Just as the agents prepared to escort Cassian and Delilah into custody-
“Stop!”
A sharp voice cut through the air from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned.
An elderly man in a tailored navy overcoat and polished leather shoes pushed through, leaning heavily on a cane. His
white hair was damp with sweat, his steps unsteady but fast.
“Miss Vale,” he said breathlessly, voice strained with urgency, “I’m terribly sorry. This should never have happened.”
He bent at the waist and bowed deeply.
Cassian’s face went pale.
“Grandfather? What are you doing here?”
Augustus ignored him. He stepped right past his grandson and stopped in front of me.
“This was my failure,” he said solemnly. “You were wronged because I failed to manage my own family.”
I offered him a steady look and gently supported his elbow.
“There’s no need to blame yourself, Mr. Sterling.”
“But I’ll say this clearly–starting today, I have no affiliation with the Sterling family. Whatever consequences fall on your
household from this point forward are no longer my concern.”
At that, Augustus’s face twitched ever so slightly, but he swallowed the emotion and turned to the agents.
“Take her,” he said flatly, pointing at Delilah. “She alone made these decisions. We won’t defend her any longer.”
Delilah’s eyes went wide with terror.
“No! Augustus, it wasn’t me! It was Cassian! He told me to do it–I was just-”
“Don’t you dare call me that,” Augustus snapped. His voice thundered through the air. “You lost the right to call me
anything the moment you betrayed this family.”
“I took you in when you had no one–raised you like my own, gave you everything. And this is how you repay us? You spit
on everything the Sterling name stands for!”
“You think I didn’t know?” He jabbed his cane into the ground.
“You manipulated Cassian, provoked him, pushed him to betray his fiancée, and now you’ve dragged the entire family into disaster. You detonated a federal building. You insulted a FARA commander. And you pressed the button that started it
all.”
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“You’ve done everything you could to bring ruin to this family. Did you really think we’d still protect you?”
I watched Augustus deliver his speech, full of righteous fury and wounded dignity, but inwardly… I almost laughed.
Classic.
Throw the woman under the bus. Frame it as “taking responsibility.” Meanwhile, his real objective was crystal clear-
protect Cassian at all costs.
Of course, both Cassian and Delilah could see through it too.
Delilah crumpled to the pavement, mumbling, “It wasn’t me… it wasn’t me…”
Cassian started to move toward her, instinctively trying to shield her, but Augustus’s personal aide yanked him back by
the arm.
“Don’t,” the man warned under his breath. “Let it go.”
Then Augustus turned his cold gaze on Cassian.
“And you.”
“I used to think you were arrogant. Turns out you’re just a fool.”
“You didn’t even know who she was–and yet you had the nerve to abuse your power and blow up a secure building?”
“You really think the Sterlings are untouchable?”
His tone dropped like a gavel.
“As of now, you are no longer the heir to Sterling Industries.”
Cassian’s knees buckled. “Grandfather, you can’t- I only did it to protect our reputation-”
“Protect?” Augustus barked a bitter laugh.
“You just buried us.”
“I disown you. From now on, you’ll be treated as an ordinary employee and subject to investigation. If you’re convicted, you’ll serve your sentence like any other criminal. When you get out, you’ll apologize to Miss Vale, marry her, and spend the rest of your life making amends. You’ll be her support, her husband–and nothing more.”
I blinked,
Wait, what?
He still wanted this marriage to go through?
Of course. Cassian was done. If he couldn’t be heir, then Augustus needed something–anything–to keep their last link to
me alive.
Cassian turned toward me, jaw clenched, resentment flashing in his eyes.
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But finally, he lowered his head and spoke through gritted teeth.
“Miss Vale… no–Seraphina. I was wrong.”
“We were already engaged. The wedding was tomorrow. I shouldn’t have let anyone twist my judgment.”
“I’ll do better. I’ll make this right.”
His voice trembled, face full of regret–almost boyish in its sincerity.
But that flicker of hatred in his eyes?
Not subtle enough to miss.
I didn’t move. Didn’t blink.
I looked Augustus Sterling straight in the eye, my voice calm but firm. “With all due respect, Mr. Sterling, I believe I deserve a say in this too.”
“I already gave you my answer an hour ago.”
“There is no wedding. I’m not marrying your grandson.”
“And as of this moment, the Sterling family is no longer part of my life.
19
