Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

Orlan stood in the doorway.For several seconds, nobody moved.The corridor lights cast half his face in shadow, but Seraphina recognized him immediately. She had seen that composed expression in boardrooms, executive meetings, and financial reviews.Tonight, something about him was different.He wasn't surprised to see them.He looked almost disappointed.Caelric stepped forward.“You followed us.”Orlan's gaze shifted toward the computer.“I knew you would eventually find this office.”“That isn't an answer.”“No,” Orlan said. “It isn't.”Seraphina held the photograph tightly.“Do you know Elias Veyron?”Orlan's expression changed.Only slightly.But it was enough.Caelric noticed too.“You do.”Orlan entered the office and closed the door behind him.“I knew him.”“Past tense?” Caelric asked.Orlan remained silent.Seraphina stepped closer.“My father's recording said Elias tried to take control of the succession system.”Orlan looked at her.“Your father shouldn't have left that r

Seraphina stared at the computer screen.ASK YOUR MOTHER WHAT SHE DID AT 11:47.The words remained there for several seconds before disappearing.The screen returned to black.Nobody spoke.The older Darian stood near the desk, his expression unusually solemn. Orlan remained beside the door, watching Caelric rather than Seraphina.Seraphina folded her father's letter carefully.Then she picked up her phone.Her mother's name was still on the screen.She called.Once.Twice.No answer.She called again.This time, her mother answered.“Seraphina?”“What did you do at 11:47?”Silence.Seraphina closed her eyes.“I asked you a question.”Her mother's breathing became uneven.“Where are you?”“Your answer first.”Another silence.Then her mother whispered,“I left.”“Left where?”“The foundation.”“When?”“At 11:47.”Caelric exchanged a glance with Seraphina.“Why?”“I was told to.”“By whom?”Her mother hesitated.“Your father.”Seraphina frowned.“My father told you to leave?”“Yes.”“W

The moment Orlan said someone was already at the foundation, Caelric's expression changed.“Then we don't go through the main entrance.”Orlan shook his head.“There won't be anyone at the main entrance.”“Then where?”“Everywhere else.”Seraphina looked at him.“You knew this could happen.”“I suspected it.”“And you didn't tell us?”“I didn't have enough proof.”Caelric picked up the envelope containing the access records.“You have a habit of waiting until the worst possible moment to become honest.”Orlan ignored the remark.“The person watching the foundation doesn't want you dead.”Seraphina frowned.“That is supposed to make me feel better?”“No.”Orlan looked directly at her.“They want you alive.”“Why?”“Because you're the only person who can activate Room D.”Seraphina glanced at the silver key.“What about Caelric?”“He can open the first authorization layer.”“And I open the second.”“Yes.”Caelric looked toward the locked office door.“Then whoever is inside wants both o

The countdown continued.09:31.09:30.Seraphina stared at the screen, refusing to let the numbers dictate her thoughts.DO YOU BOTH DECLARE THE SUCCESSION COMPROMISED?YES.NO.Neither option felt safe.Caelric stood beside her, his attention fixed on the system. “If we choose yes, the succession enters transition.”“And the third authority takes control,” Seraphina said.Marielle nodded grimly. “That is what the warning means.”Seraphina turned toward her. “And if we choose no?”“The current structure remains active.”“That sounds safer.”“It isn't.”Marielle's answer came without hesitation.“The system has already identified the third authority. If you choose no, you are accepting a compromised structure while knowing someone has altered the succession records.”Seraphina looked back at the screen.08:54.She understood the trap now.The system wasn't asking them to choose between safety and danger.It was asking them to choose which danger they were willing to face.Caelric leane

No one spoke.Theron's accusation remained suspended in the room.The person standing in this room who has lied to you the longest.Seraphina looked from one face to another.Marielle.Older Darian.Orlan.Caelric.Theron.Her mother was not there.Neither was Lucien.Her thoughts raced through everything she had learned during the past weeks.The hidden files.The photographs.The succession agreement.The missing report.The night at 11:47.Her mother's disappearance.Her father's disappearance.The protector clause.Someone had been lying to her for years.But who?Caelric moved slightly closer.“Theron,” he said, “if you're accusing someone, name them.”Theron didn't answer.Instead, he looked at Seraphina.“This is your decision.”“My decision?”“You need to decide who you trust before I tell you.”Seraphina frowned.“You brought us here to give us answers.”“I brought you here because answers without trust will destroy you.”Caelric's voice became colder.“She deserves the truth