Chapter 9: The Broken Bond
The room dissolved into chaos as board members demanded answers. Security guards entered, but instead of escorting Julian out, they surrounded Arthur upon Marcus's orders.
Julian wheeled himself closer to his younger brother. The anger that had fueled Julian for the past twelve hours began to yield to a deep, agonizing sorrow.
"Why, Arthur?" Julian asked quietly, ignoring the commotion around them. "I gave you everything. I brought you into the business, I protected you when our parents passed away. All you had to do was ask."
Arthur looked at Julian, his eyes filled with a bitter mix of resentment and tears. "You gave me your scraps, Julian! I was always 'Julian’s little brother.' No matter what I did, I lived in your shadow. Apex offered me a chance to build something of my own!"
"By poisoning me?" Julian asked, his voice breaking. "By keeping me trapped in a chair?"
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"I didn't want you dead!" Arthur cried out, breaking down. "They wanted to crash your car into the ocean! I bargained with them! I saved your life, Julian!"
"You didn't save my life, Arthur," Julian said softly. "You just built a smaller prison for me."
