Chapter Seven: The Sterling Legacy
Ethan stared at the man in confusion. "Who are you?" His voice trembled slightly, betraying his guarded tone.
The man extended a neatly printed business card. "My name is Charles Henshaw. I'm a private investigator." His sharp suit and the air of professionalism about him left no room for doubt.
"A private investigator?" Ethan's brows furrowed. "Why would you be looking for me?"
Charles glanced around the hallway, ensuring they weren't being overheard. "It's about your mother and the Sterling family. We need to speak privately."
The mention of his mother sent a jolt through Ethan's chest. Memories of her were faint—she had passed away when he was young—but the little he remembered painted her as a kind and loving woman. "What does my mother have to do with the Sterlings?"
Charles nodded toward the exit. "Let's talk somewhere quieter. This isn't the kind of conversation to have here."
Ethan hesitated, glancing back at the administrative office. He wasn't sure what Tessa was plotting, but for now, this seemed far more important. "Fine. Let's go."
They found a quiet corner at a nearby café. Ethan sat across from Charles, his nerves on edge as the investigator opened a black leather folder and spread out several documents.
"This," Charles began, sliding a photograph across the table, "is a picture of your mother, Grace Morgan. It was taken when she worked as a housekeeper for the Sterling family nearly two decades ago."
Ethan picked up the photo, his hands trembling. It was unmistakably her—a younger version, smiling warmly at the camera. "She worked for the Sterlings? She never told me about this."
Charles leaned forward. "That's because she left the job abruptly, under mysterious circumstances. Shortly after her departure, she vanished from public records entirely. No employment history, no new address—nothing."
Ethan frowned. "But why? What happened?"
Charles pulled out another document. "Here's where it gets interesting. During her time with the Sterlings, your mother was particularly close to Richard Sterling. Some accounts suggest she was more than just an employee."
Ethan's breath caught. "Are you saying…?"
"I'm saying it's possible that Richard Sterling is your father," Charles said bluntly, his gaze steady.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, the world spinning. The man he had idolized, admired from a distance, might be his father? It felt unreal
"But why would she hide that from me?" Ethan asked, his voice shaking.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Charles replied. "There's more." He slid a birth certificate across the table. "Take a look at this."
Ethan's eyes scanned the document, landing on the space where his father's name should be. It was blank.
"She left the father's name off the record," Charles said. "But the timing, her connection to the Sterlings—it all lines up. Someone wanted to keep this quiet, and they went to great lengths to do so."
Ethan shook his head, his mind racing. "If this is true, then why come to me now? Why dig this up after all these years?"
Charles folded his hands. "Because someone from the Sterling family might be reaching out. I was hired by a third party to find you and confirm your connection."
"Who hired you?" Ethan asked sharply.
Charles hesitated. "That, I can't disclose just yet. But I can tell you this: they're interested in reconnecting you with the family. If you want to know more, I suggest you meet with them."
Ethan stared at the business card Charles had handed him earlier. "What do they want from me?"
"That's for you to find out," Charles said, standing. "Here's the address and time for the meeting." He placed a sealed envelope on the table. "It's tomorrow. Be there if you want answers."
Ethan walked home in a daze, the envelope clinged to his hand like his life depended on it. He had more questions than ever, and the weight of it all threatened to crush him.
When he arrived, he locked himself in his room and spread the documents across his desk. His mother's face stared back at him from the photograph, her eyes filled with warmth.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered, running a finger over the image.
He barely slept that night, his mind churning with possibilities. What if Richard Sterling really was his father? What would that mean for him? For his life?
Morning came too quickly, and Ethan dressed carefully, his nerves taut as he prepared for the meeting.
The address led him to a high-rise office building in the heart of the city. Ethan hesitated at the entrance, his heart pounding. Finally, he stepped inside and took the elevator to the designated floor.
A receptionist greeted him with a polite smile. "Mr. Ethan, correct? They're expecting you."
She led him to a spacious conference room, where a man in an impeccably tailored suit waited. His salt-and-pepper hair and commanding presence left no doubt—he was someone important.
"Ethan," the man said, extending a hand. "My name is Edward Sterling. I'm Richard Sterling's younger brother."
Ethan shook his hand cautiously. "You're here about my mother?"
Edward nodded. "Yes. My brother and your mother had… a complicated relationship. When she left, it broke Richard's heart. He's never stopped searching for her—or for you."
Ethan's chest tightened. "So, he knows about me?"
Edward hesitated. "He suspects. But we need to confirm it first. That's why I reached out to you."
Ethan frowned. "Why now? Why after all this time?"
Edward's expression softened. "Richard isn't well. He's been diagnosed with a terminal illness. If you are his son, he wants to make things right before it's too late."
The room fell silent as Ethan absorbed the weight of Edward's words.
"I need time to process this," Ethan said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
Edward nodded. "Take all the time you need. But remember—time is running out."
As Ethan left the building, his mind swirled with emotions. The revelation was almost too much to bear, but one thing was certain—his life would never be the same.
Just as he stepped outside, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Dylan: