Chapter 10 - The Public Leak
Julian stared at Victoria, his blood running cold.
"What do you mean he's leaking everything?" Julian demanded, stepping past Emma to grab the tablet from Victoria’s hands.
The screen displayed a major financial news network homepage. A breaking news banner flashed across the top in bold red letters: STERLING EMPIRE IN CRISIS: FOUNDER ACCUSES HEIR OF COVER-UP AS SECRET DOCUMENTS EMERGE. Below the headline was an unredacted copy of the birth certificate, along with scanned bank transfer receipts from twenty years ago, bearing Arthur’s signature and large payouts directed toward a medical fund in Emma’s name.
"He didn't just try to blackmail us," Victoria said, her voice laced with professional panic. "He torched the entire company's reputation to save himself. Stock prices are already plummeting in the Asian markets. Investors are pulling out by the millions."
Emma looked over Julian's shoulder at the screen, her face draining of all remaining color.
"He's doing it to force my hand," Emma realized, her voice trembling. "If the press digs into those medical funds, they'll find my mother's name. They'll drag my entire past, my family, and my life into the mud."
"We need to issue a statement immediately," Victoria urged, tapping the screen. "We distance ourselves from Arthur completely. We confirm the child is yours, confirm Emma's identity as the biological mother, and frame Arthur as a rogue actor who acted without the board's knowledge."
"No," Julian said firmly, handing the tablet back to the lawyer.
Victoria blinked in sheer disbelief. "Julian, are you out of your mind? If we don't control the narrative right now, the board will call an emergency vote to strip you of the CEO position by morning."
"Let them try," Julian replied, his voice dropping into an unyielding register. "I spent my whole life dancing to my father's tune, worrying about stock prices, legacy, and corporate image. Look where it got us. My son was stolen from his mother. I'm not hiding behind corporate PR anymore."
Emma placed a gentle hand on Julian's arm, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and profound respect.
"Julian, you can't throw away everything your family built just to protect me," Emma pleaded softly. "Your father would win."
"My father built this empire on lies and ruined lives," Julian said, turning to look down at her with absolute conviction. "It's time to tear it down and build something real."
Before Victoria could argue further, the shrill ring of the landline phone on the desk broke the silence. All three of them stared at the black device as it rang relentlessly, echoing in the quiet study like an alarm bell.
Victoria reached out, picked up the receiver, listened for three seconds, and slowly placed it back down.
May you like
"That was the lead independent board member," Victoria whispered, her face pale. "They've just called an emergency board meeting for sunrise. They're voting to remove you as CEO, and they've invited Arthur's legal counsel to present a replacement heir."
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