Chapter 6 - The True Heir
Beatrice looked between her older son and me, realizing for the first time that her iron grip on the Cross empire was slipping through her fingers.
"You're making a catastrophic mistake, Stellan," she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "A nobody from the slums cannot inherit the Cross trust. The board will never approve it!"
"The board answers to the majority shareholder," Stellan replied coldly, picking up his gun and sliding it back into its holster. "And as of this morning, after transferring Caleb's retroactive shares to his legal daughter... I control seventy-five percent of the voting power. Your opinion, Mother, is no longer required."
Beatrice staggered backward. Her guards quickly moved in to support her as she glared at us with pure, undiluted hatred. "You'll regret this, Stellan. Both of you."
Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the office, her bodyguards trailing closely behind. The heavy double doors slammed shut, sealing off the tension in the room.
I let out a long, shaky breath, sinking down onto the nearest sofa. Fern, sensing the shift in the air, let out a small gurgle and reached her tiny hand toward Stellan.
Stellan walked over, his stern expression melting away as he looked down at us. He knelt on one knee beside the sofa, his large hand gently touching Fern's tiny fingers.
"Are you alright, Nora?" he asked softly.
May you like
"I... I think so," I stammered, looking into his deep gray eyes. "Thank you, Stellan. For everything. But... what happens now? I'm still just an employee here, and..."
"No, you're not," Stellan interrupted, his thumb lightly brushing my cheek. "You never were. And as for what happens now... we stay together."
