...

「The Sterling Manor」

When Holly Sinclair and Brandon Sterling rushed back home, Tristan Sterling, Vivian Linton, and Megan Grayson had just arrived as well.

They all came face to face.

Holly Sinclair couldn’t even be bothered to spare the other three a glance.

She charged ahead into the living room.

"Grandpa!"

The moment she saw Master Sterling in his wheelchair, Holly Sinclair’s eyes instantly reddened, and she rushed over to him.

"My dear girl," Master Sterling said with a wide, doting smile, patting his granddaughter-in-law’s small hand.

"Grandpa, you’re finally back." Holly Sinclair knelt beside his wheelchair, her voice choked with emotion. A strange sense of being wronged welled up inside her.

"Silly girl, why are you crying? Did you miss your grandpa?" Master Sterling chuckled.

But before he could offer any words of comfort, he saw Vivian Linton enter the living room with Tristan Sterling.

His wrinkled face instantly turned cold.

"Grandpa."

"Grandpa."

The brothers, Tristan and Brandon Sterling, spoke in unison.

Megan Grayson, who had grown up in the Sterling household, also called out obediently, "Grandpa."

"Mm," Master Sterling replied with a faint nod.

Only Vivian Linton was left.

Vivian Linton was a little afraid of Master Sterling.

But with Tristan Sterling here, she thought, ’Surely the old man won’t make things too difficult for me.’

"Grandpa."

She wore a gentle smile, putting on a well-behaved facade.

"Who are you?"

Master Sterling’s glacial gaze landed on Vivian Linton’s face, his tone displeased.

’No wonder Holly looked so wronged and upset the moment she saw me. So this homewrecker has already made her way into my house.’

The smile on Vivian Linton’s face froze.

’That old bastard is doing this on purpose!’

’I was Tristan’s girlfriend, and I saved his life. How could he possibly not know who I am?’

’He’s just never liked me, that’s all!’

"Grandpa, this is Vivian. She’s the one who saved me..." Tristan Sterling said hurriedly.

"What is she doing here?"

Master Sterling shot his grandson a vicious glare, cutting him off impatiently.

"Grandpa, I heard you were back, so I came to visit," Vivian Linton said, forcing a smile as she suppressed her frustration.

"I don’t need you to visit. And don’t call me Grandpa. I don’t have a granddaughter like you. Show her out!"

With a grim face, Master Sterling bluntly issued the order to have her removed.

A servant immediately stepped forward to "escort" Vivian Linton out.

But one cold look from Tristan Sterling sent them scurrying back.

"Tristan..." Vivian Linton’s eyes reddened. She looked at Tristan Sterling, the very picture of pitiful distress, looking utterly wronged.

Tristan Sterling began, "Grandpa—"

"You shut up!"

Master Sterling barked, every word sharp as a knife. "I’m gone for half a year, and what do you do? You bring this kind of low-class riffraff into our home?"

Riffraff...

Vivian Linton felt utterly humiliated, and tears began to stream down her face.

"Grandpa!" Tristan Sterling frowned.

THWACK! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Master Sterling grabbed his cane from the side and brought it down hard on Tristan’s leg.

Tristan Sterling winced in pain, his tall frame swaying slightly.

But he gritted his teeth and didn’t make a sound.

"Tristan!"

Seeing this, Vivian Linton’s heart ached for him. She rushed forward to try and steady him.

Who knew that her shameless behavior would only infuriate Master Sterling further.

Master Sterling raised his cane again, this time swinging it at Vivian Linton.

"Vivian!"

Tristan Sterling cried out in alarm. He spun around, pulling Vivian Linton into his arms to shield her.

THWACK!

He took another vicious blow to the back.

The pain made his handsome face turn pale, and a thin sheen of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Holly Sinclair watched this scene with cold eyes.

A cold sneer uncontrollably formed on her lips.

’He’s so deeply devoted to Vivian Linton, isn’t he!’

