Chapter 238: Really Related to the Sterling Family?

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Really Related to the Sterling Family?

"Hector Warner, are those two old fossils still refusing to give in?"

Sean Sterling’s expression was impatient, his tone filled with agitation.

Two days had passed, and his patience was wearing thin.

’Do they really not give a damn about his "dear" older brother, Julian Sterling?’

’Or have they already made other plans?’

"No. They’re just like before, coughing up blood every day. It doesn’t look good."

"Other than Miss Kensington, has anyone else seen them?"

"No. Per your instructions, no one is allowed to visit."

Sean Sterling’s face fell. ’Those two old fossils really have some nerve.’

’Since they want to play the long game, they can’t blame me for not holding back.’

"Tomorrow, bring Julian Sterling to them. I’d like to see if they really don’t care about his life!"

’As long as I have Julian Sterling as a bargaining chip, I refuse to believe they won’t cave.’

Just then, Sean Sterling received a phone call from the estate.

"Second Young Master, it’s bad! The First Young Master has disappeared!"

"What happened?" Sean Sterling’s gaze hardened, his voice sinking low.

"I went to deliver the First Young Master’s meal as usual, but I searched the whole floor and couldn’t find him anywhere."

"And the old madam’s quarters?"

"Not there, either. I’ve checked. The staff in the main house said they didn’t see the First Young Master."

"Useless fool! You can’t even watch a simpleton! What good are you to me? Gather some men and expand the search."

’He refused to believe a simpleton could just vanish for no reason.’

"Yes, sir. I’ll gather everyone now. We’ll search together and find the First Young Master, I guarantee it!"

"Wait..."

Sean Sterling suddenly recalled something. "Where are Jenson Whitman and his wife?" he asked.

"They moved to a hotel two days ago and haven’t been back."

They were originally supposed to stay at the Sterling estate, but a couple of days ago, Sean Sterling had found an excuse to send them to a hotel.

That made it easier for him to carry out his plans.

Sean Sterling’s brow furrowed, his expression sinister. "Find him. If you can’t, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

...

Early the next morning, a panicked servant knocked on Sean Sterling’s door, their face ashen as they stammered out a cry.

"Second Young Master, something awful has happened! The old madam and Mr. Sterling... they’re... dying!"

The next second, the door was flung open from the inside. Sean Sterling, clearly just woken up, wore a weary expression.

"Who did you say is dying?"

"The old madam and Mr. Sterling! When I went over this morning, I found them both lying in bed. Their faces are pale, and they’re barely breathing..."

Sean Sterling pushed the servant aside and strode toward Miss Sterling and Silas Sterling’s room.

Inside, the two lay on the bed with their eyes closed, their breathing so faint it seemed they could stop at any moment.

He summoned a doctor, but after an examination, the doctor just shook his head.

"Second Young Master, it’s time to prepare for their passing."

They’re just hanging on by a thread. Once that last breath leaves them, they’ll be gone.

Sean Sterling stared at the two people on the bed, his expression inscrutable.

"Hector Warner, bring over the documents."

Hector Warner immediately turned and left. When he returned, he held a thick stack of transfer documents and a red ink pad.

"Let’s begin. Don’t miss a single one," Sean Sterling instructed casually, standing by the window as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

’Since they weren’t willing, he’d have to take matters into his own hands.’

’Everything the Sterling family possessed had to be his.’

"Yes, sir."

Hector Warner responded and immediately took out the documents one by one. He grabbed Miss Sterling’s hand, then Silas Sterling’s, and pressed their fingerprints onto each page.

After every document had been imprinted, Hector Warner handed the stack to Sean Sterling for review.

Sean Sterling finished his detailed review, a cold, sinister smile playing on his lips.

He had already hired someone to forge their signatures. Now, with their actual fingerprints, the documents were perfect forgeries, and the company’s old guard would never be able to spot the flaw.

"The moment they take their last breath, begin funeral preparations and issue the death notice."

’As soon as the two elders were dead, he could take control of the company and call a shareholders’ meeting. His era would officially begin. In the future, he alone would have the final say in the entire Sterling family.’

Hector Warner voiced a slight concern, seeking clarification.

