Chapter 9

Chapter nine 

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Everyone stared at themselves. "What is going on?" One of the students asked, staring at the next person standing right next to him. "Are you asking me?" The other replied 

"Are you Ethan Cross?" One of the men in black walked closer to him. 

Ethan nodded, his heart beating steadily. "What do you want with me?" He asked gently. "We are asked to escort you down to the Richard Sterling mansion." 

"Richard terling? Isn't that the richest man in the city?" A female student asked, adjusting her glasses. "Don't you think Ethan is making this up just to escape the legal actions of the school board?" 

"But I need to…" Ethan was about to finish his speech when the door opened and a man with grey hair walked out. "Ethan Cross?" The man looked at him, and Ethan nodded. 

"Do you want to be expelled?

"No." Ethan answered with his breath caught in his throat. 

"No? Then why are you delaying the boards? We all are gathered, and we are waiting for you." The man said before he finally looked at the men who were still bowing right in front of him. 

"And what is this madness? Why are they bowing before you?" The man said in a hoarse voice. The man in front of him spoke immediately. "I am Nicholas. Mr. Richard Sterling would like to speak with Mr. Ethan Cross." 

"Mr. Richard terling? Isn't that the... The man was about to finish his speech when he opened his eyes in awe. "What? What does he want with Ethan? Has he committed another offense?" The man asked, looking at Ethan, who had his head bowed gently. 

"Far from it. We would let the school know with due time what this is all about. In the meantime, can you delay his meeting with the board?" 

The man nodded and watched how Ethan was escorted out of the main building. The door was opened for him, and he sat right in the owner's seat. 

Tessa was just walking into the school building and noticed everyone was staring at the sleek black limousine car that just sped out of the school compound. "What is going on?" She asked one of the students 

"Ethan Cross, he was just taken away by one of Richard Sterling's men." 

"Ethan? Richard Sterling? Why? That boy is bad luck. To even think I kissed him makes the whole of my body crawl." Tessa looked back at the student and walked away. 

[BACK IN THE CAR] 

"Why does Richard want to see me? 

Ethan's voice cracked slightly as he turned to Nicholas, the man sitting across from him. The sleek interior of the limousine felt suffocating; the silence was also suffocating him as he looked at the man in front of him.

Nicholas adjusted his tie, his expression changing. "Mr. Sterling prefers to explain matters himself," he replied curtly.

Ethan's mind raced. What could this man possibly want with him? Was it about the DNA test he had sent over or there? Or was there something else entirely?

The city lights blurred as the car sped through the streets. Ethan's palms were slick with sweat, his anxiety increasing as the time flew past. 

Finally, they arrived at a sprawling estate. The wrought-iron gates creaked open, revealing manicured lawns, a fountain illuminated by soft golden lights, and a mansion that stands out in the whole of the estate.

Nicholas opened the car door and bowed for Ethan to step out. "This way, Mr. Cross."

Ethan hesitated for a moment before following him up the marble steps and into the grand foyer. The interior was even more enormous than he imagined—crystal chandeliers, polished floors, and paintings that looked like they belonged in a museum.

As they entered a vast study, Ethan's eyes immediately landed on a man seated behind a massive mahogany desk. Richard Sterling. The resemblance was uncanny—the same piercing eyes, sharp jawline, and commanding presence Ethan had seen in the photo.

"Ethan Cross," Richard said, his voice deep and commanding. He didn't look up from the book in front of him. "Take a seat."

Ethan sat down, his body stiff. "Why am I here?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room.

Richard leaned back in his chair, studying him intently. "You've had a rough few days, haven't you?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "If you're trying to make small talk, I'm not interested. Just get to the point."

A faint smile tugged at Richard's lips. "Straight to the point. I admire that. Very well, Ethan. I brought you here because I believe you might be my son."

The words hung in the air, and everything looked so unreal to him. Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came out.

"I know this is a lot to process," Richard continued, "but I've been searching for you for years. Your mother and I—" He paused, his expression softening. "We had a complicated history. When I discovered she'd had a child, it was too late. She had vanished without a trace."

Ethan's fists in anger at the word "vanished."

"Why now? Why didn't you look for us sooner? Why would the woman you claim to love vanish without a trace?. Do you have any idea what I went through?"

