Chapter 3 - The Secret Photograph
Vincent unlocked his phone beneath the table, entirely out of Emma’s line of sight. He didn't dial a number. He opened a highly encrypted, private photo vault.
He stared at a digital scan of an old, faded photograph he had paid millions of dollars to keep hidden from the public eye. It was a picture of his late father, the founder of the Sterling empire, standing next to a young, beautiful woman with dark-blonde hair.
The woman in the photo looked exactly like the terrified janitor sitting across from him.
"St. Jude's," Vincent repeated, his voice smooth and dangerously calm. "That closed down twenty years ago, didn't it?"
Emma nodded nervously, her hands trembling in her lap. "Yes. There was a terrible fire. A lot of the records were destroyed. I was only five. After that, I just bounced around the foster system until I aged out."
Vincent’s jaw tightened. Twenty years ago. The exact same year his father had paid a massive, illegal sum to have his secret mistress and their illegitimate child entirely erased from the Sterling family history.
Vincent had spent the last five years as CEO solidifying his absolute control over the family trust. His entire multi-billion-dollar empire hinged on one specific legal clause: he was the sole, uncontested heir.
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And now, the legitimate, biological daughter of his father was sitting right across from him, eating a complimentary dinner in a faded coat.
👉 What will the ruthless billionaire do to protect his massive inheritance from a cleaning lady?
