Chapter 3 - The Desperate Move of the Sterling Family
By 8:00 AM the next morning, the grand mansion of the Sterling family was in complete chaos.
Richard Sterling, Vanessa’s father, paced back and forth across his mahogany-paneled study, throwing expensive crystal decanters against the wall. His phone was ringing incessantly, filled with angry calls from board members, investors, and international partners demanding his resignation.
"You stupid, arrogant girl!" Richard roared, turning on Vanessa, who sat huddled in an armchair, her face puffy from crying, wrapped in a blanket. "You told me you had everything under control! You said you would force the girl to sign the waiver, and we would lock Julian into the marriage contract before the baby was born!"
"I didn't know there was a hidden security camera!" Vanessa sobbed, her fingers clawing at her silk blanket. "That mansion has been vacant for two years! How was I supposed to know Julian had upgraded the security system?"
"Because he is Julian Vance!" Richard yelled. "He is ten steps ahead of everyone! And now, because of your psychopathic stunt, the police have issued an active warrant for your arrest for aggravated assault, kidnapping, and attempted extortion!"
Just then, the double doors of the study were pushed open. Two police detectives in plain clothes stepped in, accompanied by Julian’s chief of security, Mark.
"Richard Sterling? Vanessa Sterling?" the lead detective asked. "We have warrants for the immediate arrest of Vanessa Sterling. Hand her over."
"Wait! There must be a mistake!" Richard tried to step between the officers and his daughter, his voice cracking with desperation. "We can settle this privately! I will give Julian whatever he wants! My shipping shares, my real estate portfolio—"
"You don't have any shares left to give, Mr. Sterling," Mark stepped forward, holding out a legal document. "As of 7:45 AM, the Vance Group has acquired a fifty-one percent controlling interest in the Sterling Group. You have been officially removed from the board of directors. Your personal assets, which were leveraged against company debt, are being frozen by the bank."
Richard’s chest heaved. He looked at the document, his hands shaking. "He... he bought us out? In a single night?"
"You underestimated how much Julian loves his wife," Mark said coldly. "Officers, take her."
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Vanessa screamed as the metal handcuffs clicked around her wrists. "Dad! Do something! Don't let them take me to jail! I’m a Sterling! I can't go to prison!"
"You're not a Sterling anymore, Vanessa," Mark commented as the detectives dragged her out of the room, her bare feet dragging on the expensive rug. "You're just a criminal."
