Chapter Fifty-seven Estera Roberts’ POV (Ten Years Before)

“Y - yes, sir,” I said in barely a whisper.
“Good. I have a friend -- a business partner, who could make all these go away. But he wants something in return. He wants to secure our legacy by having my son marry his daughter,” he said, pausing to assess me intently. I pressed my lips together to prevent them from trembling and folded my arms against my chest with lack of what to do with them. My heart grew heavy and tightened painfully in my chest. I wasn’t stupid I knew where this was going. The payment for my school was a payoff. Edward Sterling was trying to pay me off to let Evan go. A tremor raked through me and tears welled in my eyes. The sheer thought of a future without him made me feel like I was withering inside.
“This … friend has the money and connection to bail us out of this mess. But you can imagine my shock when I told Evan and he refused my friend’s offer. He refused to see reason and all because of you,” he said, got up, and came to stand a few feet away from me. “So you can imagine my curiosity. You can understand why I needed to see you. And after I had you investigated—”
“What?” I exclaimed in shock. He had me investigated?!
“I’m sorry, Miss Roberts… if you were in my shoes and your heir told you to go fuck yourself, and the dynasty you worked all your life building because of some girl whom you haven’t the foggiest idea where she stems from wouldn’t you be curious too?” He asked. I nodded and tears blurred my vision. “Or perhaps I am missing something. Is your father some secret royalty we haven't discovered or your mother is some princess of England? Oh, sorry, your parents are nobodies, and very dead. You, my dear, are already a broken, one-winged bird, and that, darling, is the only reason why I am taking this approach with you. Oh, and the fact that Evan loves you. Otherwise, I would so much enjoy, plucking your other wing, little bird, and making sure you never fly again. Ever!” he snapped. I flinched in reflex. “The audacity! For you to think you can ensnare my son!” he spat, not bothering to conceal his anger now.
“No. It is not like that. Mr. sterling. I love him. I love Evan. Please, don't do this!” I whispered, wanting him to know that my feelings for Evan were real and him taking Evan from me would kill me. I knew what we were up against was huge, but I needed to let him know what I felt for his son was real. “I beg you. He is my… my everything,” I added, pleadingly.
“Damn! I can’t believe I have to deal with this shit. You are so young - too young, and naive. You will get over it. You will get over him. And he will get over you. If you truly love him, you will not want him to lose it all just to choose you. You will not want us all doomed for a fantasy which only exist in your head. I won't let a nobody, who would possibly never amount to anything! And would be nothing, but a burden on my son with nothing to offer, to prevent me from savaging my life's work!” he ranted. Then he closed the gap between us, grabbed me by my chin, and forcefully made me look into his steely gaze. “Now to the favor, I want of you. Evan will be back here tomorrow, I made sure he wouldn’t be returning today, and before he gets back, I want you gone from here.”
“Oh, God!” I cried, feeling as if my heart was being torn out of my chest. “Please, please don't do this,” I pleaded with tears blinding me now, and my heart breaking into so many pieces.
“There wouldn’t be the need for this if your father was somebody, little bird, but as it is, it's my neck against yours, you will forgive me. It’s basic, surviving instinct,” he said and shoved me backward, and I found myself held in a tight grip by the bodyguard. “Oh, and sorry, Miss Roberts for what I’m about to do. I need to make sure you stay away from my son—” My heart skipped with fear and then he added, “Strip her, Seth!”
“What?! No! Get your hands off of me!” I yelled.
The large man placed his beefy hand over my mouth to shut me up, and I felt him pull down the zipper of my dress. Panic struck like lightning inside me and I fought hard but the man was too strong for me. Helpless tears streamed down my face. Edward Sterling came to help the other guy pull down my dress and took off the ring Evan gave me, and then Seth jerked me forward to the desk, bending me over it. I cried but it came out muffled as Edward Sterling came to stand beside the man. He tangled his fingers in my ponytail and pulled my hair back painfully. I let out a pain-filled gasp.
“You see how easy that was? The pitiful part of your existence is that I could do anything I want with you, right here, right now, or I could order Seth to fuck you, and nothing will come of it, because you are trash. You are nothing. And if I ever see you anywhere near my son, ever again! I will have you disappear -- you and your Aunt and nothing will come of it. Do you understand me, little bird?” he said in a low harsh tone.
I was in great pain physically and emotionally. I felt humiliated, ashamed, and dirty. I knew then that I had lost Evan in so many ways, but I needed to stop them! I have no idea what they had in store for me, but I knew it wouldn’t be good. I could already feel Seth aroused cock against my ass, and he kept pressing hard and jerking forward to hold me still. Edward Sterling was enraged and ranting like a crazy person.
Pain and anger tore through me. ‘They had no right to do this to us -- to me! But I had to get away. I mustn’t let them finish whatever they had planned. I have to get away. I must get away!’ I thought to myself.
My eyes searched the desk frantically and settled on a letter opener. The two were too engrossed in keeping me still and quiet that they left my hand loose. I reached forward and suddenly grabbed the steel blade left lying on a pile of letters, and aimed backward over my head, plunging it into the eye socket of the bastard holding me. He let out a loud yelp, warm blood splattered all over my naked back and on the desk and he immediately pulled back from me, setting me free. I swiped my hand sideways at Edward sterling and the steel cut and made a slash over his left eyebrow to the top of his eye.
“Bitch!” he screamed. I didn’t wait to see the damage I had done. I hightailed it to the door.
“Don’t let her get away, you fool! I am not done with her! Get her!” I heard Edward Sterling yell as I pulled the heavy door open and ran out in my underwear.