Chapter 4 - The Arrival of the Patriarch
The heavy security shutters at the front door slowly slid upward, revealing the dark, rainy night outside. Standing under a massive black umbrella held by two large, professional security guards was Marcus Sterling—David’s father, a legendary real estate tycoon whose influence controlled half the state’s commercial sector.
Marcus stepped into the lobby, his heavy leather boots clicking loudly on the marble floor. His face was a mask of pure, unadulterated fury. He didn't even look at Sarah or Julian; his eyes went straight to his son.
"Are you alright, David?" Marcus asked, his deep voice booming through the room.
"I’m fine, Father. The rats have been caught in the trap," David replied, his voice steady.
Marcus finally turned his gaze to Sarah, who looked as though she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. "Sarah. When my son married you, you were a penniless assistant at one of my firm's regional offices. I gave you a name. I gave you status. I even allowed you to manage a branch of my development company because David believed in your potential. And this is how you repay his love?"
"Mr. Sterling, please," Sarah begged, dropping to her knees on the rug. "David hasn't been a husband to me! He's depressed, he’s distant—"
"He is paralyzed because he threw his body over yours during that car accident!" Marcus roared, his voice shaking the crystal chandelier above. "He took the full impact of that truck so you wouldn't get a single scratch! And you have the audacity to complain about his physical limitations?!"
Julian tried to slip past the security guards toward the open door, but the two massive men instantly stepped in front of him, their hands resting firmly on their tactical belts.
"Mr. Julian Vance," Marcus said, pulling a pristine legal document from his inner coat pocket. "You are the lead architect for the new twenty-million-dollar downtown civic center project funded by my conglomerate. Or rather, you were."
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Julian’s face turned completely white. "Mr. Sterling, my professional work has nothing to do with my personal life! You can't cancel that contract without a massive penalty!"
"Read the morality clause on page forty-two of your contract, Julian," Marcus sneered, tossing the document onto the floor in front of him. "Any executive or contractor engaged in scandalous, illegal, or immoral behavior that damages the brand reputation of Sterling Holdings is subject to immediate termination without compensation. You are officially ruined in this city."
