Chapter 3 - The Secret Behind the Sterling Name
The room exploded with whispers.
Liam stared at the document on the floor.
"No..."
His voice was barely audible.
Victoria stepped forward.
"Liam, listen to me."
He looked at her.
"Is this real?"
For the first time...
Victoria had no immediate answer.
Avery had never seen her mother-in-law speechless.
Not once.
Damian picked up the document.
"Your father discovered the truth before he died."
Liam's face changed.
"Don't talk about my father."
"I'm not insulting him."
Damian looked at Victoria.
"I'm saying he was betrayed."
Avery felt a chill.
"What truth?"
Nobody answered.
Then Liam looked at his mother.
"Tell me."
Victoria remained silent.
"Mom."
Her face hardened.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
She looked around the ballroom.
At the cameras.
At the guests.
At her perfect reputation.
Then she whispered:
"Not here."
Liam laughed bitterly.
"Funny."
He looked around.
"You were perfectly comfortable destroying Avery here."
Avery felt tears forming.
Because for the first time...
Liam was defending her.
Victoria noticed.
And she hated it.
"She has manipulated you."
Avery stepped forward.
"Enough."
Everyone looked at her.
"I stayed quiet for three years."
Her voice shook.
"I stayed quiet when you insulted me."
"I stayed quiet when you told everyone I wasn't good enough."
"I stayed quiet because I loved your son."
Victoria stared at her.
"But you made one mistake."
Avery looked directly into her eyes.
"You thought my silence meant I was weak."
The room became completely silent.
Then Damian smiled slightly.
Because he knew.
Avery was finally done being afraid.
Liam walked toward his wife.
"Avery..."
She looked at him.
"I should have protected you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You should have believed me."
That sentence hurt him.
Because she was right.
Before he could answer...
A security guard rushed into the ballroom.
"Mr. Sterling."
Everyone turned.
The guard looked terrified.
"There is something you need to see."
Liam frowned.
"What?"
The guard handed him a tablet.
"We found this hidden in the family archives."
Liam looked at the screen.
His face slowly lost color.
Because the video playing...
Was recorded the night his father died.
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And standing beside his hospital bed...
Was Victoria Sterling.