Richard finally looked up from his seat. "I'm not here to make excuses. But now that I've found you, I want to make things right. That's why I've arranged for your suspension to be cleared. You'll return to school with a clean slate. And if the DNA test confirms what I already know… you'll have access to everything the Sterling name can offer."

Ethan's mind swirled with emotions—anger, disbelief, and a tiny flicker of hope. Before he could respond, the door to the study burst open, and a young man strode in.

"Father, what's the meaning of this?" the man demanded, his gaze locking onto Ethan with hostility. "Don't tell me you still believe in this madness? Are you really going to punish me because of just a little mistake?" Marcus shouted, gritting his teeth in anger. 

"Ah, Ethan," Richard said calmly. "Meet your brother, Marcus Sterling."

Marcus's eyes narrowed. "This… this nobody is supposed to be my brother?"

Ethan shot to his feet, his anger boiling over. "I didn't ask for any of this!"

Richard raised a hand, his voice firm. "That's enough, Marcus. Ethan is here as my guest, and you will treat him with respect."

The tension in the room was noticeable, and Ethan could feel Marcus's glare burning into him.

"I don't need your respect," Ethan said, his voice low but steady. "I just want the truth."

Richard nodded. "And you'll have it. But be warned, Ethan—being a Sterling comes with its own set of challenges. Are you ready for that?"

Ethan hesitated, lost in his own thoughts. Could he trust this man? Was he ready to step into a world he never asked to be part of?

"I don't know," he finally admitted.

Richard's gaze softened. "That's an honest answer. For now, let's take things one step at a time."

"Once the DNA proves you are my son, then we move on from there. In the meantime, you are going to be cleaned up." Richard said, snapping one of his fingers. One of the maids hurried into the room, bowing deeply before awaiting instructions.

"Take Mr. Cross to the guest wing. Ensure he's properly groomed and fitted for tomorrow's family dinner," Richard ordered without looking up.

Ethan stood motionless, his fists clenched. "I'm not your charity case. I don't need to be groomed or paraded around like some prize."

Richard's gaze fell on him. "This isn't about charity. It's about preparation. If you truly are my son, the world will be watching you. They'll expect more from you. Do you want to embarrass yourself or me?"

Ethan didn't respond but followed the maid reluctantly. Marcus sneered, stepping closer to his father. "You can't be serious about this. That guy doesn't belong here."

Richard's expression changed. "You'd do well to remember that your position isn't guaranteed, Marcus. If Ethan is my son, he'll have every right to be here—just like you."

Marcus stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Richard sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. He knew bringing Ethan into the Sterling family would ignite chaos, but he had no choice. The truth had been buried for too long.

[GUEST WING]

Ethan sat on the edge of a plush bed, staring at the intricate carvings on the walls. Everything about this place felt so unreal and suffocating. The maid had laid out an array of expensive suits and shoes, but Ethan hadn't touched them.

His mind raced with questions. Was Richard truly his father? Why now? And what did Marcus mean by "a little mistake"? He didn't trust any of them.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Nicholas entered, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Sterling wishes to remind you about the family dinner tomorrow. It's a must you make a good impression."

Ethan scoffed. "Impression? I didn't ask to be here."

Nicholas hesitated before stepping closer. "I understand your reaction to all of this, Mr. Cross. But if you truly are a Sterling, this is your chance to claim what's rightfully yours."

Ethan looked at him. He wasn't sure if he wanted anything from the Sterlings—except maybe the truth. "Don't forget your issues could be forgotten with just a word from your father." Nicholas said before walking out of the room,

[DINNER TABLE—THE NEXT NIGHT]

Ethan walked into the grand dining hall, his tailored suit fitting perfectly. The Sterlings were already seated—Richard at the head, Marcus shooting blassers, and several other family members whispering among themselves.

"Ah, Ethan, join us," Richard said, motioning to the seat beside him.

As Ethan sat down, Marcus leaned forward, a smirk on his face. "So, Ethan, tell us about yourself. Or do you need Father to write your life story for you too?"

Ethan met Marcus's gaze, his voice steady. "I don't need anyone to write my story. Unlike you, I've had to fight for everything I've ever had."

The room fell silent as everyone looked at him. The door burst open, and Nicholas walked in with a piece of paper in his hands. "Here is the report for the DNA test." He said it right in front of everyone. 

Ethan held his breath, his eyes darting around to see the faces of the people who would want to see it negatively. Richard looked up. "What does it say? Read it aloud."