’He’d rather take a beating himself than let her get even slightly hurt.’

’Look at them now. It’s like watching a scene right out of a tragic romance about star-crossed lovers.’

Holly Sinclair felt like a complete joke just standing here.

Master Sterling saw the bitterness in Holly Sinclair’s eyes.

His heart ached for her.

And so, the sight of Tristan Sterling and Vivian Linton "clinging to each other" only fueled his rage.

"Get out!!"

Master Sterling roared, his voice full of authority.

Vivian Linton cried, huddled in Tristan Sterling’s arms.

Tristan Sterling never expected his grandfather to be so merciless. "Grandpa..."

Seeing him repeatedly defy him for Vivian Linton’s sake, Master Sterling was so furious his blood boiled.

"Make her get out now! COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

Overcome with emotion, Master Sterling broke into a coughing fit.

"Grandpa." Worried, Holly Sinclair quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath.

Seeing this, Tristan Sterling had no choice but to pull Vivian Linton away and leave quickly.

Vivian Linton, of course, was extremely reluctant to leave.

As she walked, she cursed him silently in her heart—

’You old bastard who refuses to die!’

’You don’t have many days left, yet you still dare to humiliate me like this!’

’Just you wait!’

’When I become Madam Sterling, we’ll see if I don’t chop up your ancestral tablet for firewood!’

On this point, Vivian Linton was very self-aware.

She knew that as long as Master Sterling was alive, she could forget about ever setting foot in the Sterling family’s home.

That’s why she wished the old bastard would just drop dead on the spot.

Holly Sinclair kept patting her grandfather’s back to soothe his breathing, worried sick. "Grandpa, don’t be angry, please don’t be angry. Be careful of your health."

"Alright, alright, Grandpa’s not angry. And our Holly won’t be angry either, okay?"

Master Sterling nodded with a smile, though his face was a little pale.

"Okay," Holly Sinclair forced a smile, not wanting her grandfather to worry.

She knew her grandfather was standing up for her.

Her heart filled with gratitude.

Soon, Tristan Sterling returned to the living room.

"Follow me to the study!"

Master Sterling, still fuming, barked out the order.

...

「The Study」

"What’s going on between you and Holly?"

Master Sterling’s face showed his exhaustion, and even his harsh tone sounded somewhat weak.

His earlier outburst had drained most of his energy.

"It’s nothing," Tristan Sterling replied flatly, clearly not wanting to discuss it.

"Nothing? Then why won’t she even bother looking at you?" Master Sterling thundered, glaring at his grandson with bitter disappointment.

He had seen all of Holly’s reactions and expressions earlier.

The young couple was clearly having a fight.

Before, Holly loved to stick close to Tristan’s side, but now she had maintained a cold expression from start to finish.

"..." Tristan Sterling was at a loss for words.

"Cut ties with the Linton family immediately!" Master Sterling commanded.

"Grandpa, Vivian saved my life," Tristan Sterling said, his brow furrowed.

His tone made it clear he couldn’t do it.

"So what? Hasn’t Sterling Corporation given the Linton family enough projects over the years to repay that debt of gratitude?" Master Sterling sneered.

The Linton family was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was the Sterling Group that brought them back from the dead. Otherwise, the entire Linton family would have been jumping off a building by now.

"Grandpa, how can you even compare the two?" Tristan Sterling disagreed.

’A few measly projects... how could that possibly compare to my life?’

’Especially since Vivian Linton lost a leg to save me...’

"Then what are you planning to do? Keep her as a mistress on the side?" Master Sterling’s face was ashen.

"That’s not what I mean, but I have a responsibility to her—"

"Bullshit!"

Master Sterling roared, his chest heaving with rage. "Your responsibility is to Holly!"

Tristan Sterling fell silent.

"Do I need to remind you again? Holly owns five percent of the Sterling Group’s shares. She is the key to whether or not you can keep your position as CEO secure."