Chapter 8 - The Shadow of the Past
Julian sought out Dr. Richard Sterling, searching for records that could prove Eleanor’s deliberate manipulation during Clara’s original departure two years ago. Richard, bound by his ethical duty to protect his patients, revealed a hidden truth that had remained buried in medical archives.
"Your father didn't die of natural causes, Julian," Dr. Sterling said quietly inside his private office, handing over an old, yellowed file. "He was under immense stress before his heart failed—stress caused by a quiet, internal restructuring of Vance Enterprises orchestrated by your mother."
Julian’s eyes scanned the document. The date of his father's sudden collapse matched the exact week Eleanor had gained controlling shares in the firm.
May you like
"She built her empire on crushed lives," Julian realized, a cold wave of clarity washing over him. "My father, Clara... and she intended to do the same to Leo."
"Power without compassion is just a cage, Julian," Richard remarked gently. "Break the cycle. Not with revenge, but with truth."
