Chapter 7: Regret and Redemption

Sebastian Sterling sat in his darkened study, staring at the empty desk. The house was quiet. Too quiet. For the past three days, there had been no annoying humming from the kitchen. No smell of savory crepes. No small figure running around with a duster.

Just silence. And the dull ache in his legs that seemed to get worse every hour.

The door creaked open. Liam peeked his head in, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Brother?"

Sebastian didn't look up. "What?"

Liam took a deep breath and marched in. "I just came from the board meeting. I... I tried to explain, Sebastian. I told Mom and Dad that I forced you to help me with the projects. I told them I couldn't do it without you."

"It doesn't matter," Sebastian’s voice was flat. "They made their decision. I'm a liability."

Liam’s eyes welled up with tears. He was twenty-five, the acting CEO, but right now, he felt like a helpless child.

"It's all Julian's fault!" Liam clenched his fists, pacing around the room. "That snake! He told everyone that you're mentally unstable! He said you've fired eighty-seven caretakers in two years, which proves you have anger management issues. He said..."

Liam choked on his words.

"He said a cripple ruins the corporate image," Sebastian finished the sentence for him, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "He's not wrong, is he?"

"HE IS WRONG!" Liam shouted. "You built this company! You saved it from bankruptcy! Your legs might not work, but your brain is worth more than all of them combined!"

Liam wiped his eyes angrily. "And you know what hurts the most? Harper is gone."

At the mention of her name, Sebastian’s hand froze on the armrest.

"She was perfect," Liam continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "She made you eat. She made you sleep. She even kicked Julian's ass for you. And you... you fired her."

Sebastian looked away, his jaw tightening. He remembered her eyes. I was proud of you. Those words had haunted him for three sleepless nights.

"She's gone, Liam," Sebastian said coldly. "I fired her. She hates me. End of story."

Liam’s eyes lit up. He caught the slight hesitation in his brother's voice.

"She's fired, not dead," Liam said, stepping closer. "I can hire her back."

"No."

"Come on, Sebastian!" Liam dropped to his knees beside the wheelchair, giving him the ultimate puppy-dog eyes. "Please? For me? I can't run the company and worry about you starving to death at the same time. If she comes back, I promise I'll work twice as hard!"

Sebastian looked at his brother, then at his own useless legs. He missed the massage. He missed the food. He missed her.

He sighed, a long, defeated sound. "I'm not asking her back," Sebastian grumbled, looking out the window. "It's... your decision."

Liam grinned so wide it almost split his face. "Yes! My decision! Totally mine! I'll go get her right now!"

He scrambled up and ran for the door. "I'm going to offer her double... no, triple the salary! And a permanent contract!"

Sebastian listened to his brother running down the hall. For the first time in three days, the crushing weight on his chest felt a little lighter.

---

[The Cheap Motel]

Harper was not having a good day.

She was currently staying in a dingy motel on the outskirts of the city. The wallpaper was peeling, and the air conditioner sounded like a dying tractor.

It was all she could afford for now. Yes, she had received the $50,000 severance. But she hadn't touched it. That money was her "Freedom Fund." She was saving it to buy a small house for her and her father, to get him away from the gambling dens. Until then, she had to live cheap.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone pounded on her door.

Harper groaned. "Coming!"

She opened the door to reveal her landlady, Mrs. Gable. A woman with too much lipstick and a permanent scowl. Behind her stood her son, Dennis, a greasy-looking guy in a cheap suit.

"Rent's due, Harper," Mrs. Gable snapped, chewing her gum loudly. "And Dennis says you lost your fancy job at the Sterling Estate? That didn't last long, did it?"

Dennis smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "I told you, Harper. Serving billionaires isn't for girls like you. You should have taken the job I offered you at the call center. At least it's honest work."

Harper rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Dennis. And Mrs. Gable, rent isn't due until Friday."

"I want it now," Mrs. Gable crossed her arms. "Since you're unemployed, I can't trust you to pay later. Pay up or get out."

"I'm not unemployed!" Harper lied. "I... I'm just on a break."

"A break? From being fired?" Dennis laughed. "Face it, Harper. You blew it. You're never going to get another job like that. You should just come work for me. I can put in a good word for you... if you go on a date with me."

Harper felt sick. "I'd rather eat dirt."

"Suit yourself," Dennis sneered. "Have fun being homeless."

Mrs. Gable stepped forward. "Cash. Now."

Harper clenched her fists. She could use the severance money, but she didn't want to give these vultures a cent more than necessary.

Just as she was about to slam the door in their faces, a sleek, black limousine pulled into the motel parking lot. It looked like a spaceship landing in a junkyard.

Mrs. Gable and Dennis froze, their mouths hanging open.

The driver got out and opened the back door. A young man in a tailored navy suit stepped out. He looked around the dirty motel with confusion, checked his phone, and then spotted Harper.

His face lit up.

"Harper!" Liam Sterling waved enthusiastically, running toward her like he was greeting a long-lost sister. "Thank god I found you! This place is terrible!"

Dennis’s eyes bugged out. "That... that's the CEO of Sterling Corp! Liam Sterling!"

Liam ignored them completely. He stopped in front of Harper, panting slightly. He held out a thick envelope with the Sterling crest on it.

"I am here on official business," Liam announced loudly, making sure the stunned landlady could hear. "We made a mistake. A huge mistake. My brother... I mean, Mr. Sebastian Sterling, requests your immediate return."

He shoved the envelope into Harper’s hands. "Here is your new contract. Permanent position. Full benefits. Triple the salary. And... a personal apology bonus."

Harper looked at the contract, then at Dennis, who looked like he had swallowed a fly.

"Triple?" Mrs. Gable squeaked.

Harper smirked. She looked at Liam. "Does the contract include a 'No Firing Without My Permission' clause?"

"It includes whatever you want!" Liam pleaded. "Just please come back. He hasn't eaten in three days. He's withering away!"

Harper sighed. She looked at the dreary motel room, then at Liam’s desperate face. And somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought of Sebastian alone in that dark house.

"Fine," Harper said, linking her arm with Liam’s. "But I'm driving the limo."

She turned to Mrs. Gable and Dennis, flipping her hair. "Keep the deposit. I'm moving up in the world."