“Sterling Developments is worth nine figures, and you seriously think I’m walking away from that?”
A sickening pressure formed beneath my ribs.
The man speaking sounded nothing like the gentle person who kissed my forehead before business meetings.
His next sentence destroyed the last fragile piece of my disbelief.
“No, I don’t love Elena the way she thinks I do.”
I pressed my palm against my mouth.
“She’s useful, and right now that’s considerably more valuable.”
Behind me, Teresa lowered her eyes toward my sleeping son.
Adrian continued discussing my company, explaining how quickly he expected to gain influence once our marriage made him part of the Sterling family.
He spoke about my estate as though he had already inherited it.
He spoke about my executives as people he intended to influence.
Then he began talking about Leo.
“Elena is terrified of raising that boy without a father, so she’ll forgive almost anything to keep me around.”
