Chapter 10: The Old Estate 

The next morning, I woke up before my alarm. For a few seconds, I stared at the ceiling of the guest room in the Sterling residence, trying to remember where I was. Then everything came back. The divorce. Damien signing the papers. The message from the unknown number. The old photograph. Westbridge. And the question I had asked Julian the night before. What did Grandfather do?

I sat up slowly. For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about Damien when I opened my eyes. That alone felt strange. I dressed in a simple cream blouse and black trousers, then tied my hair into a neat low ponytail. I didn't want diamonds or anything that reminded me of the woman everyone had seen at the Commerce Summit. Today, I wanted answers.

When I walked into the dining room, Julian was already there. He had a tablet in front of him, his expression serious. Marcus sat across from him, dressed in a dark suit. He was reading through several documents. Alexander was standing near the windows with a cup of coffee in his hand. He turned when he saw me.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Julian pushed a cup of tea toward me. "Eat first."

"I don't have time."

"You always say that when you're worried."

I looked at him. "I'm not worried."

Marcus raised his eyes from the documents. "That's not convincing."

I sat down anyway. "I want to go to Westbridge."

Julian didn't answer immediately. "I know."

"And?"

"And we're going."

I frowned. "You said yesterday that it wasn't safe."

"It wasn't."

"What changed?"

Julian locked his tablet. "The person who accessed the Sterling archive last night didn't take anything."

I looked at him carefully. "What did they do?"

"They opened the Westbridge file."

The room became quiet. "Then closed it?"

"No." Julian's expression hardened. "They copied something."

My stomach tightened. "What?"

"We don't know yet."

Marcus placed the documents on the table. "But we're going to find out."

An hour later, we left the Sterling residence. Westbridge was outside the main business district, far from the glass towers and crowded streets of Crestview City. The road became quieter as we moved farther away. Tall trees lined both sides of the road. Behind them were old estates, private compounds, and large properties hidden behind iron gates. I watched everything through the car window. I had never been here before. At least, I didn't remember being here. That thought bothered me.

When we finally stopped, I looked through the windshield. A large black iron gate stood in front of us. Beyond it was an old estate surrounded by trees. A stone building stood in the distance, its walls covered with climbing vines.

Julian got out first. I followed. He entered a security code into a small panel beside the gate. The gates opened.

I stepped forward. Something about the place felt familiar. Not familiar in the way a person recognizes a location. It was something deeper. A strange feeling in my chest. I looked at Julian. "Have I been here before?"

He hesitated. "Yes."

My eyes widened. "When?"

"You were sixteen."

I stared at him. "Why don't I remember?"

Julian didn't answer. That silence told me enough.

We walked toward the house. Inside, everything looked untouched. Old paintings covered the walls. Dark wooden furniture filled the rooms. There was a large fireplace at the far end, and above it hung a portrait of my grandfather. I stopped. He looked exactly as I remembered him. Serious. Calm. Watching everything. I walked closer to the portrait. "He kept this place."

Julian nodded. "Your grandfather bought Westbridge years before Sterling Global became what it is today."

"Why?"

"Because he believed some assets should never be placed directly under the company."

I turned toward him. "What does that mean?"

"Westbridge wasn't just an estate."

Marcus walked toward a large wooden cabinet. "It was part of a private holding structure." He opened one of the drawers. Inside were several old files. "Your grandfather used it to protect certain investments and properties."

I looked at the files. "And they're all mine?"

Julian nodded. "Most of them."

I let out a slow breath. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because your grandfather didn't want you to know."

That answer hurt more than I expected. I looked back at his portrait. "He hid my own property from me."

"He wanted you to have a normal life."

I laughed quietly. "Normal?"

Julian didn't respond. I looked around the room. "I spent three years being treated like I had nothing." My voice became quieter. "Damien thought he saved me."

Marcus looked at me. "And now?"

I looked at the files. "Now I know I never needed saving."

Julian opened another folder. "This is where things become complicated."

I stepped closer. Inside were documents bearing Sterling Global's old seal. Property agreements. Investment records. Transfer documents. And one file with my full name written across the front. SOPHIA STERLING. My fingers froze over it.

"Open it," Marcus said.

I looked at Julian. He nodded.

I opened the file. The first page contained a photograph. It was me. Sixteen years old. Standing beside my grandfather. I stared at the picture. I was smiling. Not the careful smile I had learned to wear around the Vance family. A real smile. Behind us was this same house. I touched the photograph. "I don't remember this."

Julian stood beside me. "You were happy that day."

"What happened?"

He looked away.

Before he could answer, Marcus reached for another document. "There."

I followed his gaze. A handwritten note had been attached to the back of the photograph. Julian removed it carefully. His face changed as he read it. "What does it say?"

He didn't answer. "Julian."

He finally handed it to me. I read the first line. For Sophia, when she is ready to know the truth. My heart began beating faster. I continued. The note was short. But the final sentence made my hands go cold. There are things I cannot tell you now. When the time comes, Westbridge will lead you to the people who know what happened. Trust no one who tries to keep you from the truth.

I looked up. "People?"

Marcus took the note from me. "That changes things."

Before anyone could say more, Julian's phone rang. He answered. "Yes?" His expression changed. "What?" I watched him carefully. He ended the call.

"What happened?"

"The Vance board meeting started twenty minutes ago."

I frowned. "And?"

"Damien is stepping down as CEO."

I wasn't expecting that. "Why?"

"The board is restructuring the company after the losses from the Sterling dispute."

I looked down at the note again. For the first time, Damien's problems felt far away. There was another life waiting for me. One my grandfather had planned long before I understood what my name meant.

Then my phone vibrated. Unknown number. Again. I stared at the

screen. A new message appeared. You found Westbridge. Another message followed. Now ask Julian why your grandfather was afraid of the Vance family.