The Third Child Died, So Did the Wife He Wanted Chapter 05

The Third Child Died, So Did the Wife He Wanted Chapter 05

Three days later, out on the black waters.

Seven flagship vessels were deployed in a massive fan formation, their banners whipping violently in the wind.

The ships belonging to the sector leaders docked one by one.

The Lords of the East, West, South, and North marched into the grand hall, each backed by only two personal guards.

That was the protocol.

At the maritime summit, no weapons were permitted inside the hall.

Arthur helped me fasten my tailored cashmere trench coat.

I stared at the mirror. A thick, dark scab cut horizontally across my left face, running from my eyebrow straight down to my jawline.

I didn’t hide it. Instead, I pulled my hair tightly back into a sleek bun, exposing the horrific scar completely to the daylight.

The top billionaires in the world didn’t give a damn about a flawless face.

“My Lady, everyone has arrived.”

“Where is Garrison?”

“He’s at the head of the main table. Amber Cole is right by his side.”

I stood up, the hem of my coat brushing against the chair.

Arthur handed me a tactical knife, which I slid deep into my boot.

Then he handed me a glock, which I tucked flat against the small of my back.

“Let’s go.”

The main hall was situated right beneath the lower deck, fully ventilated on all four sides.

The pungent stench of sea salt mixed with heavy cigar smoke hit my senses instantly.

Eight people sat along the sides of the long conference table—the leaders of the four sectors and their primary enforcers.

Garrison occupied the head of the table, with Amber standing gracefully beside him.

The moment I stepped inside, every single eye locked onto me.

Garrison’s gaze hit my face, his pupils dilating instantly.

He slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his voice carrying a bizarre trace of genuine panic.

“Alison, your face… what happened?”

“Sit down.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly drained all sound from the room.

The Lord of the East, a veteran gangster named Frank, froze with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. The veteran enforcer of the North, Marcus, stood up abruptly.

“My Lady.”

Marcus bowed his head to me deeply.

I walked right past Garrison, heading straight toward the absolute end of the long table.

I gripped the back of the heavy leather chair, surveying the entire room.

Garrison turned around in his seat to stare back at me, completely bewildered.

“Today’s meeting doesn’t belong to the Sterling family. It belongs to the Vance family.”

Garrison’s face darkened.

“Alison, stop throwing a tantrum! We are in the middle of conducting executive business.”

“Arthur.”

Arthur stepped forward, pulling a stack of yellowed legal documents from his coat and slamming them onto the table.

“These are the territorial transfer deeds executed by the old Seaking, Lady Alison’s father, just before his passing.”

“The absolute sovereign rights to the East and West were never legally transferred to the Sterling family. It was merely a temporary trusteeship.”

Arthur’s eyes swept across the powerful executives.

“The trusteeship clause explicitly states that the mandate expires when Lady Alison reaches the age of thirty, or upon the birth of her legal heir.”

“Lady Alison has not yet reached thirty, but all three heirs are dead.
Per protocol, the Vance family hereby revokes all territorial mandates to re-select a master.”

The room plunged into a suffocating silence.

The Lord of the South was a lethal forty-year-old woman named Roxy.

She was the exact person Amber had gone to negotiate with days prior.

She slowly set her cup down.

“I am well aware of the old man’s original deeds.”

“However, Garrison has successfully governed the four maritime sectors for five years without a single operational failure. What exactly is Lady Alison trying to achieve by bringing this up now?”

“I am replacing the Seaking.”

I straightened my posture, my eyes locking onto Garrison’s face.

His expression was utterly venomous. The fragile mask of gentleness he wore earlier had completely shattered.

He dropped his voice to a menacing whisper.

“Alison, if you have grievances, we handle them at home.”

“Do not make a fool of yourself in front of the sector leaders.”

“A fool?”

I let out a sharp laugh, the movement tugging at my scar, flooding my mind with crystal-clear adrenaline.

“Garrison, five years ago, my father handed me and the East and West over to you.”

“I genuinely believed we shared a marriage. But now I know I was just a blind pawn in your corporate strategy.”

Amber took a step forward, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.

“Mrs. Sterling, Garrison has spent every waking hour of these past five years prioritizing your well-being.”

“On your knees.”

I stared dead into her eyes.

Amber faltered, her eyes welling with immediate tears.

“Mrs. Sterling, I recognize your immense grief, but you cannot possibly…”

“I said, get on your knees.”

Arthur gave a hand signal. Two massive Vance enforcers moved like shadows from the doorway, slamming their heavy hands onto Amber’s shoulders and crushing her downward.

Her knees hit the floorboards with a sickening crack.

Garrison exploded.

“Get your hands off her!”

The second he went to draw a weapon, Marcus stepped across the floor, physically blocking his path.

The veteran enforcers of the North simultaneously reached for the firearms hidden beneath their suits.

The protocol was established by my father. Naturally, whoever I authorized to carry weapons was the only one permitted to have them.

Marcus’s voice was pure ice.

“Mr. Sterling, let the lady finish her statement.”

Garrison glared at me, his eyes burning with absolute rage, but I couldn’t care less.

He had probably never seen this version of me before.

When I used to smash wine glasses and slap his face, it was because I still gave a damn.

Now, I was completely done with empty theatrical threats.

I drew the tactical knife from my boot and stepped slowly toward Amber.

She tilted her face up, tears pooling at her chin, still desperately trying to play the victim.

“Ma’am, the tragedy of the young master and ladies… I truly…”

“Shh.”