Chapter 9 - The Rightful Heirs Reclaim the Throne
The federal agents dragged Victoria and Richard down the grand stone steps of the terrace, their screams of protest fading into the hum of the police engines.
Chloe Sterling was escorted separately by officers for extensive interrogation regarding her complicity in the stolen trust funds, her designer life officially dismantled.
The remaining elite guests stood in awkward, terrified silence, watching the two siblings who now held the undisputed power of the Sterling dynasty.
Clara stood tall beside Lucas, her shivering having completely stopped as the warmth of dignity and justice returned to her soul.
She looked at the wealthy socialites who, only twenty minutes ago, had watched her drown without lifting a single finger to help.
Their faces were filled with shameful guilt and desperate, sycophantic smiles, hoping to salvage their business connections with the new master of the estate.
One of the most prominent bank presidents stepped forward with a nervous, sweating smile, extending a trembling hand toward Lucas.
“Mr. Sterling… Lucas, my boy… we are all so profoundly relieved that the truth has finally come to light,” the banker stammered, his voice dripping with false loyalty.
“Your father was a dear friend to all of us, and of course, my bank stands entirely at your disposal to restore your family’s rightful accounts!”
Lucas did not take the man’s hand; he simply stared down at him with an intensity that made the banker pull his hand back in humiliation.
“Every single person standing in this garden saw my sister being struck across the face and thrown into an eight-foot pool,” Lucas said, his voice cutting like a razor.
“Not one of you moved an inch to pull her out.”
“Not one of you had the human decency or courage to speak out against a blatant, vicious assault.”
Lucas gestured toward the open front gates where the police lights continued to illuminate the driveway.
“You all drank my father’s wine, you partied on his marble patio, and you laughed while his daughter drowned in front of your cowardly eyes.”
“The Sterling Maritime Group will be conducting a complete audit of every single contract, partnership, and investment we have with your firms.”
“And I can guarantee you with absolute certainty that every single contract with every single person standing in this garden will be canceled by tomorrow morning.”
Panic instantly washed over the faces of the business elites, knowing that losing the Sterling accounts meant financial ruin for many of their companies.
“Now,” Lucas commanded, pointing a single, resolute finger toward the exit, “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE I HAVE THE FEDERAL MARSHALS REMOVE YOU FOR TRESPASSING.”
The guests didn’t dare to speak another word.
May you like
They scrambled over each other in a frantic rush to leave the terrace, scattering down the driveway to their luxury vehicles like frightened rats fleeing a sinking ship.
Within minutes, the vast, luxurious backyard of the Sterling estate was completely empty of parasites, leaving only the two rightful heirs standing under the afternoon sun.
