On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 76: They’re All Bastards

"Yeah, I just found out myself. He has the same last name as you." After she spoke, Jean Kensington suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth.

She knew Chloe Sterling didn’t like her own surname; if she could, she’d rather not be a Sterling at all.

Chloe Sterling, however, looked unconcerned. "There are plenty of Sterlings in the Imperial. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s connected to the Sterling Family."

"Yeah, true."

Jean Kensington hadn’t investigated Charles Sterling’s past. She had only found out that he’d gone to Country A over twenty years ago, and she couldn’t care less if he was related to the Sterling Family.

’In her opinion, that whole Sterling clan was nothing but a bunch of heartless bastards!’

Chloe Sterling stayed at Jean Kensington’s place until evening before heading back to the Lockwood Residence.

As she walked into the villa, she faintly heard Henry Chamberlain saying, "It is serious. She’s still in the hospital and hasn’t woken up yet. Given the circumstances, there’s no way we can have her incarcerated for now."

Jasper Lockwood said coldly, "She’ll wake up sooner or later. Have someone watch her."

Henry Chamberlain nodded. "Yes."

After a moment’s thought, Chloe Sterling walked over. "Are you... talking about Esther Sterling?"

The two men looked at her simultaneously. Henry Chamberlain smiled. "Ma’am, you’re back."

"We are," Jasper Lockwood replied.

"Esther Sterling is in the hospital?" Chloe Sterling asked again. She hadn’t known what happened to Esther and hadn’t inquired, but she’d guessed it was her from their conversation.

Henry Chamberlain replied, "Yes. It seems Esther Sterling couldn’t handle the sentencing. When the staff wasn’t looking, she slammed her head into the corner of a wall. She’s in the hospital now. But rest assured, Ma’am, the sentence will be carried out as soon as she wakes up. She will pay the price for her actions."

After a long moment of silence, Chloe Sterling said, "That won’t be necessary."

"What?" Henry Chamberlain asked, confused. "Ma’am, you mean...?"

"Let’s just leave things as they are for now."

Chloe Sterling didn’t want Warren Sterling or Rose Lynch bothering her again over Esther’s situation. More importantly, she didn’t want to watch them put on their loving-parent act in front of her.

If Esther went to prison, they would just keep showing up in front of her, again and again. She was thoroughly disgusted by the thought.

Henry Chamberlain looked to his boss for guidance. "Sir, this..."

"You may go," Jasper Lockwood instructed.

"Yes, sir." Henry Chamberlain turned and left.

Jasper Lockwood’s deep, piercing eyes fixed on Chloe Sterling, his lips parting slightly. "You want to let her go?"

Chloe Sterling sat down beside him and said casually, "She’s already lost all face and ended up in the hospital. I wouldn’t call that letting her off, would you?"

"Chloe, mercy toward an enemy is cruelty to yourself."

"Esther Sterling hardly counts as an enemy. She’s not my rival. Even if she despises me, she can’t do anything to me, can she?"

Chloe Sterling’s tone was arrogant, but she had every right to be. She didn’t consider Esther Sterling a threat. If she wanted to teach her a lesson, she had plenty of ways to do it.

Jasper Lockwood was silent for a moment, then he suddenly asked, "Why did you run off this morning without breakfast?"

"..." Chloe Sterling remained calm. "I told you I had something to do."

"What was so urgent?"

"A friend’s personal matter. I was in a rush, so I didn’t get a chance to tell you."

"Oh? And here I thought you were too embarrassed to face me."

Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind. Chloe Sterling’s expression flickered, but she forced herself to remain calm. "What’s there to be embarrassed about? I was just drunk, that’s all."

"So you remember everything you did, everything you said, and what you promised me?"

Chloe Sterling played dumb. "Did I say something? I thought I just went to sleep after getting drunk."

Jasper Lockwood’s lips curled into a slight smile. ’So she wants to play dumb with me? Fine by me.’

"Then we’ll just say you were drunk and went straight to sleep."

Chloe Sterling cleared her throat, not taking the bait.

「Three days later.」

Esther Sterling woke up in the hospital.

