Chapter 31: The 30-Second Gambit

 

Sterling Corporation Headquarters. 88th Floor. The Boardroom.

The atmosphere was heavy. Twelve shareholders sat around the oval table. At the head of the table sat Shen Yuanfeng (Uncle Shen). He looked smug.

"Gentlemen," Uncle Shen tapped the table. "It has been three months. Sebastian has not shown his face. The medical reports are clear: his spinal injury is permanent. He will never walk again."

"A company like Sterling cannot be run from a wheelchair," Julian (Xu Jiachang) added, eager to please his master. "We need a strong leader. I propose we vote to officially remove Sebastian from the CEO position and appoint Mr. Shen Yuanfeng."

The shareholders whispered. "He's right. Sebastian is finished." "It's a shame, but business is business."

"Let's vote," Uncle Shen smiled, raising his hand. "All in favor?"

Hands started to go up. One. Two. Five...

BANG.

The heavy double doors of the boardroom didn't just open. They were kicked open.

Every head turned. Julian froze. Uncle Shen’s smile vanished.

Standing in the doorway was not a wheelchair. It was a man.

Sebastian Sterling.

He was wearing a charcoal grey three-piece suit, tailored to perfection. His hair was swept back, revealing a forehead damp with... was that sweat? No, it must be the lighting. His face was cold, impassive, and terrifyingly majestic.

And beside him stood Harper. She wore a sharp black pencil skirt and a white silk blouse. Her arm was linked through his. To the outsiders, it looked like a romantic gesture—a loving fiancée holding her man's arm. But Harper knew the truth.

Under the expensive fabric of his suit, Sebastian’s arm was trembling. His muscles were rigid as stone. He was leaning 40% of his weight on her. She was his cane. She was his skeleton.

"Who..." Uncle Shen stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Who said you could come in?"

Sebastian didn't answer. He took the first step.

Step. His leather shoe hit the floor with a solid thud. Inside his body, pain exploded like a grenade. The封闭针 (nerve block injection) Dr. Ryan had given him 20 minutes ago was wearing off. Every step felt like walking on broken glass.

One second.

Harper tightened her grip on his arm, her body rigid, supporting him invisibly. "Breathe," she whispered, her lips barely moving. "I've got you."

Step. Two seconds.

Sebastian focused entirely on the empty chair at the head of the table. It was ten meters away. It felt like ten miles.

The shareholders watched in stunned silence. "He's walking..." "My god, the rumors were false." "He looks perfectly fine!"

They didn't see the sweat trickling down his back. They didn't see his teeth clenching so hard his jaw might snap.

Step. Step. Ten seconds.

Julian’s face turned pale. "This... this is a trick! It's a hologram!"

Sebastian stopped. He turned his head slowly to look at Julian. "A hologram?" His voice was steady, deep, and dripping with disdain.

Step. He moved closer. The aura of oppression radiating from him forced Julian to shrink back into his seat.

Twenty seconds.

His legs were beginning to burn. The muscles were spasming. Harper felt his weight increasing. He was starting to list to the side. She gritted her teeth, digging her heels into the carpet, using her entire core strength to keep him upright. She smiled brilliantly at the shareholders, masking her physical struggle.

"Darling," she said loudly, her voice sweet and clear. "Don't walk so fast. You know the doctor said you shouldn't overexert yourself after... last night."

A few shareholders chuckled nervously. The tension broke slightly. Harper used that moment to subtly shove Sebastian back into alignment.

Twenty-five seconds.

They reached the head of the table. Uncle Shen was still standing there, blocking the way.

Sebastian stopped. He looked at his uncle. They were at eye level. For the first time in three months, Sebastian was looking down at his enemy.

"Uncle," Sebastian said softly. "You are in my seat."

Uncle Shen stared at him. He looked for weakness. He looked for the wheelchair. But he only saw a man standing tall, eyes burning with cold fury. Fear, primal and instinctive, seized Uncle Shen’s heart.

He stepped aside.

Twenty-eight seconds.

Sebastian didn't sit immediately. That would look like relief. He stood there for two more agonizing seconds, scanning the room, making eye contact with every traitor who had raised their hand.

Thirty seconds. Limit reached.

His legs gave out. But he controlled the fall perfectly. He sank into the leather executive chair with a smooth, deliberate motion, crossing one leg over the other as if he was just getting comfortable.

"Now," Sebastian placed his hands on the table to stop them from shaking. "Who wanted to fire me?"

Silence. Absolute, terrified silence.

Sebastian threw a file onto the table. It slid across the polished wood and stopped in front of Uncle Shen. It was the file containing Martha’s confession and the bank transfer records.

"I suggest we skip the vote," Sebastian’s voice was ice. "And discuss... retirement plans. For some of you."

---

[The Collapse]

Thirty minutes later. The meeting was over. Sebastian had crushed the rebellion. He fired three directors and forced Uncle Shen to take a "sabbatical."

"Meeting adjourned," Sebastian said. "Everyone, get out."

The shareholders fled the room like rats leaving a sinking ship. Uncle Shen gave Sebastian one last look of hatred before storming out.

Finally, the door clicked shut. The room was empty except for Sebastian and Harper.

"Sebastian?" Harper whispered.

The mask shattered. Sebastian’s body convulsed. He slumped forward, his head hitting the mahogany table with a thud. His face was grey. His breath came in ragged, painful gasps.

"Sebastian!" Harper rushed to him. She touched his forehead—it was burning hot.

"My legs..." Sebastian groaned, his voice barely audible. "Can't... move..."

The adrenaline was gone. The pain had returned, ten times worse than before.

Harper didn't panic. She knew this would happen. She quickly radioed Liam (who was guarding the door). "Bring the wheelchair! Now!"

Then she knelt beside Sebastian, stroking his damp hair. "You did it," she whispered, her voice trembling with pride and heartache. "You were amazing. You scared them to death."

Sebastian turned his head to look at her. His eyes were unfocused, clouded with pain, but the corner of his mouth lifted in a weak smile.

"Did I..." he gasped. "Did I look... cool?"

Harper laughed, tears streaming down her face. "Yes. You were the coolest man on Earth."

She kissed his sweaty forehead. "Now let's go home, my King. Your armor needs polishing."