The Billionaire

The Third Brother

Episode 19: The Third Brother

Smoke filled the warehouse.

Daniel opened his eyes slowly.

For several seconds, he could not remember where he was.

His ears were ringing.

His body ached.

Pieces of broken metal and glass covered the floor around him.

Then he remembered.

The countdown.

The explosion.

"Adrian!"

Daniel pushed himself up.

"Adrian!"

A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"I'm here."

Daniel turned.

Adrian was standing behind him, covered in dust and blood.

"Are you okay?"

Adrian nodded.

"I think so."

Daniel looked around.

The warehouse was burning.

Flames climbed the walls.

"We have to get out."

They ran toward the main doors, but the explosion had damaged them.

Adrian kicked the metal door.

Nothing happened.

Again.

Still nothing.

Daniel searched the walls.

"There has to be another exit."

Smoke was becoming thicker.

Adrian coughed.

"Daniel!"

Daniel noticed a small red emergency light near the floor.

He followed it toward a narrow passage.

"There!"

They rushed through the opening.

The passage led underground.

Behind them, part of the warehouse collapsed.

Daniel and Adrian ran until they reached a metal staircase.

They climbed.

At the top was another door.

Daniel pushed it open.

Fresh air hit his face.

They had escaped.

For several minutes, neither man spoke.

They stood in the rain, watching the warehouse burn behind them.

Adrian finally said:

"Someone wanted us dead."

Daniel nodded.

"But why?"

Adrian looked at him.

"Because of the ledger."

Daniel pulled the memory card from his pocket.

"The ledger is only part of it."

Adrian frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"My father left something inside my watch."

Daniel showed him the card.

Adrian stared at it.

"Do you know what's on it?"

"No."

"Then we need to find out."

---

They drove to an apartment Victor had arranged for them.

It was small and hidden in an old building far from the city center.

Daniel locked the door behind them.

Adrian sat on the sofa while Daniel connected the memory card to a laptop.

The computer screen remained black.

"Maybe it's damaged," Adrian said.

Daniel shook his head.

"No. It has encryption."

A password screen appeared.

Daniel tried his father's name.

Wrong.

His mother's name.

Wrong.

His birthday.

Wrong.

Adrian tried his own birthday.

Wrong.

Daniel stared at the screen.

"What would Father use?"

Adrian thought for a moment.

Then he said:

"Try Sophia."

Daniel entered the name.

The screen unlocked.

A folder appeared.

There was only one file.

THE TRUTH.

Daniel clicked it.

A video began.

Their father appeared on the screen.

He looked older than Daniel remembered.

Tired.

Serious.

"If you're watching this, then you have discovered the ledger."

Daniel and Adrian exchanged looks.

Their father continued.

"The ledger contains information that could destroy some of the most powerful people in the world."

The screen changed.

Documents appeared.

Names.

Bank accounts.

Companies.

Secret transactions.

Daniel's eyes widened.

"This is enormous."

Adrian leaned closer.

Their father continued.

"But the ledger isn't the most dangerous thing I left behind."

Daniel froze.

"The most dangerous thing is the truth about my sons."

The video paused.

Then their father spoke again.

"I have three sons."

Daniel's heart stopped.

Adrian stared at the screen.

"The first is Adrian."

A photograph appeared.

"The second is Daniel."

Another photograph appeared.

Then the screen went black.

A third photograph appeared.

Daniel stared at it.

It showed a young boy.

Perhaps twelve years old.

His face looked strangely familiar.

Their father continued.

"The third is Michael."

Adrian stood.

"Michael?"

Daniel stared at the boy.

"Who is he?"

Their father's voice answered.

"Michael is the son I was forced to hide."

Daniel's breathing became heavy.

"Why?"

The video continued.

"Because the people hunting me discovered his existence."

Their father explained that Michael had been born years after Adrian but before Daniel.

He had been raised under another identity.

His existence had been hidden from both families.

"Michael was given a new name," their father said.

"He grew up believing he was an orphan."

Daniel's eyes filled with disbelief.

"Where is he now?"

The screen changed.

A map appeared.

Then an address.

Daniel copied it immediately.

The video continued.

"Michael knows nothing about the ledger."

Their father paused.

"But he knows something even more important."

Adrian leaned toward the screen.

"What?"

Their father looked directly into the camera.

"Michael knows who killed me."

The video ended.

Silence filled the apartment.

Daniel closed the laptop.

"We have to find him."

Adrian nodded.

"But Marcus will be looking for him too."

