Chapter 16 - Arthur WakesArthur Sterling woke to the sound of machines.
For one beautiful second, he believed he was still powerful.
Then he moved his right hand and heard the chain.
Handcuffed.
Hospital bed.
Two guards outside the door.
Bandage around his shoulder.
No phone.
No watch.
No empire.
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, Celeste was standing in the doorway.
For a moment, Arthur wondered if pain medication had invented her.
Then she smiled.
“Hello, brother.”
Arthur’s voice was rough.
“How are you here?”
“Transferred for medical evaluation.” She walked inside, guarded but calm. “The officers outside believe I’m here to discuss family cooperation.”
Arthur laughed weakly.
“Are you?”
Celeste leaned close.
“No. I’m here to see what failure looks like up close.”
Arthur’s eyes darkened.
“You lost too.”
Celeste shrugged.
“I lost a facility. You lost a dynasty.”
He looked toward the window.
“They’ll never keep it. Vivian is weak. Noah is inexperienced. Clara is a child.”
Celeste tilted her head.
“Clara is the only real Sterling in all of this.”
Arthur tried to sit up.
“She is Theodore’s mistake.”
“No,” Celeste said. “She is Helena’s revenge.”
Arthur stared at her.
Celeste lowered her voice.
“The board is turning. The accounts are frozen. Bernard is cooperating. Mason is confessing. Noah is alive. Vivian is speaking publicly tomorrow.”
Arthur’s face tightened.
“She wouldn’t dare.”
Celeste smiled.
“You taught her fear. Clara taught her timing.”
Arthur breathed harder.
“I’ll destroy them.”
“With what?”
The question hung there.
Arthur had never imagined emptiness.
He had always owned people. Files. Secrets. Judges. Doctors. Police. Money.
Now every weapon had been turned around.
Celeste stepped back.
“But don’t worry. I didn’t come empty-handed.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
“What do you want?”
“There is one secret Helena never found.”
Arthur went still.
Celeste’s smile widened.
“You know the one.”
Arthur whispered, “Don’t.”
“Oh, now you ask politely?”
Arthur’s face twisted.
“If that comes out, we both hang.”
Celeste leaned close again.
“No, Arthur. If that comes out, the entire Sterling name dies.”
A guard knocked on the glass.
“Time.”
Celeste straightened.
“Rest well, brother.”
As she reached the door, Arthur called after her.
“Celeste.”
She paused.
He said, “If I go down, I’ll tell them you ordered Theodore’s death.”
Celeste turned back.
May you like
For the first time, her smile vanished.
Then she said softly, “Who do you think taught you how?”
