Chapter 234 The Truth, Threat
Sterling knew the truth about the plane crash.
On the surface, it seemed like Beck couldn't stand the fact that his father had abandoned Caleb and his mother. Caleb's mother had then persuaded Beck to tamper with the fuel of his father's private plane and spiked Bella's father's drink with hallucinogens, leading to the crash.
This was all Sterling could uncover after the incident, but no one knew that the real cause of the crash was his mother.
This secret was known only to him, and he intended to take it to his grave.
Sterling's mother was a proud and elegant woman, deeply in love with his father. She had believed his father was devoted to her, but his father knew his infidelity was unforgivable.
His father had confessed his affair to his mother, but she had already known. She pretended everything was fine and lived with him for half her life, but she could never truly get over it. She had been suffering from depression, unnoticed by anyone.
If it hadn't been for the conversation she had with him the night before the crash, Sterling wouldn't have known that his mother had always been aware of his father's affair.
At that time, Sterling had just found out about the affair himself and was furious with his father, so he didn't question it further. It was only later that he realized the truth.
His mother wanted to die with his father. She had made her move after they boarded the plane, giving everyone on board tea laced with sleeping pills.
The drink Beck had prepared for Bella's father was never consumed; he drank the water prepared by Sterling's mother, which was also spiked with sleeping pills.
Sterling couldn't reveal this truth. Bella's father was the only innocent person in that crash, and it was his mother who had caused Bella's tragedy.
He couldn't bear to tell Bella, knowing she wouldn't be able to handle it and would hate him for it. He couldn't bear to lose Bella.
When Sterling brought Bella back, he already knew the truth. He thought that by tormenting Bella, he could lessen his guilt, but he only found himself in more pain and increasingly unable to let her go.
Caleb only knew the surface of the story. Seeing Sterling's silence, he assumed Sterling was unwilling and said, "Have you made up your mind?"
Caleb's voice pulled Sterling from his memories. He looked at the photos on the table—pictures of Bella and James in a hotel bed, and Bella and Micah in another hotel bed.
"How did you get these?" Sterling asked coldly.
Caleb smirked. "Isn't it a bit late to ask that? I'll give you the negatives if you help me keep this from Anna. Oh, and about Anna's family's dock—I plan to propose to Anna soon. As my big brother, you should attend my wedding, right? How about buying that dock as a wedding gift for me?"
Sterling found Caleb's audacity amusing. He stared at Caleb, eyes blazing.
Caleb met his gaze fearlessly. "I know what you're thinking, but it comes down to what's more important: Bella or your empire. If these photos get out, I can't guarantee the Windsor Group's stock won't plummet, or that Bella won't disappear in a 'bang.'"
Caleb's smug words cut Sterling deep.
Bella was his Achilles' heel. Sterling feared nothing more than losing her. If she saw those photos, what would she think?
The tension between Sterling and Caleb was thick, the air almost suffocating.
With a loud bang, the door to the private room was forcefully pushed open.
Sterling looked up to see Bella. He quickly shoved the photos behind the sofa cushion.
Sterling stood up, his expression softening. "Bella, what are you doing here?"
Bella saw Sterling and Caleb in the room and hesitated. She had thought Sterling was up to something shady, but he was just meeting with Caleb.
But why hide this from her? Bella walked over, her face cold.
Caleb stood up, grinning. "Bella, or should I say, my sister-in-law?"
Bella glared at him. "Don't call me that. It makes me sick. Caleb, I can't believe you're this kind of person. Stay away from Anna. Stop bothering her."
Caleb chuckled, looking at Sterling meaningfully. "Really? Should I stay away from Anna?"
Bella, sensing his sarcasm, turned to Sterling. "What does he mean?"
Sterling said, "Nothing. You can leave now."
Caleb said, "Alright, I'll look forward to the wedding gift when I marry Anna."
Bella was furious. "What wedding? What are you talking about?"
Caleb laughed. "Nothing, just stating facts. I plan to pursue Anna again and marry her."
"In your dreams. After what you did, you think you can marry Anna? Aren't you afraid she'll kill you when she finds out the truth?" Bella's eyes were sharp as she stared at Caleb.
Caleb shrugged. "What did I do? I did nothing. Sterling, you should explain. Bella seems to have misunderstood me. Besides, I'm sincere about Anna. What's wrong with pursuing her again?"
Sterling's eyes were dark, his face grim as he stared at Caleb.
Caleb said nothing more and turned to leave.
"I'll wait for your good news, Sterling," Caleb's voice came from outside the door.
Bella immediately asked Sterling, "What good news? What does he mean?"
Sterling reassured her, "Nothing. He's just trying to intimidate us. He wants to pursue Anna and doesn't want us to stop him."
Bella was outraged. "He has the nerve to pursue Anna? If she knew the truth, she'd kill him. He's such a scumbag."
Sterling said, "If he wants to bother Anna, he'll have to see if he can."
But Sterling was worried about the photos. If Caleb went crazy and leaked them, everything would be ruined.
Sterling held Bella close as they returned to the Windsor Villa. Bella was worried about Anna, afraid she'd be deceived by Caleb again.
"Don't worry. Colin is watching over Anna. She'll be fine," Sterling reassured her.
Bella thought about it and agreed. With Colin's capabilities, protecting Anna was no problem.
On the way back, Sterling kept thinking about Caleb's words. He didn't care about Caleb's life or his pursuit of Anna. He only cared about the photos and Beck's letter.
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