Chapter 241: What is your true intention?

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: What is your true intention?

Jenson Whitman and Renee Rhodes looked up almost simultaneously, their gazes landing in unison on the doorway.

Renee Rhodes’s heart suddenly tightened, and she subconsciously gripped Jenson Whitman’s arm. Her fingertips turned white, betraying the nervousness and anticipation she couldn’t hide. Sensing her unease, Jenson gently patted the back of her hand with his warm one, softly reassuring her and signaling for her to calm down.

When Vesper Grayson looked up and saw the two people in the private room, she froze, her eyes filled with astonishment. She spoke without thinking.

"Mr. Whitman, Godmother? What are you two doing here?"

Milton Grayson gestured. "Vesper, Jared, come sit down."

After pulling Jared Hawthorne to sit beside Milton Grayson, she leaned in and whispered.

"Dad, what’s going on? Didn’t you say you’d arranged for me to meet my birth parents?"

Milton Grayson was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, "They are your birth parents."

Vesper Grayson looked at Jenson Whitman and Renee Rhodes across from her, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her mind went blank, and she froze on the spot.

’I never would have imagined that my birth parents were Mr. Whitman and my godmother!’

"Vesper, I know this is all very sudden, and it might be hard for you to accept right now, but we... we really are your birth parents." Jenson Whitman was the first to break the silence in the room. His voice was gentle and filled with profound guilt as he slowly recounted what happened all those years ago.

Back then, he was being hunted. Renee Rhodes, who was six months pregnant, went missing during an accident. She suffered a head injury that caused complete amnesia, so no one knew she had safely given birth to a daughter. He, on the other hand, had believed their child was long dead.

"I was always afraid of upsetting your mother, so I never dared to bring up the accident. I had no idea you existed. If I had known you were born safely, I would have sent people to find you and bring you back."

Vesper Grayson felt like she was in a dream. ’So I have parents, and a brother. And all these years, they never even knew I existed.’

"Vesper..." Renee Rhodes’s eyes reddened. She stood up and took her hand. "It’s all my fault. I forgot you. I..."

She didn’t know what else to say.

If Milton Grayson hadn’t taken the initiative to tell her, she would never have known any of this. Even now, she still couldn’t remember anything from that lost period of her life.

Vesper Grayson’s heart ached. She said softly, "It’s not your fault. I’ve never blamed you. You don’t have to blame yourself."

For the past twenty-odd years, Milton Grayson had raised her as the apple of his eye. She had wanted for nothing, living a peaceful and comfortable life, never suffering the slightest hardship or injustice.

Renee Rhodes could no longer contain her emotions. She reached out, gently pulled Vesper into her arms, and sobbed uncontrollably.

’My daughter... she’s so sensible, kind, and understanding. Not only does she not blame me in the slightest, she’s even comforting me.’ The thought only made Renee’s heart ache with more guilt and pain.

After a long while, Renee Rhodes gradually composed herself but still gripped Vesper Grayson’s hand tightly, as if afraid she would disappear the moment she let go.

"I knew it. The first time I saw you, I felt an incredible connection, an urge to be close to you. It turns out there was a reason for it all."

Jenson Whitman took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, comforting her in a low, gentle voice.

"Vesper already said she doesn’t blame you, so why are you still crying? Now that we’ve found each other, we can spend the rest of our lives making it up to her. Call Chadwick later, tell him what’s happened, and have him come over right away."

"I’m just so happy, the tears won’t stop..." Renee Rhodes was crying tears of joy. "I’ll call Chadwick in a bit. I’m sure he’ll be overjoyed when he finds out."

「Meanwhile」

Chadwick Whitman was in his office handling work when he received a call from his mother, Renee Rhodes. After hearing what she had to say, he shot up from his office chair, his face a mask of shock.

"Mom, are you serious? Are you sure there’s no mistake?"

He knew that besides him, his mother had another child. Unfortunately, that child was lost in the same accident his mother had been in, and his father forbade him from ever mentioning it in front of her. For years, his father had secretly taken him to pay respects at his younger sibling’s memorial tablet.

But now, his mother was suddenly telling him they had found his long-lost sister.

"I’m sure. And you’ve even met her," Renee Rhodes said, the joy in her voice impossible to hide.

