Chapter 130: Chapter 117: Proof

Victor Sterling was taken away.

Isla Prescott could feel Audrey Hughes’s hand trembling as she held it. They had been entangled for half a lifetime, and now, it had finally come to an end. Isla figured Audrey’s feelings must be incredibly complex.

“Auntie, are you all right?” Isla Prescott asked, giving Audrey Hughes’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m fine. Just overjoyed.”

Audrey Hughes had been seeking spiritual peace at a temple recently, but as long as Victor Sterling was not brought to justice, her heart could never be still. Now, that was finally over. Her last lingering attachment to the mortal world had been severed.

Quiet fell over the hospital room.

Although Isla Prescott didn’t know the full story between Shane Sterling and his mother, she felt she should give them some space. She and the lawyer Audrey Hughes had brought with her quietly exited the room.

Shane Sterling’s heart had been pounding ever since his mother appeared. Even though they’d had a strained relationship for so many years, it hadn’t diminished his love for her in the slightest.

Audrey Hughes had given him a happy, love-filled childhood, laying a foundation of kindness in his character. It was because of this that Shane had been able to grow up by Victor Sterling’s side without losing his way.

“Does it still hurt?” Audrey Hughes asked, walking over to Shane’s side.

“It’s manageable.”

“You’ve always been brave.”

Shane smiled, a little embarrassed, and changed the subject. “How’s Ezra?”

“He’s doing all right. He’s much calmer now.”

“That’s good.”

The mother and son looked at each other in silence, a sudden loss for words hanging between them.

After a moment, Shane asked, “Are you really going to give me all your shares in Sterling Group?”

“Of course I am.”

“Then what about Ezra?”

“This was Ezra’s idea as well,” Audrey Hughes said, looking at Shane. “All these years, you’ve done everything you possibly could for your little brother. Ezra and I both know that.”

Audrey Hughes had always firmly believed that while blood was a bond, it wasn’t the only one. She believed that true sincerity would be met with the same in return, which was why both she and Ezra trusted Shane unconditionally.

“Ezra and I have decided to stay at the temple. We’ll be devoting our lives to it. You can come visit us when you have time.”

Shane’s heart sank with a pang of disappointment.

With Audrey and Ezra staying at the temple, it meant the family would rarely have the chance to be together. He and his mother had only just reconciled, and now they were to be separated again.

“Why the long face?” Audrey asked when she saw Shane’s furrowed brow. “Are you sad to see us go?”

“Yes.”

“Like I said, you can visit us when you have time. The temple isn’t a prison. And we can come see you when we miss you.”

“Okay.”

“Treat Miss Prescott well. I’ll be waiting for good news from you two.”

“Okay.”

“Well, I’ll be going. You get some rest. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Mom.”

Hearing Shane call her “Mom” again, Audrey lowered her head and smiled. And as she smiled, tears began to stream down her face.

—

Isla Prescott had been waiting in the hospital corridor. She immediately stood up when she saw Audrey Hughes emerge from the room.

“Auntie.”

“Miss Prescott, thank you for waiting.”

“You’re too kind, Auntie. From now on, please just call me Isabelle.”

“All right, Isabelle.”

“Are you heading back now?”

“Yes. I’ll leave Sean in your care.”

“Of course,” Isla Prescott said. “If he hadn’t saved me, I’d be the one lying in that hospital bed right now.”

“He was willing to risk his life to save you, which means he truly loves you. I’m not just saying this because I’m his mother, but Sean is a responsible and dependable man. Isabelle, you will surely be happy with him. Of course, you’re an outstanding and brave young woman yourself.” Audrey Hughes leaned closer to Isla Prescott and whispered, “I was there that day at The Lanthian Club. I saw you with my own eyes, facing off against Mrs. Lockwood at the mahjong table and winning a total victory.”

It suddenly dawned on Isla Prescott. “You were there that day…”

“Yes, I was.”

That day, Isla Prescott had been so focused on her confrontation with Mrs. Lockwood—Yvette Shaw—that she hadn’t paid any attention to who else was in the private room. So Audrey Hughes had been one of the other wealthy ladies at the mahjong table.

No wonder. No wonder it had seemed like Audrey Hughes already knew her.

“Even back then, I could tell you were a remarkable young woman—brave, resourceful, and able to endure hardship with dignity. Exceptionally so.” Audrey Hughes looked into Isla Prescott’s clear, bright eyes. “Many of the wealthy people in this circle carry an innate sense of superiority. But that superiority is like a glass ceiling. It seems high when you’re looking up at it, but it can’t withstand the force of you truly standing tall. In the future, when you’re with Sean, you may encounter many people like that. I hope you will always face them with the strength you have.”

“I will.”

—

Two days later, news broke that Victor Sterling had been removed from his position as President of Sterling Group, with former Vice President Shane Sterling taking his place. Another two days after that, once the buzz surrounding the change in leadership had died down, Victor Sterling was quietly taken into police custody.

Victor Sterling faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and incitement to commit a crime. With charges like these, he likely wouldn’t see the outside of a prison for the rest of his life.

Shane had long foreseen his father’s fate, so he wasn’t terribly shaken by it. His biggest headache right now was that he had just been appointed President of Sterling Group with a mountain of work waiting for him, yet he was stuck lying in a hospital bed.

To help Shane handle everything, Justin Wyatt and Shane’s secretary were essentially working out of the hospital each day.

Shane had several video conferences a day, and the number of documents requiring his signature was endless.

Every time Isla Prescott visited the hospital, she would see him lying in bed, poring over company documents. The blue-and-white striped hospital gown, paired with a set of gold-rimmed glasses, created a unique aesthetic. Isla didn’t know quite how to describe it—something like a ’tragic beauty’ mixed with a ’refined rogue.’ In short, he looked both fragile and desirable, a sight that was tantalizing to behold.

Justin Wyatt and Shane’s secretary quite enjoyed it when Isla Prescott visited; in fact, they even looked forward to it. Once Shane got busy, he would work nonstop. Only when Isla arrived did they get a chance to step out for a breath of fresh air.

Every time Isla saw Shane working himself to the bone, her heart ached with worry.

“Don’t push yourself so hard. You need to rest. The work will still be there tomorrow,” she urged.

Shane closed the file he was holding against his chest, glanced at her, and said with a playful grin, “Well, I have to earn money to support a wife, don’t I?”

“You’re the president of a huge corporation. Are you really worried about not having enough money to get married?”

“I just want to give my future wife the very best, that’s all.”

“Just being healthy is enough. Otherwise, even if you manage to get a wife…” Isla glanced at Shane, tutted twice, and added, “…you won’t be up to the task.”

“Oh, so you’re worried I won’t be able to perform?”

“I’m talking about for your future wife’s sake.”

“And aren’t you my future wife?”

“Who said I’d marry you?”

Shane figured she had a point. A proposal shouldn’t be rushed. So he dropped the subject and circled back to the question of his… performance. “Don’t you worry. Once I’m out of the hospital, I guarantee I’ll be a new man. If you don’t believe me, I’m ready to prove it to you anytime.”

“And how would you do that?”

“By demonstrating in a variety of positions.”

Isla Prescott: “…”

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