Chapter 6 - The Blindness of Fools
Dominic stood rooted to the floor, his brain utterly incapable of processing the mathematical reality before him.
His mother, Beatrice, was equally paralyzed, her champagne glass trembling so violently that wine spilled onto her lace sleeve.
Vivienne, however, was blinded by her own narcissism and ignorance.
She had never seen Arthur Sterling’s face in society tabloids because the Sterling family strictly prohibited their photographs from being published.
She assumed Arthur was simply an eccentric old billionaire who happened to have a charitable soft spot for sad children.
Vivienne stepped forward, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder, putting on her most rehearsed, sugary socialite voice.
“Oh, Sir Sterling, please forgive the little monster!” Vivienne laughed melodramatically, walking toward Arthur with her hands outstretched.
“Children can be so dramatic and deceitful when they don't get their way.”
“The girl fell down the stairs earlier because she is clumsy, just like her useless mother.”
“I was simply trying to discipline her so she wouldn't embarrass Mr. Thorne in front of such distinguished guests.”
Dominic finally found his voice, stepping up beside Vivienne to smooth over the awkward tension.
“Yes, Sir Sterling, my apologies for this domestic interruption,” Dominic said, forcing a confident, charming smile.
“My daughter has behavioral issues inherited from her mother’s side of the family.”
“Cynthia was an unstable orphan from the slums.”
“Please, allow my security team to take the child away so we can discuss our federal aerospace contract in private.”
Dominic reached out his hand to pull Chloe away from Arthur’s chest.
Before Dominic’s fingers could even touch Chloe’s dress, two Sterling tactical guards moved with terrifying speed.
A sickening crunch echoed through the hall as a guard grabbed Dominic’s wrist, twisting it behind his back with surgical efficiency.
Dominic let out an undignified howl of pain, dropping to his knees on the marble floor.
“What are you doing?!” Beatrice shrieked, rushing forward.
“Do you know who we are?!”
“We are the Thornes of Manhattan!”
“Release my son this instant!”
Arthur Sterling did not even look down at Dominic groveling on the floor.
He gently patted Chloe’s back, his hand large and protective, shielding her eyes from the violence.
“You call my granddaughter a clumsy monster?” Arthur asked, his tone so low and lethal that the nearby guests instinctively stepped backward.
“You dare claim that the sole granddaughter of the Sterling Empire was pulled from the slums?”
Dominic’s eyes widened until the whites were completely bloodshot.
The breath was sucked violently from his lungs.
“Granddaughter…?” Dominic choked out, staring up at Arthur in pure, unadulterated horror.
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“No… no, Cynthia said she had no family… she had nothing…”
The grand entrance doors of the ballroom swung open once again.
