2

Our family's fortune began with my grandfather's generation.

To put it bluntly, we're rich enough to do nothing all day and spend tens of thousands every second, and the money would still last for decades.

But for a family with such vast wealth, there were strangely few children.

My grandfather was a philanderer who married and divorced several wives one after another.

But tragically, in that generation, my father was the only boy to live past the age of five.

So from a young age, I was steeped in the schemes and power plays of a large family.

For someone like Ron Rhodes, I don't even have to waste my time looking at his file to know what game he's playing.

When it comes to scheming, women can be far more ruthless than men.

My dad grew sick of watching women fight for power. So while he had plenty of affairs, he never let it disrupt his home life. Until the day he died, my mother was the only woman he ever married.

I don't concern myself with my mother, largely because we were never that close.

As I said, I could support her even if she spent money like water. My indifference until today didn't mean I was clueless about the situation.

Ever since I started school, on top of my regular coursework, I had to study various economics courses at night.

I would never go to bed before studying until at least midnight.

The very first contract I handled while learning the ropes at the company was worth millions.

From the very beginning, my dad groomed me to be the company's successor.

My authority is not to be challenged.

Now that Ron Rhodes has had the audacity to strut before me, I have no intention of letting him walk away unscathed.

Expressionless, I drew an X across a contract in front of me.

I glanced back at the family portrait that still hung in the study, even after my father's death.

In the photo, the family of three wore warm smiles—a handsome man, a beautiful woman.

I leaned back, rocking in my custom-made office chair.

Besides...

Who ever told Ron Rhodes my mother was a good person?

3

The Butler quickly brought me the information I requested: my mother's various credit card payment records from the last ten years.

Every single transaction was enough to cover a typical family's expenses for an entire year.

I scanned through the statements.

With the fountain pen in my hand, I circled the items that caught my attention.

Taking the hint, The Butler pulled up the relevant files on his tablet for me to review.

Just as I expected.

In recent years, Ron Rhodes had used my mother's cards to purchase several properties in Argent and Silvera.

On Valentine's Day alone, the transfer amount was nearly a million.

All wired to the same account, of course.

I flipped through the thoroughly investigated file on Ron Rhodes.

It revealed that his parents had died young, and he had been raised by Great-aunt Rhodes.

During his relationship with my mother, he used various excuses to get her to pay for building a house and starting businesses in his hometown.

The Butler leaned in and reminded me in a low voice.

"It seems the Madam is quite fond of Ron Rhodes this time. Should I go and remind her..."

I shook my head, refusing, and patted The Butler's shoulder with a smile.

The Butler immediately stood up straight, a hint of confusion on his face.

I smiled and answered his unspoken question. "Why do you think my mother insisted on bringing him here to see me?"

"She likes Ron Rhodes, true, but she's even more reluctant to give up her current carefree life."

"After all, if she marries Ron Rhodes, the trust fund my father left behind will stop making payments."

"Of course she knows I won't approve. She's letting me be the bad guy."

"This was all part of her plan."

: Paternity Test

4

"How old is the child now?"

"Eighteen."

I scrolled through my phone as I gave my instructions.

"Find an opportunity. Arrange for a student health check-up at their school, and get a paternity test done for the child, my mother, and Ron Rhodes."

The Butler nodded, then asked hesitantly, "Miss, you suspect... the child?"

I looked up at the Butler.

Amused, I pointed to the blood types on the report.

"My mother has type A blood. Ron Rhodes is type O. Unless they're some kind of medical miracle, how could they possibly have a child with type B blood?"

The Butler immediately nodded, signaling that he understood.

Next, I called the company's legal department.

I told them to start preparing the documents to sue Ron Rhodes.

"But the transfers came from your mother's account. She might not agree to it."

I let out a dry laugh.

I put the phone on speaker, gazing at the wisteria outside the window as I took a sip of tea.

"Oh, she'll agree. She most certainly will."

"You just need to get everything ready."

"Wait for my signal, then move immediately."

'Does he really think any piece of trash can get their hands on the Sterling Family's money?'

Setting down my cup, I stood up and rested my clasped hands on the back of the chair.

"Everything Ron Rhodes has swallowed, I'm going to make him spit it all back out, with interest."