Lady Evelyn’s shock evaporated, replaced by a venomous, chilling smirk. She didn’t move toward the door; instead, she casually reached into her designer handbag.
“Throw us out?” Evelyn laughed, tossing a sleek black folder onto the marble floor. “Oh, Raymond, you always were delightfully naive. Did you really think I’d let a filthy commoner taint the Sterling bloodline without an insurance policy?”
Rebecca sneered, stepping out from behind her mother. “Go ahead, open it, big brother. It’s the original deed to this estate, plus the offshore debt ledgers you tried to hide. We own you. Now, tell the trash to clean up her mess, or I’m calling the board.”
Raymond stared at the folder, his jaw clenching. He took a step back.
But the heavy, suffocating silence wasn’t broken by his surrender. It was broken by a soft, chilling chuckle.
On the floor, Clara slowly stood up. The trembling, helpless victim was completely gone. She wiped the tears from her pristine cheeks, her posture instantly straightening into an aura of terrifying dominance. Even the sick little boy magically stopped crying, quietly pulling a small, glowing pocket-warmer from beneath his sweater and tossing it aside.
“I told you they wouldn’t pass the test, Ray,” Clara said, her voice dripping with icy, undeniable authority.
She stepped over the scattered toys, gracefully kicking the blackmail folder back to Evelyn’s feet. “That deed is fraudulent. I know, because my conglomerate bought the Sterling Estate—and your entire bankrupt holding company—three hours ago.”
Evelyn’s face turned ash white. “Y-you? You’re just a penniless nobody!”
“I’m Clara Vance, CEO of Vanguard Acquisitions,” she whispered, her eyes flashing dangerously. “And those maids you’ve been ordering around all morning?”
Clara snapped her fingers. In the background, the two maids dropped their cleaning towels, simultaneously reaching into their aprons to pull out federal badges.
“They’re forensic auditors,” Clara smiled, wrapping her arm around Raymond. “Take out the trash, officers. And don’t let them pack a single pearl.”