The court had withdrawn the charges, and the guards who had been posted at the hospital were gone.

"Esther, how are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Are you dizzy?" Rose Lynch asked with concern.

Warren Sterling chimed in, "Esther, how are you? Does anything feel uncomfortable?"

Looking at the two of them, Esther Sterling calmly shook her head. "Mom, Dad, I’m fine."

In reality, she had been awake for a long time, just pretending to sleep. She didn’t want to be taken away. It wasn’t until she overheard their conversation and learned the charges had been dropped that she decided to open her eyes a short while later.

Seeing her so calm made Rose Lynch even more anxious. "Esther, are you... really okay? Oh, by the way, the court dropped the charges. You’re not going to prison. You can come home."

Esther Sterling nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Seeing her reaction, Warren Sterling was also a bit puzzled. "Esther, why are you..."

Before he could finish, Esther Sterling cut in, "Dad, Mom, I was wrong before. I only acted that way toward Chloe Sterling because I was angry about what happened with Sisi. It won’t happen again."

’She really had been wrong. She shouldn’t have provoked Chloe Sterling at a time like this. In fact, she shouldn’t have paid her any mind at all.’

’She needed to become stronger, expand her network, and climb to the very top. She wouldn’t waste her time arguing with some country bumpkin over a fleeting moment of satisfaction.’

In these past few days, she had figured it all out.

"What did you do wrong!" Warren Sterling’s voice was grim. "It was clearly that little bastard’s fault! No, it was my fault. I never should have gone looking for her in the first place!"

Rose Lynch’s heart ached as she looked at the bandage on her daughter’s forehead.

Esther Sterling glanced around. "Where’s Auntie?"

"She’s not here. Something came up with the Rivers Family, so she had to go back," Rose Lynch said. "It was all thanks to your aunt this time. You must thank her properly once you’ve recovered."

"Auntie helped me?"

"Yes, it was her idea."

Three days ago, Ruby Lynch had said she would figure out a way to resolve the situation, and then she left. Sure enough, news that the charges were dropped came the very next day.

When Rose Lynch called Ruby Lynch to thank her, Ruby didn’t deny it and simply accepted her gratitude.

"I’ll be sure to thank Auntie. By the way, I want to be discharged today," Esther Sterling said.

Rose Lynch quickly objected, "Discharged today? Absolutely not! You just woke up. You should stay in the hospital for observation a while longer."

Warren Sterling added, "That’s right. What’s the rush?"

Esther Sterling insisted, "No! The piano competition is about to start. I need to get back and prepare."

Rose Lynch said, "How can you even think about a competition in your condition! You need to focus on healing first."

Esther Sterling’s tone was resolute. "I have to compete."

’She wouldn’t admit defeat so easily. She had to compete. She had to see *him*.’

’If Damian Rivers wants to like that country bumpkin Chloe Sterling, then fine, let him. The Rivers Family isn’t the only powerful family in Crestfall!’

....

「That morning.」

Jasper Lockwood checked the time. Chloe Sterling was usually awake by now, but today, there was no sound from her room. He walked to her door and knocked lightly, but there was no response.

After a brief pause, Jasper Lockwood gently pushed the door open and went inside.

Chloe was indeed still asleep, apparently caught in a dream. As he drew closer, he heard her murmur in a pained, low voice, "Don’t go... please, don’t go..."

Jasper froze for a second. ’What is she dreaming about?’

’Who is she telling not to go?’

Just as he was wondering, Chloe Sterling suddenly cried out, "Silas Coldwell!"

Her eyes snapped open!

Staring at the ceiling above her, she came to her senses. She’d been having a nightmare.

’She had dreamt of her Master again. She dreamt that he had returned, only to leave once more. She begged him not to go, but then Silas Coldwell suddenly grabbed him, using her Master to threaten her. That’s when she had screamed his name in a rage.’

Chloe Sterling’s brow furrowed slightly. ’It’s all because Silas Coldwell has been pestering me nonstop these last couple of days. That’s why I’m having dreams like this.’

’I even want to beat him up in my dreams!’