Chapter 17 - SARAH’S COUNTERATTACK
Sarah did not go alone.
She also did not tell Victoria that.
Julian wanted police to storm Sterling House.
The detectives refused without confirming Daniel’s location.
So Sarah agreed to wear a concealed microphone.
Julian hated the plan.
“You don’t owe anyone this.”
“I owe Leo the truth.”
“You already have enough evidence.”
“Not all of it.”
Sarah looked at him.
“If Victoria walks away claiming she was misunderstood, she will spend the rest of Leo’s childhood trying to rewrite what happened.”
Julian knew she was right.
Sterling House stood outside the city behind iron gates and old trees.
Sarah entered through the front doors at 11:12 p.m.
Victoria waited in the library.
The files sat on a table.
Daniel was not there.
“You came.”
Victoria smiled.
Sarah kept her voice steady.
“Where is Daniel?”
“Safe.”
“For now.”
Sarah looked at the files.
“What do you want?”
Victoria poured herself a drink.
“The trust.”
Sarah almost laughed.
“You can’t have it.”
“You control Leo’s proxy.”
“Sign it to Sterling Holdings.”
“No.”
Victoria’s smile disappeared.
“Do you understand what happens if Sterling collapses?”
“Thousands of employees lose jobs.”
“My family loses everything.”
Sarah stared at her.
“You destroyed five years of my son’s life to protect a company.”
“I protected a legacy.”
“You protected yourself.”
Victoria slammed the glass down.
“You think Julian loved you?”
“He would have tired of you within six months.”
“You were a waitress with an event-planning certificate.”
“I was his equal.”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
“You had more money.”
“That was never the same thing.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
“That child was never supposed to exist.”
Sarah’s heart pounded.
“Why?”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Because Arthur spent twenty years arranging the merger.”
“Julian was supposed to marry me.”
“No child meant no competing trust.”
“No guardian controlling eighteen percent.”
Sarah breathed slowly.
“So you intercepted my letters.”
“Yes.”
The word came easily.
“You forged Julian’s rejection.”
“My father arranged it.”
“You watched Leo.”
“I had to know whether you still had proof.”
“And the gala?”
Victoria smiled.
“That was supposed to end you.”
“I wanted Julian to see a desperate maid dancing for cash.”
“Then I would reveal that you had brought a child claiming to be his son.”
“He would think you planned everything.”
Sarah stared at her.
“You threatened to slap my four-year-old.”
Victoria shrugged.
“You ruined the performance.”
Behind the walls, police were recording every word.
Sarah knew she had enough.
But Victoria was not finished.
“You still think you won.”
She lifted the final folder.
“You haven’t.”
Then she threw it into the fireplace.
Flames climbed instantly.
Sarah rushed forward.
Victoria grabbed her arm.
May you like
And outside the library, Julian heard Sarah cry out.
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