Unknown.""What about Vault Zero?""There was no explosion at headquarters."Damien stopped in the middle of the courthouse hallway."What?""The explosion happened at the original research campus outside the city."Arthur released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding."So this wasn't random."Damien nodded grimly."It was targeted."Evelyn stood quietly beside them.She had only just learned the truth about her parents.Now someone had attacked the place where that truth began.Lucas Sterling walked past them with his legal
Arthur's confession left the conference room in complete silence."They didn't die in an accident.""They died stopping the Sterling Group from taking the final research."Evelyn sat motionless.Her eyes remained fixed on Arthur, but she no longer seemed to be seeing him.Every version of her past she had accepted throughout her life had just collapsed.She had spent years believing fate had taken her parents.Instead...Someone had.Arthur slowly lowered himself into a chair."I wanted to tell you years ago."Damien looked at him."Why didn't you?"Arthur gave a tired smile."Because your father made me swear I wouldn't."He turned toward Evelyn."Daniel knew that if you remembered too early, you would spend your life chasing revenge.""He wanted you to have a chance to live first."Evelyn's voice was barely audible."And now?"Arthur nodded."Now they're chasing you anyway."Before anyone could continue, Frank's phone rang.He answered immediately."Frank Miller."His expression cha
The words remained on every screen.WELCOME HOME, RIVAL.No one in the NovaGene lobby spoke.Employees stared upward in disbelief.Reporters hurried to capture every second before the message disappeared.Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, every display returned to the NovaGene logo.The silence lasted only a moment before questions erupted from every direction."Who is Lucas Sterling?""What does rival mean?""Was NovaGene hacked?"Security officers immediately began guiding reporters toward the exits while NovaGene executives moved quickly to contain the growing chaos.Damien looked at the nearest technician."Disconnect every external display.""They're already offline, sir.""Then how did that broadcast happen?"The technician swallowed."It didn't come through the public network.""It came from inside."Arthur's expression hardened."Inside the building?""Yes."Frank looked around the crowded lobby."Someone is still here."Damien turned to security."Lock every entrance
The emergency alarm echoed through Vault Zero.Red warning lights reflected against the polished concrete walls as security officers spoke urgently into their radios.Evelyn stood motionless."They're claiming...""...that the real woman behind NovaGene...""...is not Evelyn Hart."Frank looked stunned."That's impossible."Arthur's expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened."Nothing about this is impossible.""It's calculated."Damien immediately turned toward the security officer."Who filed the injunction?"The officer glanced down at his tablet."Sterling International Legal Group.""There are six senior attorneys.""And..."He hesitated."They're representing another claimant."Evelyn frowned."Who?"The officer swallowed."Vanessa Hart."Silence swept across the underground vault.Frank was the first to speak."No.""She wouldn't."Arthur sighed quietly."I was afraid she would."Evelyn lowered her eyes.She wasn't angry.She was disappointed.After everything that had ha
The silver key rested quietly in Arthur's palm.No one reached for it.No one spoke.It looked ordinary, yet every secret they had uncovered seemed to point toward it.Arthur finally broke the silence."We're going downstairs."Damien nodded."To Vault Zero."Frank looked uncertain."I've worked here for nearly fifteen years.""I've never heard anyone mention a Vault Zero."Arthur smiled faintly."That was intentional.""It wasn't built for employees.""It wasn't even built for executives."He looked at Evelyn."It was built for one person."Evelyn swallowed."Me."Arthur nodded."You."Minutes later, a small group entered a private elevator at the rear of NovaGene Headquarters.Only Arthur, Damien, Evelyn, Frank, and two trusted security officers were allowed inside.Arthur placed his hand against a hidden scanner beside the elevator controls.A quiet beep followed.Instead of descending to the parking garage, the elevator continued lower.Much lower.Frank stared at the display."Th
No one spoke.The words lingered in the conference room longer than anyone expected.The second... was Damien Wolfe.Evelyn looked from Arthur to Damien."You knew?"Damien held her gaze for several seconds before answering."No."Arthur nodded in agreement."I never told him."Frank looked stunned."Why would the founders leave NovaGene to both of them?"Arthur slowly closed the file."Because that was always the plan."He walked toward the window overlooking the city."Your parents believed one person should never carry NovaGene alone.""They wanted balance.""Evelyn would inherit ownership.""Damien would inherit responsibility."Damien let out a quiet breath."My father never mentioned any of this.""He wasn't allowed to."Arthur looked back at him."Your father refused to sign the revised ownership agreement after the founders died.""So they erased his name."Evelyn lowered her eyes to the faded notebook on the table."They erased an entire family."Arthur nodded."They tried."







