Chapter 217
Chapter 217:
“So I’m supposed to just… watch?” Skye asked. “Watch you play the doting fiancé while the world calls me the other woman p>
“No,” Alistair said. “You’re supposed to trust me. Victoria is a ghost I have to help exorcise. But I can’t let her cover blow. Not on my watch p>
“Then go save her,” Skye said. She pointed to the door. “But don’t come back to my bed until the mission is over p>
Alistair stared at her. His jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to argue, to grab her, to force her to understand. But he saw the walls she had put up. They were made of reinforced steel.
“Fine,” Alistair said. “I’ll handle it. But know this: I am not Liam. I don’t keep spares p>
He turned and walked out.
Skye locked the door behind him. She slid down to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest.
She was alone again. Just as she had planned.
So why did it hurt so much?
The next morning, the sun was blindingly bright, mocking the darkness of the previous night. Skye dressed in a sharp navy suit—armor for the business world. She had a meeting with the Sterling Corp board. With Arthur incapacitated and Petunia in jail, the company was leaderless.
She arrived at the hospital first. She needed Arthur’s approval.
Arthur was awake. He looked ten years older than yesterday. He was staring at the ceiling, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.
“Skye,” he rasped when she entered.
“Dad,” Skye said. It felt strange to say the word without bitterness.
“They did this,” Arthur whispered. “My own sister. My nephew p>
“They’re in jail,” Skye said, setting her tablet on the tray table. “And they’re staying there. I’ve handed over the ledger. The embezzlement charges alone will get them ten years p>
Arthur looked at her. “And Liam p>
𝗥𝘦с𝗈𝗆𝘮𝗲𝗇𝗱 b𝘦𝗅ոo𝗏e𝗹𝘴.сom 𝘵о 𝘆𝗼u𝗿 𝘧rі𝖾𝘯ds
“Running,” Skye said. “His lawyers are fighting the warrant, but he’s finished, Dad p>
Arthur reached out and took her hand. His grip was weak. “I was wrong. About you. I thought you were weak. Like your mother p>
Skye stiffened. “Mom wasn’t weak. She was kind. You confused the two p>
“You’re not kind,” Arthur said, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “You’re ruthless. Good p>
He pointed to the tablet. “Draft a new will. Right now p>
“Dad, you’re not dying,” Skye said.
“The company,” Arthur said. “It’s yours. All of it. I’m stepping down. I can’t… I can’t fight anymore. They broke me, Skye. Being chained in that basement… looking at Victor’s face while he did it p>
He closed his eyes. “Take it. Burn the rot out. Make Sterling Corp what it should have been p>
Skye called the lawyers. Within an hour, the papers were drawn up. Arthur signed with a shaking hand.
Skye Sterling: Majority Shareholder and Interim CEO of Sterling Corp.
It was done. She had won. She had the family company. She had her own empire.
She walked out of the hospital room, feeling the weight of the legacy on her shoulders.