No Gods But Me

Julian Sterling's gaze landed on the two red oracle blocks on the desk.

Carved into them was the Sterling family crest. They were the same two blocks he had once tampered with.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he rubbed his brow wearily and gave a bitter smile.

"Stop messing around, Caroline. You know how big this case is. If you don't take it, the Sterling family's mainland operations are finished.

"Celia's your sister. We're practically family. Why keep clinging to what happened three years ago?"

I pinched the edge of the case file and did not look at him.

"Sterling is your name. I'm an Eckhart.

"My answer is still the same. I won't take the Sterling family's case."

For one frozen second, the air went still.

The smile faded from Julian Sterling's face inch by inch.

"Is the money not enough?

"Name your price. Fifty million, eighty million. The Sterling family can afford it.

"I remember your mother's illness... cost a lot."

The tip of my pen paused lightly.

Julian's eyes flickered, as if he had found my weakness.

"Mrs. Eckhart's medical expenses for the rest of her life will be covered by the Sterling family. I'll even bring in the top specialists from overseas to consult on her case. All you have to do is say yes..."

I capped my pen, slipped the documents into my bag, and finally glanced at him.

Three years had stripped the last of the boyishness from him. He looked calmer now, steadier.

But he was still wearing that ridiculous red polka-dot bow tie. Celia's favorite.

I looked away again, my voice even.

"Mr. Sterling, my mother is already dead.

"She died on the day of your wedding to Celia Eckhart."

Julian looked as if someone had struck him in the skull.

"How could..."

I walked around him and headed for the door without hesitation.

My colleagues had been craning their necks toward the office, eager for gossip.

The moment I stepped out, they all lowered their heads and pretended to work.

My assistant, Lena Price, hurried after me with my bag, her voice anxious.

"Caroline, the Sterling family runs Harbor City. They have ties to a lot of powerful people in Capital City too.

"If you turn down their commission, and if they survive this crisis, will the firm..."

"They won't."

I stopped and looked back.

The sign for Verity & Cross Law gleamed in the sunlight.

I spoke softly.

"The Sterling family won't survive this crisis."

Lena stared at me in confusion.

"Because I'm representing the plaintiffs in this case."

With that, I opened the car door and got into the back of the Bentley.

"Lena, take us to the Economic Crimes Unit. I want to meet the victim representatives."

The Sterling case was a massive commercial fraud case. There were more than three hundred victims, and the amount involved reached three hundred million.

If it was framed as a technical compliance violation, the entire matter would be whitewashed as an ordinary civil dispute. The Sterling family would pay a little money and walk away clean.

But Verity & Cross had one mission: to speak for those who couldn't speak for themselves.

This was what Julian Sterling owed those victims.

It was also what he owed me.

Lena froze completely. After a long moment, she finally recovered and got into the driver's seat.

The car sped through the city streets.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already past midnight.

When I got home, a familiar vehicle was parked downstairs.

It was Julian's car.

He was holding Celia's hand. Between them stood a little girl in a princess dress.