Chapter 23

"She wouldn't even visit her own father on his deathbed. What kind of person does that?"

"Exactly. No matter what someone's done, you let it go when they're dying. Her brother practically got on his knees and begged, and she just stood there like a statue. I've never seen anyone that heartless."

But then someone dug up what had happened two years ago, and the full story sent shockwaves across the internet. Sympathy for the Sterling family evaporated overnight.

"I take it all back. That was my mistake. A father and brother who favored the illegitimate daughter that much? Good riddance. No wonder she was so cold. If it were me, I would've slapped them across the face before walking away."

"Unbelievable. And they actually had the nerve to come crawling back to her. If they really felt guilty, they should've stayed gone."

Julian posted a public apology online, was promptly eviscerated by commenters, and deleted his accounts.

Shortly after, the project he'd poached from Dominic collapsed. Far from turning a profit, the investment dragged Sterling Corporation down with it.

Between the fallout and pressure from rival families, the Sterling empire crumbled. The family vanished from the business world entirely.

Meanwhile, Dominic was on the phone with Nathan Kingsley, who was howling with laughter on the other end. "He had to go and snatch that project from you. Threw money at it like an idiot, never even realized it was a trap. He's probably having an aneurysm right about now."

Dominic smiled. "He brought it on himself. After everything he did, a simple apology was never going to cut it."

Nathan couldn't help asking. "Does Claire know about all this?"

Dominic chuckled. "She does. She's on board. And next up — Ethan Holloway."

If Ethan had any sense, he'd back off. If not, Dominic would have no choice but to take him apart.

Unlike Julian, who had ultimately stepped aside, Ethan refused to let go. Claire was his. She'd been his since they were children, his promised bride. He would never accept her with another man.

He threw every resource the Holloway family had at the problem, even dropping to his knees before Harold. "Dad, please. I've finally found her. I can't live without her."

Harold slapped him across the face, shaking with rage. "If Claire were still single, that would be one thing. But she's married now, and she's carrying another man's child. You're chasing a married woman — do you want the whole world to spit on our name?"

His words only fueled Ethan's fury. "So what if she's pregnant? She can get rid of it."

"Once Claire's back, everything goes back to the way it was. And think about it — the Ashford fortune is basically in her name. If I married her, it would be a massive boost for Holloway Industries. We could even take down Dominic and eliminate the Ashfords as a threat."

That last part caught Harold's attention. Ethan left the room with a cold smile, a vicious gleam in his eyes. "Dominic Ashford. You touched what's mine. I'll make you pay."

On Dominic's end, a call came in from his security team. "Sir, they may be planning a move."

"Understood." He hung up. Claire looked at him with concern. "Am I causing you trouble?"

Dominic smiled and pulled her into his arms. "The fact that you're worried about me makes me so happy."

"But don't worry — it's just business. I have to travel for a few days for a project. Stay home and take it easy while I'm gone."

Claire relaxed at that. But the moment she looked away, the warmth left Dominic's eyes. There was a project in Miami that required his presence, and his people had warned him the trip could be dangerous.