Chapter 1 - The Wrath of a Father
My father did not yell or cause a scene in the sterile hospital hallway.
Men with real power never need to raise their voices to destroy someone.
William Sterling simply looked down at the glowing phone on the floor, then at the pathetic excuse of a man standing before me.
"Claire," my father said, his voice as cold as the winter wind rattling the heavy glass windows.
"Is this man the reason my grandson died without his father?"
I could only nod, the hot tears finally breaking through my frozen layer of shock.
Garrett scrambled to pick up his phone, his hands shaking so violently that he dropped it a second time.
"William, sir, please let me explain," Garrett stammered, his polished executive facade crumbling into pure, unadulterated terror.
"It is a massive misunderstanding."
My father stepped forward, closing the distance until he was inches from Garrett’s pale face.
"You are fired from Sterling Global effective immediately," my father whispered, the words cutting through the air like a surgical blade.
"Your company bank accounts will be completely frozen by morning, and your name will be erased from every property my family owns."
Garrett’s face turned the sickly color of ash.
"You can't do that," he choked out, looking desperately at me for a mercy he did not deserve.
"Claire, you know how much I love little Ethan."
I felt a sickening surge of pure rage burn away the last lingering shadows of my grief.
"Do not ever say his name again," I hissed, stepping toward the man I once thought I knew.
"You were sweating in a hotel bed with another woman while Ethan was crying out for you with his last breath."
Garrett backed away toward the elevator, finally realizing that neither of us would ever forgive him.
But as the metal doors opened behind him, a twisted, malicious smile crept onto his panicked face.
"Fine," Garrett said, his voice dropping its desperate, pleading tone.
"Take the money, take the fancy job, but you cannot take everything from me."
My father narrowed his dark eyes.
"You have absolutely nothing left to take, you worthless parasite."
Garrett stepped into the elevator and pressed the lobby button with a confident sneer.
May you like
"I am still legally his father," Garrett said, looking directly into my horrified eyes.
"Which means I have full legal authority over where my son is buried, and I will burn his body to ash before I let you have him."
