Chapter 3

Seeing Lucas hit the floor, Jessica didn't care about her designer gown. She sprinted over to shield him, then spun around and slapped me across the face. "Who the hell do you think you are? Where do you get the guts to bark at me? Take a good look at who holds the reins around here!"

She scanned the grand ballroom with razor-sharp arrogance. "I, Jessica Sterling, have bled for this company for over ten years! And today, someone dares to question my authority? Is there anyone here who can tell this clown exactly who I am?"

Executives from several departments stepped forward in unison.

One of them declared loudly, "Why even waste your breath on a stray, Vice President Sterling? We follow your lead, always. Without you, this company would never have reached these heights!"

I snapped my head toward the speaker.

"Vice President Miller. You're a company veteran. You've been here since the founding days, and my mother always respected you. You'd better think carefully before you run your mouth."

Vice President Miller spat on the floor. "You think you have the right to call her your mother? If Mrs. Sterling weren't so soft-hearted, you wouldn't even be standing in this room, let alone trying to steal what belongs to others."

I frowned, staring at him. He knew better than anyone who the true heir of Apex Horizon was. Yet here he was, gambling everything to prop up Lucas, an obvious fraud.

"Have you really made up your mind about whose side you're on, Miller? Do you have any idea what happens when you pick the wrong horse?"

Out of respect for his years of service to my mother, I was offering him one last chance to pull back from the edge.

Miller sneered and casually walked over to stand right beside Jessica and Lucas. "My loyalty lies with young Mr. and Ms. Sterling, naturally."

Jessica nodded with smug satisfaction. "Mr. Miller truly embodies the backbone of this company. Completely unfazed by cheap threats."

With Miller leading the charge, more than half of the senior executive team stepped forward, declaring their unwavering loyalty and lining up behind Jessica.

I looked at every single one of them, carving their faces into my memory.

"Good. Very good. I was wondering how I was going to clean house and purge the dead weight. Thank you for making it so remarkably easy for me."

Lucas looked at Jessica with tearful, sorrowful eyes. "Jessica, please don't let things get ugly on my account. If my leaving will make Kieran happy, I'll go right now."

Jessica frowned with tender concern, tapping his forehead gently. "You're just too gentle. That's why Kieran always walked all over you. I'm your sister. If I don't protect you, who will?"

"Besides, the heirs to the Sterling empire are you and me. What does an outsider have to do with anything?"

Faced with Jessica's ringing proclamation, I merely picked up a glass of water from a nearby tray and watched their sickening act unfold.

"Running the same pathetic script three times gets boring. Since none of you want to remain at Apex Horizon, I won't hold you back. The gala is over for you. Get out. Right now."

Jessica pointed a manicured finger at me, bursting into mocking laughter. "Look at him! The sun hasn't even gone down, and he's already sleepwalking! The only person getting thrown out tonight is you!"

Lucas stood beside her, pointing toward the heavy exit doors. "You mad dog! Get the hell out of our house!"

"A mad dog?" I dragged my tongue across my back teeth, letting out a dark chuckle. Stepping forward, I cracked a vicious backhand across his cheek. "Let me show you what real madness looks like."

The sharp, echoing crack made the entire room gasp in horror.

"Did he just hit the heir?"

"Does Kieran want to die?"

"He's lost his mind. He's completely unhinged!"

Lucas opened his mouth to wail, but catching the protective fury in Jessica’s eyes, he bit his lip, choking down his tears to maximize the pity.

"Jessica, I'm okay... Kieran's just angry. He didn't mean it..."

He pretended to defend me, but every single word twisted the knife deeper, painting me as a vicious bully.

I crossed my arms, looking down at him like dirt. "So what if I hit you? I beat the hell out of abusive, manipulative scum."

Suddenly, a booming, authoritative voice echoed from the main doors.

"Who dares lay a finger on a Sterling?!"