Chadwick Whitman’s gaze sharpened. "Who?"

"Vesper. The one who saved your father. My goddaughter."

’It’s her?’

Chadwick Whitman was stunned into silence.

"I’ll wrap things up here at work. I’ll be there tomorrow morning."

「At the same time」

In the executive conference room of the Sterling Group, the atmosphere was suffocating. A confrontation, simmering with undercurrents, was quietly unfolding.

All the group’s core executives and veteran shareholders were present. The room was utterly silent, the air thick with tension.

"Second Young Master, the Old Chairman and Mr. Silas are barely cold in their graves, yet you’re already so eager to call a meeting with all the senior executives. What are you planning?"

Sean Sterling sat upright in the head seat, his posture ramrod straight. He exuded a cold, sharp aura, his expression indifferent, devoid of any emotion. His gaze slowly swept across the room as he spoke in a deep voice.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce a matter of great importance concerning the future leadership of the Sterling Group."

As soon as he finished speaking, his special assistant, Hector Warner, immediately began distributing the prepared share transfer documents and copies of the will to each of the executives.

At first, everyone present looked puzzled, but as they read the contents of the documents, their expressions changed drastically. The room instantly erupted in an uproar, with murmurs and discussions breaking out everywhere.

"How is this possible? The Old Chairman actually gave the entire authority of the Sterling Group to an adopted son with no blood relation!"

"What about Young Master Julian Sterling? He’s the direct grandson, the legitimate heir by blood! How could the Old Chairman make such a decision, passing the family business to an outsider!"

"This will and the share transfer agreement must be forged! They can’t possibly be real!"

Voices of doubt and opposition rose one after another.

Sean Sterling’s expression remained calm, his voice cool. "I know that most of you here do not approve of my status. However, this document was personally signed and fingerprinted by the Old Chairman. You’ve all worked with the Sterling Family for many years; it’s impossible that you can’t even recognize the Old Chairman’s handwriting."

Chester Underwood gripped his cane and struck it hard against the floor. His face was ashen as he snorted coldly and launched a sharp attack.

"Handwriting and fingerprints can be forged! Who can prove this was the Old Chairman’s true wish? And why didn’t you inform us when the Old Chairman and Silas were on their deathbeds? Something is clearly fishy about this!"

"If you want us to accept this document, you’d better produce a full video recording or an audio recording of the Old Chairman making the will. Otherwise, it’s all just empty talk and means nothing!"

"The Old Chairman and Silas haven’t even been gone a week, yet you’re already rushing to seize power and take control of the Sterling Group. Such ruthless ambition is unforgivable!"

The accusations grew more intense, but Sean Sterling’s expression remained unchanged. He had long anticipated that this group of old-timers would not accept him easily. All their doubts and challenges were entirely within his expectations.

"I can understand why you all have objections," he said. "But my actions are open and honest. I have nothing to hide, and I can withstand anyone’s scrutiny and tests."

Sean Sterling’s aura turned icy, and his tone became unyieldingly forceful. Each word landed with weight and finality.

"Previously, the Old Madam intended for me to take over the Sterling Group, and you all vehemently opposed it. Now, the Old Chairman has transferred all his shares to my name. I am the sole controlling shareholder of the Sterling Group. I am its legal and rightful leader."

"If anyone insists on questioning this or refuses to accept the arrangement, you are free to leave the Sterling Group at any time and seek employment elsewhere."

"You should all think carefully about who will be in charge of the Sterling Group from now on, and who will be signing your paychecks. Don’t let someone with ulterior motives incite you to be the sacrificial lamb, only to end up forfeiting your own interests for nothing. It’s not worth the loss."

The veiled accusation was crystal clear. Everyone in the room was sharp; they instantly understood that his words were aimed directly at Chester Underwood.

Chester Underwood’s face turned ashen. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, glaring at Sean Sterling as he spoke, his every word a piercing blow.

"Even if you hold the shares, I will never acknowledge an outsider like you in charge of the Sterling Family! I suspect you had a hand in the deaths of the Old Chairman and Silas—that you murdered them to usurp power!"

The moment he said this, the room fell into a deathly silence. Everyone looked at each other, their minds reeling.

If this truly involved murder for power, then the accusation was of the highest order. The nature of the situation had changed completely!