15
His secretary entered, visibly startled by the tension between us. “Ms. Hayes, if you’ll follow me.”
I was politely ushered out of the office.
As I stepped out, I came face to face with a group of people. The man at the center bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. Miller.
Mr. Thompson, who was leading the way, stopped and gently pulled me aside. “Excuse me, Ms. Hayes, this is Mr. Sterling, Mr. Miller’s uncle. He’s been causing trouble at the office lately.”
The office door opened, and Cole stepped out to greet them
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Mr. Sterling lit a cigar, blowing a plume of smoke directly into Cole’s face. “What’s a lunatic like you doing running a company? One dip in the stock, and you’ll probably jump off a building to end it all. Better just hand it over to someone sane while you still can.”
Cole merely smiled. “However I am, I’ll likely still outlive you, Uncle.”
Mr. Sterling’s face flushed crimson with rage. “You bastard! You think your mother even likes you? She went overseas this time because she found out about her real son. Just wait, you’ll be kicked out on your ass, you incompetent failure!”
I saw Cole’s hand trembling violently, veins throbbing on his forehead.
“Hmph,” he scoffed, an impatient frown on his face. “It doesn’t matter to me whether my brother or I inherit the company. But what’s there for you to be so pleased about, Uncle?”
“You’re quite old, you know. If you were to reincarnate right now, you might just be born from my mother’s womb.”
Mr. Sterling completely lost it, smashing things around him until several security guards rushed over to subdue him.
Everyone gathered to watch Mr. Sterling’s spectacle, but I noticed Cole’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. While no one was looking, I quickly pulled hirn into the stairwell. “Cole, relax. Deep breaths.”
His eyes were unfocused, his entire face etched with exhaustion. A wave of guilt washed over me. So, this was the life he’d been living for the past few years, ever since I left.
Cole finally regained his composure. When he recognized me, he took a few steps back, leaning against the wall, a self–deprecating smile on his lips. “Are you pitying me?”
When did he start caring so much about what others thought?
I looked at him, earnestly. “I’m worried about you, Cole Miller.”