Even Alphas Bow to Her Chapter 07
I slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“Ethan, go home. Your mate–my sister–is waiting for you.”
He let go of the door.
In the rearview mirror, he stood there. Frozen.
The next morning at nine, Lily’s mindlink slammed
into my head.
I was back in Europe. Distance no longer blocked the connection.
“Vivian Sterling! You’re the owner of Summit Capital?!”
Lily’s voice cut through–no trace of her usual sugary whine.
Like every mask had just been ripped off.
“When did you–how did you–you hid this from us
for years?”
“I didn’t hide anything. You just never asked.”
She paused.
“So you meeting Ethan yesterday–was that on purpose? You still love him?”
“His company submitted a funding application. My
investment team screened it through standard
protocol. Had nothing to do with me.”
“Don’t give me that! You did it on purpose!” Her voice pitched higher. “You tore him apart in that meeting! Do you know what he was like when he came home last night? He didn’t sleep at all–kept saying he had no idea that company belonged to Vivian Sterling. How is he supposed to face you now? How is he supposed to face me?”
“Lily, he came in for funding. I reviewed his project. That’s my job.”
“You call that a job? You picked apart every flaw, trashed his entire company–you were getting revenge!”
“His company has serious issues. That’s not just my opinion–it’s the consensus of five analysts on my investment team.”
“I don’t care about your analysts!”
Her composure shattered completely.
“Vivian Sterling, you’ve been jealous of me since we were kids. You had to compete with me over everything. Now that you have money, you want to crush my mate under your heel? If you’re still in love with him, just say it. Don’t play these games!”
“I don’t love him.”
“Who are you kidding? You loved him for ten years!”
“Right. Ten years ago.”
“What’s the difference between ten years ago and now?” She let out a cold laugh. “You spent six years overseas alone. Thirty–something, still not bonded, no mate. And you expect me to believe you’re over him? Yeah, right.”
I leaned back in my chair and spun my pen between my fingers.
Some things weren’t worth saying.
“Lily, the investment decision will follow the proper
process. Whether we fund or not–it has nothing to do with personal relationships.”
“So you’re not funding him?” Her voice dropped
suddenly. “Sis–if you don’t, he’s done. His company won’t last. If he goes under, we’ll lose the Estate.”
There it was.
That soft, familiar cadence was back.
Here came the pity act.
“Sis, please. Just fund him. Do it for me. I’m your sister.”
Do it for me–same tone she’d used ten years ago, whining in front of Ethan.
“It’s not just my call. There’s due diligence, the investment committee, risk control protocols-”
“Then what do you want me to do? Get on my knees and beg?”
“Lily. Calm down.”
“I am calm. You’re the one who needs to calm down.”
She took a breath. Her voice went flat.
“Sis, I’m going to say this one last time. If you don’t fund him, I’ll tell Mom, Dad, and everyone else that you’re settling a personal grudge–that you’re deliberately trying to destroy the Hawthornes. Guess who they’ll believe? You, who hasn’t been home in six years? Or me–the daughter who’s been here taking care of them all along?”
“Are you done?”
“You-”
My voice went professional. “If you’re done—then let’s leave it at that. You’ll get a formal response on the investment.”
I cut the mindlink and blocked her immediately.
The next second, the Family Group Chat exploded.
Lily: [Mom, Vivian is the owner of Summit Capital. The big investment firm. She’s been hiding this from us for years. Ethan went to them for funding, and the investor was HER. She tore him apart in the meeting on purpose.]
Margaret: [What??? Vivian???]