Chapter 2: The Man Who Owned The Sterling Empire Before Richard
Richard Sterling did not kneel.
Not for politicians.
Not for investors.
Not for anyone.
I had seen him walk into boardrooms where people twice his age stood up the moment he entered.
I had seen executives lower their voices around him.
I had seen entire companies disappear because Richard decided they were inconvenient.
But now...
He was on his knees.
In front of an old man holding a silver cane.
The sight was impossible.
Like watching a skyscraper collapse in slow motion.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Even Marcus, the man who had walked into the room without fear, stood completely still.
The old man stepped out of the elevator.
His expensive black shoes touched the marble floor.
Every step echoed.
Not loudly.
But with authority.
He didn't need to raise his voice.
The entire room already belonged to him.
"Grandfather..."
Richard's voice cracked.
The word sounded strange coming from him.
Almost weak.
The old man looked down.
"I told you never to use that name unless you were prepared to face me."
Richard lowered his head.
"I thought you were dead."
A cold expression crossed the old man's face.
"You hoped I was dead."
The room became colder.
I stared at the man in confusion.
Grandfather?
Julian's grandfather?
The man who built the Sterling empire?
But everyone believed he disappeared years ago.
The newspapers had reported that Alexander Sterling, the original founder of Sterling Holdings, had died overseas after retiring.
I remembered seeing his portrait once in the Sterling mansion.
A powerful man.
A man with sharp eyes.
But the person standing in front of me was alive.
And he was looking directly at me.
"Clara."
My body tensed.
He knew my name.
He walked closer.
Marcus immediately moved slightly in front of me.
A protective gesture.
The old man noticed.
"Still protecting her?"
Marcus nodded.
"Always."
The old man gave a small approving look.
"Your father would have been proud."
Marcus froze.
"My father?"
I looked at Marcus.
The old man continued.
"Marcus didn't tell you everything."
I swallowed.
Apparently, nobody in this family ever told me anything.
Every person I trusted had been carrying a hidden story.
The old man reached the table.
His eyes fell on the infant car seat.
Then his expression changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
"You used my great-grandson's name before he was even born."
Richard immediately looked up.
"That is not possible."
Alexander Sterling turned toward him.
"You are still pretending?"
Richard stood slowly.
His confidence was returning.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but Clara is not entitled to anything."
Alexander looked at him.
"Entitled?"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
It wasn't amusement.
It was disappointment.
"That word sounds exactly like something your father would say."
Richard's face hardened.
"Do not bring my father into this."
"Why?"
Alexander stepped closer.
"Because he was the last person in this family who understood loyalty."
Richard clenched his fists.
"You abandoned us."
"No."
Alexander's voice became sharper.
"I left because I discovered what you were becoming."
Silence.
The words landed like a weapon.
I looked between them.
"What are you talking about?"
Nobody answered.
So I forced myself to stand.
Pain shot through my stomach.
Marcus immediately reached for me.
"Slowly."
I grabbed his arm.
"Tell me the truth."
My voice shook.
"I deserve that much."
Alexander looked at me.
And something in his eyes softened.
"You do."
He turned toward Richard.
"She deserves everything you tried to hide."
Richard's expression changed.
"Don't."
One word.
A warning.
But Alexander continued.
"Twenty-six years ago, Richard Sterling began a plan."
My heart tightened.
"A plan?"
Alexander nodded.
"To control the Sterling inheritance."
I looked down at my stomach.
At my unborn child.
"The heir..."
Alexander nodded.
"The Sterling family fortune has a condition."
Richard looked furious.
"Stop."
But Alexander ignored him.
"The legal heir cannot inherit everything unless the child is born from a marriage recognized by the original Sterling family trust."
I felt my stomach twist.
"So..."
I looked at Richard.
"He needed Julian to marry me?"
Alexander's silence answered.
The room blurred.
"No."
I shook my head.
"Julian loved me."
Nobody spoke.
That silence hurt more than any answer.
Because I already knew.
I just didn't want to believe it.
Alexander looked at me sadly.
"Julian was chosen for this plan long before he met you."
My lips trembled.
"No..."
Marcus looked away.
Even he couldn't deny it.
Memories began crashing through my mind.
The first time Julian approached me.
The way he seemed too perfect.
The way he always knew exactly what to say.
The expensive gifts.
The romantic gestures.
The proposal after only eight months.
I had thought I was lucky.
But maybe...
I had been selected.
Like a piece on a chessboard.
Richard walked toward me.
"You are misunderstanding everything."
I looked at him.
For the first time, I didn't feel fear.
I felt disgust.
"You dragged me across the floor."
His face tightened.
"You were never supposed to find out this way."
My eyes widened.
"That is your excuse?"
Richard didn't answer.
Alexander stepped between us.
"Enough."
Richard stared at him.
"You can't stop me."
Alexander smiled slightly.
"Richard."
He tapped his cane against the marble.
"Look around."
Richard looked around.
At Marcus.
At the documents.
At the elevator.
At me.
"You built your power by making everyone believe you controlled this family."
Alexander's voice became colder.
"But you forgot one thing."
He pointed toward the floor.
"This building."
Then toward the ceiling.
"This company."
Then toward Richard.
"Even your name..."
A pause.
"Originally belonged to me."
Richard's face turned pale.
"What did you do?"
Alexander reached inside his jacket.
He pulled out a small black folder.
"Before tonight, I transferred control of the Sterling family trust."
Richard froze.
"No."
"The ownership was never yours."
Richard grabbed the folder.
His hands shook as he opened it.
The confidence vanished.
"This..."
He looked up.
"This is fake."
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
Marcus spoke.
"It's verified."
Richard turned toward him.
"You knew?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Richard looked furious.
"You were working against me this entire time?"
Marcus looked at me.
"No."
Then back at Richard.
"I was working for the person you tried to destroy."
Richard followed his gaze.
Toward me.
A horrible realization appeared on his face.
"No..."
Alexander nodded.
"Clara."
My heartbeat stopped.
"The Sterling family trust now recognizes one person as the primary protector of the heir."
I stared at him.
"Who?"
Alexander looked at my unborn child.
Then at me.
"You."
The room disappeared.
"What?"
"You are not the woman who married into the Sterling family."
Alexander's eyes hardened.
"You are the woman chosen to expose it."
I couldn't speak.
Richard suddenly laughed.
A terrifying laugh.
Everyone turned.
"You think this changes anything?"
Alexander frowned.
Richard looked at me.
"Do you really think Julian is the only person who betrayed you?"
My blood ran cold.
"What does that mean?"
Richard smiled.
A smile full of revenge.
"Ask Marcus why he was really driving your limousine this morning."
Marcus's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Richard noticed.
"Tell her."
Marcus remained silent.
Richard stepped closer.
"Tell her who was sitting in the back of that limousine before Clara entered."
My breathing stopped.
Marcus looked at me.
And for the first time...
He looked guilty.
"Marcus?"
He closed his eyes.
"I was going to tell you."
My voice became a whisper.
"Tell me what?"
The former Marine looked toward the floor.
Then finally said:
"Clara..."
"The person who arranged your wedding..."
"Wasn't Julian."
A pause.
"It wasn't Richard either."
My fingers tightened.
"Then who?"
Marcus looked at Alexander.
Alexander's expression became serious.
Then Marcus answered.
"The person who wanted you inside the Sterling family..."
"Was your father."
I froze.
My father.
A man who died when I was ten years old.
A man I barely remembered.
A man who had supposedly never met the Sterlings.
The private elevator doors suddenly closed behind us.
And I realized something terrifying.
May you like
My entire life...
Had been built on a lie.
