Chapter 4 - The Checkmate
The color instantly drained from Sienna’s face.
Nathan physically recoiled against his hospital bed, his brain desperately trying and failing to process the reality of what was happening.
"Emily?" Nathan choked out, his voice cracking. "What... what does she mean, controlling trust? You don't have anything to do with the Sterling money. You're a high school teacher!"
"I teach because I love it, Nathan," I whispered, stepping closer to his bed so he could see the absolute destruction in my eyes. "I own the Sterling trust because I inherited it. My father built the capital that funds your entire industry. And as of this exact second, I am officially revoking your grant."
"No!" Sienna shrieked, her hands flying to her mouth. "My father will kill me! That money was supposed to secure my board seat!"
"Naomi," I said, my voice cutting through Sienna’s panic like a scalpel. "Liquidate Nathan Carter’s firm. Terminate his operating licenses. And inform the hospital administration that his private VIP suite is no longer covered by our endowment. He can be moved to a standard ward."
"Done," Naomi said. The line clicked dead.
Nathan looked like a man who had just watched the sky collapse. He reached out with his uninjured hand, openly sobbing, grasping at the wool of my coat.
"Emily, please!" he begged, the arrogant CEO completely dissolving into a pathetic, terrified child. "I'm sorry! It was a mistake! I love you! I love our daughter!"
"Don't you ever speak about my daughter again," I decreed.
I brushed his hand off my coat like a piece of lint.
I turned my back on the man who had thought I was nothing more than a quiet, gullible wife. Julian opened the heavy hospital door, offering me his hand.
I took it. His grip was warm, solid, and completely unshakeable.
May you like
"Julian," I said softly, not looking back at the ruined, sobbing man in the hospital bed. "I think I'd like to go home now."
"Of course," Julian murmured, shooting one final, lethal glance at Nathan. "Let's go take care of our girl."
