Chapter 13 - The True Heir"Not dead. Just edited out of the family registry," Julian corrected smoothly, leaning against the doorframe. "When Victoria realized I was smarter than both her and Marcus combined, she tried to institutionalize me at age sixteen. I escaped, changed my identity, and spent fifteen years watching them rot."
"And you used me?" Clara's voice trembled with a lethal mixture of heartbreak and rage. "You used my trauma, my father's disappearance, the attempt on my life—just to get legal access to the board?"
"I needed a clean, sympathetic face with a legitimate legal claim to Vance Industries to strip the old regime of its defenses," Julian replied coolly. "If I had stepped forward as a vengeful Sterling heir, the board would have fought me. But Clara Vance—the tragic, abused daughter seeking justice? You were the ultimate Trojan horse."
May you like
Clara stared at him. "You think you've won. But under corporate law, an emergency asset transfer of over fifty percent without a unanimous board vote triggers an automatic federal receivership. The moment the clock strikes noon, the Department of Justice freezes those accounts permanently."
Julian’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second. "Let's see if you can reach the phone in time, darling."
