Chapter 2 - THE LIE THAT COST THREE YEARS
Alexander refused to let go of Sophia.
Not because he was afraid she would disappear.
Because he was afraid he would wake up and realize this was another nightmare.
“Daddy…”
Sophia looked up.
“Yes?”
“Are you angry with Mommy?”
The question surprised him.
“No.”
“Then why are you angry?”
Alexander looked at his daughter.
Because of years of pain.
Because someone stole her childhood.
Because someone made him believe he was unwanted.
But he didn’t want to put that burden on a seven-year-old child.
“I’m angry because you were hungry.”
Sophia lowered her eyes.
“Mommy tried.”
Those words stopped him.
“What do you mean?”
“She works two jobs.”
Alexander frowned.
“Two?”
Sophia nodded.
“She cleans offices at night.”
His fists tightened.
“Your mother cleans offices?”
“Yes.”
The woman he thought abandoned him...
The woman his mother accused of betrayal...
Was working two jobs just to feed their daughter.
Something was wrong.
And Alexander was going to find out what.
He took out his phone.
“Where is your mother right now?”
Sophia looked nervous.
“Daddy…”
“What?”
“Grandma said you wouldn’t believe us.”
Alexander slowly looked at her.
“Why would Grandma say that?”
Sophia didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
Her silence was enough.
Alexander called his assistant.
“Michael.”
The call connected immediately.
“Mr. Sterling?”
“I need every payment record from the last three years.”
A pause.
“Business accounts?”
“No.”
Alexander looked at Sophia.
“Child support transfers.”
Another pause.
“Sir?”
“Every single transaction.”
His voice became colder.
“Now.”
Michael heard something in his tone.
Something serious.
“Yes, sir.”
Alexander ended the call.
Sophia watched him.
“Are you going to leave again?”
The question almost destroyed him.
“No.”
He knelt down.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Promise?”
Alexander placed his hand over his heart.
“I promise.”
For the first time that night, Sophia smiled.
A tiny smile.
But it was enough.
Then Alexander heard footsteps.
Slow.
Confident.
Familiar.
“Alexander?”
His body became completely still.
That voice.
Victoria.
He turned around.
His mother stood at the end of the hallway.
Perfect makeup.
Diamond necklace.
Elegant black dress.
The same woman everyone inside admired.
Her smile disappeared when she saw Sophia.
“What is she doing here?”
Alexander stared at her.
Not as a son.
As someone seeing the truth for the first time.
“She’s my daughter.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Of course she is.”
“Then why was she eating food from a dumpster?”
Silence.
For the first time in his life, Alexander saw his mother lose control.
Only for a second.
But he saw it.
“That’s not what happened.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Victoria forced a smile.
“Children exaggerate things.”
Sophia immediately grabbed Alexander’s hand.
A small movement.
But he noticed.
She was afraid of her grandmother.
And that hurt more than anything.
“Where has the money gone, Mother?”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“What money?”
“The five thousand dollars I send every month.”
Her eyes moved slightly.
A tiny reaction.
But Alexander saw it.
“You know exactly what money I’m talking about.”
Victoria took a breath.
“You’re tired. This isn’t the place.”
“No.”
Alexander’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
“This is exactly the place.”
The music from the ballroom continued.
Guests laughed.
People celebrated.
But in that hallway, the Sterling family was breaking apart.
“You told me Lauren left.”
Victoria said nothing.
“You told me she didn’t want me.”
Silence.
“You told me Sophia was being cared for.”
Her expression changed.
“Alexander—”
“No.”
He interrupted.
“Three years.”
His voice cracked.
“Three years I missed my daughter because I believed you.”
Victoria looked around.
Making sure nobody was watching.
Then she lowered her voice.
“You have no idea what Lauren did.”
Alexander stared at her.
“Then tell me.”
Victoria remained silent.
And that silence told him everything.
Because innocent people explain.
Liars delay.
His phone suddenly rang.
Michael.
Alexander answered.
“Tell me.”
Michael’s voice sounded nervous.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“There’s something wrong with the account.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“What kind of wrong?”
A pause.
Then Michael said:
“The account you’ve been sending money to…”
May you like
“Yes?”
“It belongs to Victoria Sterling Holdings.”