"Second Young Master, should we notify Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, and the Kensington Family, about Mr. Sterling and the old madam’s critical condition?"

"Go ahead and tell them."

’They’re unconscious and barely breathing anyway. They can’t talk.’

’Letting them come see for themselves isn’t a bad idea.’

’At least it would preserve his last shred of decorum as a son and grandson.’

’Especially at such a critical moment, he couldn’t let anyone suspect a thing.’

...

By the time Sebastian Kensington arrived with Miss Kensington, Miss Sterling had just "stopped breathing." A moment later, Silas Sterling "passed away" as well.

Miss Kensington held her old friend’s cold hand, her grief unbearable as tears streamed down her cheeks. Overcome with sorrow, she nearly fainted and was quickly helped to a side hall to rest.

"My condolences."

Sebastian Kensington gently patted Sean Sterling’s shoulder in a comforting gesture.

Sean Sterling’s eyes were red, his voice choked with sorrow. "Sebastian, with both my father and grandmother gone, I have no close family left."

"You still have your brother, Julian. You’re not alone. You two should support each other from now on. And if you ever face any difficulties, I’ll be sure to help in any way I can."

"It’s just... my older brother went missing yesterday for no reason. I’ve had a large team searching for him, but we haven’t found a single trace." Sean Sterling’s voice was laced with anxiety, his expression a mask of concern. "I don’t know where on earth he could have gone."

Sebastian Kensington’s expression flickered. "How could he suddenly disappear? Have you checked every nook and cranny?"

"We’ve looked, but we just can’t find him..."

"How does a grown man just vanish? I’ll send some of my men to expand the search. If that doesn’t work, call the police and get them involved."

"Yes, I will."

Sean Sterling mused to himself, ’It looks like the Kensington Family really has nothing to do with Julian’s disappearance. I guess I was overthinking things.’

A memorial hall was set up at the estate, officially opening it for condolences. Guests arrived in a steady stream to pay their respects, and Sean Sterling personally received each one, perfectly playing the part of a grieving, devoted son.

Vesper Grayson and Jared Hawthorne arrived to offer their condolences on the third day of the viewing. After a brief gesture of respect, they left without staying long.

In the car on the way back, Vesper Grayson watched the scenery blur past the window and remarked coolly, "Sean Sterling is a fantastic actor. If we didn’t know the truth, we’d probably be fooled by his hypocritical act, too."

The man is cold-blooded and selfish, a complete contradiction to his outward appearance. The Sterling family ended up raising a venomous snake in their midst.

Jared Hawthorne said calmly, "That’s just human nature. You asked me to look into Sean Sterling, and I actually found a few interesting things."

"Oh?" Vesper Grayson gave him a quizzical look.

"His birth parents were once employees of the Sterling family. He was orphaned because of an accident on a construction project. A six-year-old Sean Sterling was then sent to an orphanage, but he ran away because he was so unruly. By some twist of fate, he ended up being adopted by the Sterling family and became their adopted son."

As for whether it was all part of a plan, only he would know for sure.

Vesper Grayson looked stunned. "Are you saying Sean Sterling orchestrated his own adoption by the Sterling family? In that case, were his parents’ deaths really connected to them?"

"The accident was caused by the foreman cutting corners on materials, which led to the tragedy. Afterward, the Sterling family compensated the victims’ families in full, according to protocol. It’s just that the compensation meant for Sean Sterling’s parents was seized and divided up by his relatives."

"You can remember things at six. Do you think he might have blamed the Sterling family for what the foreman did?"

"It’s very likely."

Vesper Grayson sighed. "He certainly is patient, waiting all this time to finally make his move."

"A moment of impatience can ruin a grand plan. If he’d acted years ago, it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly," Jared Hawthorne said calmly, taking her hand. "If you hadn’t helped detoxify Miss Sterling and Mr. Sterling, he probably would have gotten away with it."

’That was true...’

’If President Kensington hadn’t asked for her help, she never would have gotten involved with the Sterlings, and the detoxification would never have happened. The family’s fortune would have fallen into Sean Sterling’s hands sooner or later.’

’By a strange twist of fate, she had ruined his years of planning.’

When she didn’t say anything, Jared Hawthorne glanced at her and asked quietly, "What’s on your mind?"