Chapter 7

The revelation hit the room like a physical blow.

“My father left the company to Rebecca?” Nathan repeated, stunned.

Arthur walked over to the engagement table, completely ignoring the security guards slowly closing in on him. He set the silver key down next to the ruined wedding dress.

“Your father was a fool,” Arthur spat, his calm demeanor finally cracking. “He built a multi-billion dollar empire, and when his heart started failing, he decided you were too impulsive to run it. So, he put seventy percent of the voting shares in a trust. Controlled entirely by your sweet, innocent wife.”

I looked at the silver key. It was the key to the main Sterling corporate vault.

“Rebecca never told me,” Nathan said.

“Of course she didn’t,” Arthur sneered. “She knew it would break your pride. She played the perfect housewife while secretly holding the leash to the entire board of directors.”

Arthur pointed at Marcus on the floor.

“When she got sick, I knew the shares would pass to Sophie. A ten-year-old child! The board would replace us all with corporate vultures. So I found Marcus. A desperate, broke gambler who happened to be her biological father. I paid him to challenge the will.”

“And the poisoning?” I asked, my voice trembling with disgust.

Arthur didn’t even look at me. “She was dying anyway. The tumor was inoperable. We just… sped up the timeline before she could finalize the transfer of the shares to Sophie’s name.”

Sophie let out a small, broken sob.

Nathan walked slowly toward his uncle. There was no rage left in him. Only a chilling, absolute coldness.

“You murdered my wife for a seat at a boardroom table,” Nathan said softly.

“I protected the family legacy!” Arthur shouted, backing away.

“You destroyed this family,” Nathan replied.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder by the second. The police had arrived.

Arthur looked at the flashing red and blue lights reflecting through the ballroom windows. He knew it was over.

He looked at Delaney. “Run.”

Before the guards could react, Arthur grabbed a heavy crystal decanter from the table and smashed it across the nearest guard’s face.

The ballroom erupted into screaming again.

Delaney didn’t run for the door. She knew she couldn’t outrun the police.

Instead, she lunged at Sophie.

She grabbed the ten-year-old girl by the hair, dragging her backward and pressing the jagged edge of the broken silver sewing scissors against Sophie’s throat.

“Nobody move!” Delaney shrieked, her eyes wild and panicked. “Nathan, tell them to back off, or I’ll cut her!”

“Delaney, stop!” I screamed, stepping forward, but Nathan held his arm out, blocking me.

Nathan raised his hands slowly. “Let her go, Delaney. You hurt her, and you will not leave this room alive.”

“I’m already dead!” Delaney cried, dragging a crying Sophie toward the side exit that led to the kitchens. “I’m an accessory to murder! I need a car, Nathan. Keys. Now!”

Marcus, still on the floor, started laughing again.

I didn’t look at Marcus. I didn’t look at Nathan.

I looked at the heavy, ivory wedding dress resting on the table.

When Delaney dragged Sophie past the table, I didn’t hesitate.

I grabbed the six-foot train of the thick silk and lace gown.

With all my strength, I whipped the heavy fabric directly across Delaney’s face.

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