002

STERLING RESIDENCE,

Inside a luxurious living room which exudes elegance and grandeur, designed to impress, while maintaining comfort. An elderly woman was seated gracefully in a high black armchair, designed with plush Velvet, she was no other than Mrs. Margaret Sterling. Her demeanor was one of quiet authority and composed strength as she sipped her tea. Her face softened by age, yet her eyes held a glint of worry and fear, as she stared blankly into thin air.

The soft sound of approaching footsteps jolted her back to reality, she placed her tea cup on the table and turned to look at who had entered.

Carter's face held an unreadable expression, yet worry etched in his eyes, as he walked quietly to the old woman and bowed.

“Carter, you're here. What bad news am I to expect?” Margaret said, her voice low and demanding.

“Ma’am, Sir Cyrus’ illness acted up again in the office. He flipped the boardroom table in a fit of rage, screaming incoherently. The board members were terrified and they scurried away, even before the meeting could commence.” Carter reported calmly.

“What?” Margaret frowned, her voice trembling, “I hope no one took videos or pictures?”

“No ma’am. I made sure of that.”

“Good, where's he now?”

“In the room, I already called the doctor and he's on his way.”

“Alright, when the doctor arrives let me know. I can't go to him now. Cyrus is unpredictable.”

“Okay, ma’am. I'll take my leave then.”

“Yeah, thank you, Carter.”

Carter nodded and left.

Immediately Carter left, Margret grabbed her phone and made a quick call, panic and worry laced in every word she said.

It wasn't long before three elderly men arrived in the living room, they exuded an air of authority, and their expression unreadable.

“I've told you Margret, arrange a marriage for Cyrus, even if the bride comes from an invisible background. Stop waiting for him to get better, he's obviously not going to get better, he's going to keep spoiling the reputation of the Sterling group until it's brought down to dust!!” the first man, Nate, spoke, annoyance dripping in his voice.

“That's right. He is a man and can't resist the charm of a beautiful woman, what you need right now is an heir, as for Cyrus? He is a lost hope and can't achieve anything but loss to the company. The boards are already making meetings to withdraw their shares, this can't continue, in no less time, Sterling will have no name for itself.” the third man, Vincent, added.

Margret sighed, her heart twisting with pain, and helpless, but she didn't dare to show it. She deeply regretted sending his son to study in another city, and now look at what has become of him. Her once smart and intelligent son was now crazy, with no answer or cue to what had happened to him or how it could be healed. She clasped her hands tightly, the rings biting into her skin. The company was her late husband's legacy, they had worked and suffered for it to get to where it is now. But Cyrus was her son, how could she sacrifice one for the other?

“But, Nate, I'm afraid he would kill the bride or turn against me.”

“Margret, this isn't about Cyrus, it's about the future of Sterling and the company.”

“Which sane lady will agree to get married to Cyrus, not after the rumours about him.” The bald man, who hadn't spoken since his arrival, suddenly chimed in.

“That's true.”

“I have an idea. Do you remember that girl from the Jones family? The one all over the news?”

“Yeah, yeah, the one, rumoured to have stabbed Louis?”

“Exactly. We can use this to our favor, don't you think so?”

“What do you mean?” Margret asked, creasing her brows.

“Louis is one of our competitors, and he knows we're above him. The Jones have fallen from grace and can't protect their daughter from Louis, Louis is clearly going to do something against them. It's better, we offer them protection in exchange for their daughter. Even if something happens to her, Jones can't go against Sterling, not in this lifetime.”

“Isn't that cruel, Vincent?”

“But she stabbed him.”

“For reasons we know nothing about, Louis is a pervert, we all know.”

“That's not the case right now, You need an heir, they need protection against Louis. It’s not cruelty, Margaret. It's survival. The Jones girl is disposable, and we can't afford sentimentality, not when Sterling stands on the brink of collapse.” Vincent is cold and firm.

Margaret took a deep breath, “Fine then. I'll send them a proposal.” the word felt heavy on her tongue, she only hoped this decision wouldn't destroy what little remained of her family.

“We'll back you up, no matter your decision. You're our sister.” Vincent smiled, his lines of wrinkles widening.

******

In a dark room, the faint scent of medicines and disinfectant lingered in the air. On the bed sat, Cyrus Sterling, his sharp and chiseled features, hidden under the dim light. His dark, cold and piercing gaze was fixed on his phone.

“What did you say to her?” His cold and deep voice suddenly spoke, as he raised his face to look at his assistant, who stood beside the bed stand.

“I told her that your illness acted up at the office, and it scared the board members away.”

“Hmm,” he hummed, placing his phone on the table.

“What do you think?”

“Sir?”

“What do you think she's going to do?”

“I overheard her calling over Sir Nate, and the rest of her brothers.”

Cyrus paused, seeming to think for a while, an evil smirk tugging at his lips.”Did you get any news from Nacho?”

Carter was about to reply, when he heard approaching footsteps, he paused and looked at Cyrus, who nodded at him to leave. Carter bowed slightly and left.

It wasn't long before Margret, along with a servant, walked into Cyrus’ room. The servant had stopped at the door, while Margret entered. “Cyrus dear, how are you feeling?” Her worried voice asked, as she made to sit beside him, but he waved his hand in the air, abruptly stopping her.

“The sofa,” he said coldly, his expression unreadable.

Margret nodded, pausing her lips into a deep thin line as she recoiled and sat on the sofa.

Before she could say something, Cyrus’ voice cut her off, “What are you going to do, now that you've heard what happened in the office?”

A glint of guilt flashed past her eyes, hearing his question. Her heart ached, like it was being twisted by an invisible hand.

“That's not why I'm here. Carter said the doctor came earlier, how are you feeling?”

Cyrus’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile, his voice dripping with disdain, “Don’t act like you're so concerned about my health, or are you? Or is it about your precious company?”

Margaret's face fell, no matter how much she tried to push herself on him, he kept pushing her away. And to think he was right, because she had actually come to tell him about the marriage.

“When have I been wrong?” a dark chuckle erupted his lips, a sound devoid of humour or warmth. “Go ahead, tell me what plans you have for your precious company.”

“Cyrus, you're my son and of course I do care about you, but the company is your father's legacy.”

“I suggest you move on to why you've come here.”

Margret was at loss of words, how was she going to tell something like this to him? She had no option left, as it was the only way to save him and the company.

“I want you to get married…I mean, I arranged a marriage for you. Please son, this about the wellbeing of this family, since you can't really take control of the company, there are competitors and providing an heir would lessen the rumors and…”

“You arranged a bride for me to get married to?” His jaw tightened, eyes darkening as he glared at his mother. “Wow, that's so thoughtful of you. Aren't you scared for the poor girl, or you got someone who can be disposed of and there won't be any consequences?”

“Cyrus–” her voice faltered.

Again, he was right. Feeling helpless and immense guilt, she swallowed hard, clenching her fists. Since her image was so evil in his eyes, then he should see her as evil, after all she was fighting for them both.

“In whatever way that's needed to save the company and the Sterling name, then the method doesn't matter, as long as it's productive. The marriage would help in no time.”

With that said, she got up and left.

Cyrus clenched his jaw, hatred and anger brimming in his eyes. “Let's see how the game plays out, Mother.”