The moment I finished speaking, silence fell like a curtain.
Augustus’s expression darkened. His grip on the cane trembled ever so slightly, but in the end–he said nothing to stop
- me.
Cassian stood frozen, like he’d just been slapped across the face in public.
“You’re crossing the line, Seraphina,” he finally snapped, voice tight with fury. “I already apologized. What else do you
want?”
I turned my head slightly, my tone still calm.
“You apologized because you were scared of prison–not because you felt guilty.”
“And I’m calling off the wedding… because I’ve finally seen you for who you really are.”
“I meant it–after today, there’s nothing left between us. Not you. Not the Sterlings.”
Cassian opened his mouth again, but before he could get a word out, Augustus slammed his cane into his shin.
“Enough. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough for one day.”
Then, forcing down his temper, Augustus turned back to me and bowed low.
“Miss Vale… if you’re still willing to marry into our family, I’ll transfer over half of Sterling Industries‘ assets to your name.”
“You’ll have full control. The company, the properties, the shares–everything. Just say the word, and the wedding goes
on.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to me.
I raised my eyes slowly, completely unmoved.
“And what is this supposed to be, Mr. Sterling? A bribe?” I asked, voice soft but cutting.
“Are you seriously trying to buy off a federal officer with your corporate portfolio?”
“It’s not a bribe,” he said quickly, trying to recover. “If you and Cassian are married, those shares would legally be yours. It’s
completely aboveboard.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“Too bad I’m not interested. And Cassian’s crimes? Those won’t be reduced just because you tried to pay me off.”
Augustus’s hand trembled. His lips had turned pale. But he still tried to speak.
Before he could, Cassian suddenly surged forward, his voice raw and desperate.
“You really think you can just walk away?” Cassian hissed. “The day we got engaged–my mom already filed all the paperwork behind the scenes. Marriage license. Ceremony approvals. Everything.”
Chapter 7
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8.05%
“Legally, we’re already married, Seraphina. For months now.”
A ripple of gasps spread through the crowd.
Augustus’s face went stone cold. “Cassian. That’s enough.”
Cassian pushed on, wild–eyed. “Why shouldn’t I say it? We bent over backwards for her–and she still treats us like trash!”
“My mom filed under her name with all the documents–witnesses, signed affidavits. The county recorded it. This marriage is official!”
I raised an eyebrow, like I’d just heard the most absurd joke of the century.
“You’re saying we’re legally married?”
I stepped closer, eyes steady on his. “Hate to break it to you, but my identity? It’s classified. Everything the public sees is
part of a cover profile.”
“Whatever marriage license your mom filed–it’s legally void. Doesn’t exist.”
“So if this was your master plan to keep me tied to the Sterlings… congratulations. It just blew up in your face.”
Cassian went completely pale. It was like someone had cut the ground out from under his feet.
“No… no way… You’re bluffing. There’s no way you have that kind of clearance.”
I turned to Augustus, my voice devoid of any warmth.
“Your grandson’s every word, every move–it’s all on record. You want him to walk free? Not happening.”
“He’ll face every consequence he deserves. One by one.“.
I looked toward the agents behind me and gave a simple nod.
“Take them.”
“Full charges. No leniency.”
Delilah crumpled on the spot, wailing as she pointed at Cassian like a drowning woman reaching for driftwood.
“It wasn’t me! It was Cassian! He planned everything–he told me what to do! He sent me here to mess with Seraphina! He
ordered the explosives! I was just following what he said–I have the messages, I have proof!”
Cassian froze. He hadn’t expected her to throw him under the bus the second things got real.
He had protected her up until now because he assumed he’d walk away clean.
But hearing her shift every ounce of blame onto him–his own panic began to rise.
“You lying bitch!” he exploded. “You were the one who said she was getting on your nerves! You begged me to teach her a
lesson!”
The two of them erupted into a pathetic, frenzied brawl–clawing at each other, screaming accusations like a couple of
Chapter 7
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unhinged criminals on a courtroom floor.
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
The agents moved in without a word, dragged them apart, snapped on the cuffs, and hauled them into separate vehicles.
A short distance away, Augustus answered three back–to–back phone calls.
With each one, his face grew whiter. Until finally, he sank to the pavement, unable to hold his cane steady.
Sterling Industries‘ bank accounts were frozen.
Their stock plummeted.
Major development projects were halted pending federal audits.
In a matter of hours, the empire they’d spent decades building began to collapse.
“This can’t be happening…” Augustus muttered. “This can’t be real…”
Then suddenly, he surged back to his feet, eyes blazing with disbelief and fury.
“Seraphina Vale!” he roared, voice trembling. “You think this is over?! The Sterlings have held this city for over thirty years
-we’ve got ties in every agency, every corridor of power!”
“You think one scandal’s enough to break us? You have no idea who you’re dealing with!”
“I’m not done! This won’t end here! I swear I’ll make you pay for this!”
I looked him dead in the eyes, my voice calm and resolute.
“No one stays above the law forever, Mr. Sterling.”
“The damage your family has done–the secrets you’ve buried, the people you’ve crushed–FARA knows all of it.”
“Your empire wasn’t built on power. It was built on corruption. And now? It’s time you finally paid the price.”
Chapter 7
