Chapter 3

When I woke up again, the sun was high in the sky.

But my heart felt heavy and hollow.

I moved slightly, but my lower body felt completely numb, likely due to the anesthesia.

Before I could process the events of the last few days, my sister, Clara, burst into the room, looking panicked and disheveled.

Seeing the person I loved most in the world, I felt a wave of relief, expecting her to be there for me.

I prepared a small smile to tell her I was okay.

Instead, her cold, sharp words felt like needles piercing my heart.

She pointed a finger at me, accusing me with fire in her eyes. “Caleb, what gives you the right to look down on Jasper? Have you been the CEO for so long that you’ve forgotten you’re just a dog raised by our family?”

“Are you happy now that Jasper didn't get the position?”

The smile on my face froze.

So, she was here to fight Jasper’s battles too.

That’s right―I was only acting as a placeholder for the CEO role.

Whenever she wanted the power, I was ready to step down.

I had never had any intention of stealing from the Sterling legacy.

But now, the sister I had protected for over a decade was using the cruelest words possible to attack me for the sake of a two-timing man.

I had always known Clara was infatuated with someone.

She had been devastated after the death of our parents, trapped in a state of constant anxiety.

I was too busy at the company to give her the attention she needed, and that was when *he* entered her life.

In her stories, he was a sunny, kind guy who kept her company and cheered her up.

Not long after, he went abroad.

Clara’s crush never materialized into anything, but she never let go of the memory.

I never imagined that the guy was Jasper.

Even less did I imagine that she would turn against me for him.

I was desperate, holding onto a shred of hope. “Clara, I didn't do it. That day, I was at the…”

Before I could even say the word “hospital,” Clara cut me off, her face twisting in disgust.

She looked at me as if I were a stain on the floor, the affection she once held for me completely evaporated.

“Stop making excuses. Do you really think Jasper would frame you for no reason?”

“I knew people of your background were like this. A bastard is still better than an orphan like you. How do you have the audacity to look down on him?”

“I’m warning you: apologize to him immediately, or don’t blame us when you’re no longer welcome in the Sterling family.”

I never knew words could be such effective weapons, carving through my broken spirit.

They truly loved Jasper! They would rather believe his baseless accusations than hear a single word of my explanation.

But why did it have to be me? Why did I have to be the one to endure all this?

I couldn't understand it. What had I done to deserve this treatment?

A wave of fury rose in my chest, burning like fire.

I couldn't catch my breath, and I hunched over the bedside, coughing until I felt like my lungs were tearing.

A flicker of concern crossed Clara’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by pure impatience.

“Stop the theatrics. I’m telling you, this is non-negotiable!”

“You messed up, so you apologize. That’s what you taught me, isn’t it? Or can you not even practice what you preach?”

“I’ll give you three days. If you don’t apologize, I won’t ever acknowledge you as my brother again. Think about that.”

With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.