Chapter 225 Blackmail
Bella immediately walked over to Sterling, who came downstairs with open arms to meet her.
Sterling wrapped Bella in a protective embrace with one arm.
Sterling had never shown such an intimidating presence in front of others; he was always gentle and courteous.
It seemed he really didn't like this uncle named Derek, and Derek didn't mind Sterling's tone. He grinned and said, "Sterling, it's been a long time. I've missed you."
"You know I just got back to the country, and I'm broke. I need money for food and living expenses. The money you gave me last time is long gone. How about giving me some more?"
Bella was astonished at how brazenly he asked for money. She couldn't help but feel a bit dismayed.
It seemed Zoey was right; asking for money like this was no different from being a bandit, just short of outright robbery.
Sterling patted Bella's hand reassuringly. "Go back to your room."
Then he turned to Derek with a blank expression and said, "Come with me."
As Derek passed by Bella, he remarked, "Bella is quite pretty."
Sterling's eyes were sharp as a sword. "Derek, do you have a death wish?"
Bella quickly hurried back to her room.
Derek's eyes darkened with a flash of fear, but he continued, "Sterling, stop trying to scare me. I know you're as ruthless as your father. You both inherited my father's cold-heartedness."
"I may be a loser, but I'm the most humane member of the Windsor family. I just want money; there's no need for violence."
"After all, I'm still your uncle. You're now the head of the Windsor family, so you shouldn't be short on cash. And you have a half-brother, even if he's illegitimate, but..."
The threat in Derek's words made a murderous glint flash in Sterling's eyes. His long fingers rhythmically tapped the stair railing, the sound slow but chilling.
"I don't lack money, but I don't like being threatened. If I remember correctly, Grandpa already kicked you out of the Windsor family."
"Besides your last name, you have no connection to the Windsor family. Helping you is a favor, not an obligation. Don't think you can threaten me."
Derek scratched his head irritably and waved his hand. "Don't give me that crap. I just want money."
"Besides, it was your dad who had an affair and fathered an illegitimate child. If that gets out, the Windsor Group and your dad's reputation will be ruined."
"The news of an illegitimate child in the Windsor family would make headlines. The Windsor Group's stock would plummet, and those old bastards in the family would tear you apart. If you don't give me the money, I'll sell the Windsor family's scandal to the media."
"I heard that illegitimate child came looking for you. Giving me the money is better than giving it to him, right?"
"He wants to come back and claim the inheritance, but I don't want the inheritance. I just want a hundred million dollars. Give it to me, and I'll leave immediately. I promise the news about the illegitimate child won't come from me."
Bella, listening from upstairs through the door crack, was shocked to hear Derek asking for a hundred million dollars. He was clearly taking advantage of the situation.
Sterling's face was unusually calm. "Wait here."
Sterling turned and walked back to his study, immediately calling Owen to come up.
Owen handed Sterling a check. "Mr. Windsor, are you really going to give him that much money? His ambition won't be satisfied with a hundred million dollars. He'll keep asking for more. Should we take care of this?"
Sterling raised an eyebrow. "What do you think? This kind of thing isn't worth dirtying my hands. He's asking for death himself. He has no status or background now. If he dies, no one will know. Just make sure he never appears in front of me again."
Owen nodded slightly. "But the people in the Windsor family are eager to take power from you. If Derek goes to them, it might be difficult for us."
Sterling snorted coldly. "If he dared to go to those old guys, he wouldn't need to come to me. Those old guys would tear him apart."
Owen nodded and turned to leave.
As he opened the door, he saw Bella standing there, her coffee falling to the ground, shattering into pieces. Her eyes were full of fear and caution.
"Sorry, I just came to bring Sterling some coffee. I didn't hear anything."
Owen looked at Sterling in the study with a gentle expression, then said to Bella, "Don't be afraid. Mr. Windsor won't blame you."
Sterling also walked to the door. "It's okay, Owen. You can go now."
Sterling raised a hand to rub his temples and, seeing Bella about to leave, called to her gently, "Come here, Bella."
Bella had only intended to bring him a cup of coffee, but she overheard his conversation with Owen.
She knew Sterling had his ways, but hearing him say it out loud for the first time made her a bit scared.
Sterling took Bella's hand, pulled her into the study, and then onto his lap.
"You heard everything, didn't you? Ask whatever you want." Sterling's voice was very tired.
Bella shook her head, feeling a bit heartbroken. Sterling had just been blackmailed for a hundred million dollars. Who could be happy about that?
But she still carefully asked, "What will you do to Derek?"
Hearing Bella's question, Sterling sighed. "Nothing, just what you heard. Make sure he never appears in front of me again, that's all. Did you think I would kill him?"
Bella smiled. "That's good. He's not worth dirtying your hands. He's here to extort you. A hundred million dollars, he really dares to ask."
Sterling looked into Bella's pure eyes and gently rubbed her arm with his thumb to comfort her. "Don't worry, he doesn't have the ability to extort me."
Bella remembered something and worriedly asked, "Will Derek really not sell the news about Caleb being the Windsor family's illegitimate child to the media? If he doesn't keep his word and reveals Caleb's identity, won't that cause a lot of trouble?"
Bella didn't think Derek looked like someone who followed the rules.
Sterling said calmly, "Don't worry, he doesn't have the ability to threaten me."
From the moment Derek stepped out of the Windsor Villa, Sterling's people had been following him. He never had the chance to betray the Windsor family.
Bella said, "That's good."
"These next few days, why don't you check out what's good in Oakridge? See if there's anything you like, places you want to visit. Make a list and we can go together," Sterling said gently.
Bella nodded. If she could go out and relax, that would be nice. With Sterling busy with many things, she had to put the divorce matter on hold for now.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before news came that Derek had been arrested and imprisoned for extortion of a hundred million dollars, along with his other crimes over the years.
Robbery, rape of underage girls, theft, fraud, and a series of other charges—these were enough to keep him in prison for life.
Derek's imprisonment also gave distant relatives of the Windsor family an opportunity to accuse Sterling.
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