Daniel stood.

"Then we get there first."

---

Three hours later, Daniel and Adrian arrived at the address.

It was a small house on the outskirts of the city.

There were no expensive cars.

No security guards.

No signs of wealth.

Daniel knocked.

Nobody answered.

He knocked again.

Still nothing.

Adrian looked through the window.

"The place is empty."

Daniel tried the door.

It opened.

They entered.

The house was modest.

A small kitchen.

A sofa.

A few photographs.

Daniel walked toward the photographs.

One showed the same boy from their father's video.

Older now.

Standing beside a woman.

Daniel picked it up.

On the back was a name.

Michael Carter.

Adrian searched the room.

"He's been here recently."

Daniel noticed a laptop on the table.

It was still warm.

Someone had left only minutes earlier.

Suddenly, a sound came from upstairs.

Footsteps.

Daniel and Adrian looked at each other.

They moved toward the staircase.

"Michael?" Daniel called.

No answer.

They climbed slowly.

At the top, they found a bedroom.

The window was open.

Someone had escaped through it.

Daniel looked outside.

A black car disappeared down the road.

"He's getting away."

Adrian ran downstairs.

They rushed outside.

Their vehicle was parked nearby.

Daniel started the engine.

The chase began.

The black car sped through the narrow streets.

Daniel followed.

Adrian held onto the dashboard.

"He's fast."

"I know."

The black car turned sharply.

Daniel followed.

After several minutes, they reached a busy road.

The black car disappeared among the traffic.

Daniel slammed his hands against the steering wheel.

"Damn!"

Adrian looked at him.

"We'll find him."

Daniel shook his head.

"Maybe."

Then his phone rang.

Unknown number.

Daniel answered.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Then a young man's voice spoke.

"You were looking for me."

Daniel froze.

"Michael?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"Somewhere you can't find."

Daniel looked at Adrian.

"We need to talk."

Michael laughed softly.

"You don't understand."

"Understand what?"

"You shouldn't trust Adrian."

Adrian's expression hardened.

Daniel asked:

"Why?"

Michael's voice became serious.

"Because he isn't the only person who was lied to."

The call ended.

Daniel immediately called back.

The number was unavailable.

Adrian looked angry.

"What did he say?"

Daniel hesitated.

"He said I shouldn't trust you."

Adrian laughed bitterly.

"Of course."

"Why would he say that?"

"I don't know."

Daniel looked at him carefully.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He checked the screen.

His expression changed.

"Who is it?" Daniel asked.

Adrian didn't answer.

He rejected the call.

A message appeared.

Adrian quickly deleted it.

Daniel noticed.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Adrian."

"I said it was nothing."

For the first time, Daniel felt suspicious.

He remembered Michael's warning.

You shouldn't trust Adrian.

But Adrian was his brother.

He had fought beside him.

He had saved his life.

Could Michael be manipulating them?

Or was there something Adrian wasn't telling him?

---

Later that night, Adrian went to sleep in the apartment.

Daniel remained awake.

He couldn't stop thinking about the phone call.

At 2:17 a.m., Daniel heard movement.

He quietly left his room.

Adrian wasn't in the living room.

Daniel checked the kitchen.

Empty.

Then he heard a voice from the balcony.

He approached silently.

Adrian was standing outside.

He was speaking on the phone.

"I told you I wouldn't do it."

Daniel froze.

Adrian continued.

"He's my brother."

A pause.

"No."

Another pause.

"You promised me my mother would be safe."

Daniel's eyes widened.

Adrian's voice became angry.

"If you touch her, I'll destroy everything."

Daniel stepped forward.

Adrian turned.

Their eyes met.

The phone slipped from Adrian's hand.

Daniel stared at him.

"Who were you talking to?"

Adrian said nothing.

"Adrian, who?"

Suddenly, a voice came from the phone lying on the ground.

"Hello, Daniel."

Daniel picked it up.

His blood ran cold.

He recognized the voice.

Marcus.

"Your brother has been keeping secrets from you."

Daniel looked at Adrian.

Marcus continued.

"And tomorrow, you'll discover why."

The call ended.

Daniel slowly lowered the phone.

Adrian stared at him.

"I can explain."

Daniel shook his head.

"Then explain."

Adrian took a breath.

Before he could speak, Daniel's phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

It contained a photograph.

Daniel opened it.

It showed Michael.

Standing beside Marcus.

Daniel's face went pale.

Underneath the photograph were six words:

THE THIRD BROTHER IS WORKING WITH US.