Chapter 4 - The Bribe Attempt
Morning sunlight broke through the hospital blinds, casting a warm glow over Emma’s sleeping face.
She looked so peaceful, completely unaware of the absolute war I was waging on her behalf.
A sudden, aggressive knock on the hospital door shattered the quiet atmosphere of the room.
Before I could answer, an older woman dripping in expensive pearls and a fur coat pushed her way inside.
It was Julian’s mother, Eleanor Montgomery, accompanied by a sleazy-looking defense attorney.
“You have five minutes before I have security throw you out,” I stated, standing up to block her path to my child.
Eleanor scoffed, waving a dismissive hand in the air as if I were a peasant wasting her time.
“Let’s skip the theatrics, sweetheart,” Eleanor sneered, pulling a checkbook from her designer handbag.
“My son made a foolish mistake, but a criminal record will ruin his career.”
The defense attorney stepped forward, holding a non-disclosure agreement on a clipboard.
“We are prepared to offer you fifty thousand dollars to drop all charges and sign this confidentiality pact,” the lawyer said smoothly.
I looked at the check, then at the arrogant woman who had clearly raised a monster.
I let out a dark, humorless laugh that made Eleanor flinch in surprise.
“You think fifty thousand dollars is enough to buy my silence after your son assaulted my child?” I asked quietly.
Eleanor rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed by my refusal to bow down to her wealth.
“Fine, a hundred thousand, but not a penny more for a tiny scratch on her forehead.”
I pulled my personal black titanium credit card from my wallet and dropped it onto the hospital tray.
“My daily interest earnings could buy your entire pathetic family twice,” I informed her coldly.
Eleanor stared at the ultra-exclusive billionaire’s card, her face turning an ashen shade of gray.
“I am Claire Sterling, and I am going to make sure your son rots in a federal prison cell.”
The defense attorney audibly gasped, recognizing my name and the terrifying power associated with it.
Eleanor stumbled backward, realizing she had just tried to bribe one of the most powerful women in the country.
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“Get out of my room before I buy your house and bulldoze it,” I commanded.
They practically sprinted out the door, terrified of the wrath they had just unleashed.
