She Tried to Throw Me Out… Then Found Out I Was the Sole Heir to Sterling Global

Graham Pierce was found alive twelve hours later in an abandoned maintenance building near the Calumet River.

His left arm was broken.

Two ribs were cracked.

He had been tied to a chair and left without food or water.

At the hospital, he refused to speak until Julian entered alone.

"You look like hell," Julian said.

Graham laughed and winced.

"Your bedside manner needs work."

Julian stood at the foot of the bed.

"Did my mother do this?"

Graham closed his eyes.

"Mercer."

"On her orders?"

"At first."

"What does that mean?"

Graham looked at him.

"Your mother lost control of him months ago."

Julian frowned.

Graham explained.

North Crown had begun as Eleanor's plan to quietly protect family assets during Charles's last years. She believed Julian was too idealistic to survive a hostile credit market.

Then Graham started stealing.

Eleanor discovered it.

Instead of exposing him, she used it.

Blackmail became partnership.

Partnership became dependency.

Mercer handled threats and cleanup.

"And now?" Julian asked.

"Now Mercer has copies of everything. He wants money."

"Whose money?"

Graham gave a bitter smile.

"Sterling's."

Julian's blood went cold.

"The trust transfer."

"He thinks Victoria can authorize nine figures in twenty-four hours."

"She can't."

"He doesn't know that."

Julian stepped closer.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm terrified. There's a difference."

Julian's phone buzzed.

Victoria.

He ignored it.

Graham watched him.

"Your father made the same mistake."

Julian looked up sharply.

"What mistake?"

"Thinking the company came first."

"Don't talk about my father."

"He knew Eleanor was moving money. He knew I helped her. He still waited because he wanted proof strong enough to save the company without destroying the family."

Graham's eyes filled with shame.

"He waited one day too long."

Julian went still.

"Did Mercer cause the crash?"

Graham did not answer.

That was an answer.

Julian turned away.

His phone buzzed again.

This time he answered.

Victoria's breathing was fast.

"Julian, my water just broke."

Everything else vanished.