CHAPTER 166: WAIT!!!

Kyle’s face went pale for a heartbeat, then he forced a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Uncle Gordon," he said fast, too fast, voice sliding into practiced calm, "believe me — I didn’t know. The MD is the one who did this. I was unaware."

Gordon’s mouth tightened. "What do you think, Kyle? Is it not your responsibility to run your own business? You have one division and you just ruined the family’s name."

Chester shot a hand up, trying to smooth, "Brother — it’s not that simple."

Gordon didn’t soften. "What is done is done, Chester. It’s ruined now."

Miles let the silence sit an extra beat, then smirked, the expression small and cold. It spread through the room like frost.

Silvey’s fingers tightened on her napkin. For once she didn’t try to hide what she felt — a private, slow smile tucked into grief and triumph at the same time.

Chester recovered, voice urgent. "Like my son said, he is not involved. We can prove this in court. We will make the guilty parties pay."

Miles’ laugh was low and slicing. "Oh — coloring someone else red while you’re standing in a sea of blood. How foolish."

The words hit the table. A cousin at the far end swallowed loudly.

Chester rose, face going stony. "You brat— get the hell out of here. I won’t allow an outsider to ruin our family relations."

Kyle’s jaw worked. He pushed his chair back and stood. "You’ll pay for this, Miles. You wait. I’ll see you—" He jabbed a finger as if to puncture the air, then fumbled for his phone and dialed.

Miles watched him, amusement thinning into a sharper sort of silence. Kyle’s call went through to voicemail. He frowned, tapped again. No answer. He hit decline with a hard exhale.

"Can’t reach?" Miles asked, voice soft, mocking. "The WEB agents you placed outside the estate — the ones you arranged to take care of me? They’re on a medical flight to Norway right now."

A ripple of confusion moved through the room. Chester blinked. Gordon’s hand drifted unconsciously toward his cane. Kyle’s face lost color like paint left in rain.

Kyle stammered, "W-what... who told you that?"

Miles’ smile widened almost kindly, the kind a frozen lake gives before it cracks. "I suggest you sit down, Kyle. The show isn’t over. I don’t want you having a heart attack in front of all of us — you deserve worse, yes, but let’s keep the theatrics tidy."

Chester’s voice was smaller now. "This is madness. Accusations without proof."

Miles folded his hands, calm as a man lighting a cigarette though there was no cigarette.

"So someone just said I’m ruining their family relations," Miles said, his tone calm but slicing through the tension like a blade. His gaze shifted sharply toward Chester. "You talk about relations? You talk about proof? Fine. I’ll show you who’s actually ruining those relations— with proof."

The entire hall went silent.

The chandelier above hummed faintly, and even the servants standing by the doors froze mid-breath.

Miles pulled out his phone and said, flatly, "Bring him in."

Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the door.

A faint click echoed as it opened— and then the sound of wheels rolling across marble. A nurse, face hidden behind a surgical mask, pushed a wheelchair slowly into the grand balcony hall.

Whispers started at once.

Gasps rippled across the circle of gathered family members.

Even Gordon Sterling rose from his seat, his hand trembling slightly on the cane.

Because sitting in that chair— pale, breathing slowly but alive— was David Sterling.

The very man everyone believed to be unconscious in the hospital.

The current decision-maker of the Sterling Family and the ACE group.

Silvey’s father. Gordon’s only son.

Gordon’s voice cracked with disbelief.

"Son... you woke up."

Silvey’s lips trembled— but she smiled. A small, knowing smile that said she’d kept this secret close. She had known all along.

Kyle, however, staggered a step backward. His jaw dropped. "Aren’t you supposed to be in the hospital, brother?"

David’s voice, though weak, carried a quiet power that silenced the murmuring crowd.

"What’s the matter, Kyle? Watching me conscious and talking makes you uncomfortable?"

Kyle stuttered. "It’s— It’s not like that, brother. I’m happy you’re here."

David let out a tired chuckle, one that sounded more like disappointment than amusement.

"I don’t need your fake wishes. That happiness you’re pretending— it’s going away soon anyway."

Chester frowned, nervous. "What do you mean by that, David?"

Miles smirked, leaning casually on the side of the table.

"Let me help him, since he doesn’t want to waste his breath. What he means, Chester, is that the doctor who kept him unconscious for all these weeks... is no longer conscious himself."

The room went still.

Kyle’s eyes widened. "You’re lying! You’ve gone too far. I did nothing like that!"

David turned his head toward Miles, his voice firm now. "No, he’s not lying. Miles, please— continue. I’m actually enjoying this show."

Miles smiled faintly. "Thank you, uncle. And now... since this is such an important family meeting, I think it’s only fair that we call in another guest."

He pulled out his phone again. "Send her in."

The massive doors opened once more— this time, a man walked in, holding the arm of a trembling woman. He guided her forward, then bowed slightly toward Miles before exiting, closing the door behind him.

A low hum of whispers spread again among the family members.

Half of them looked amused. Half confused. Most of them didn’t care— not really.

For them, this was just entertainment, another Chapter in the Sterling family’s internal affairs.

Chester slammed his hand on the table. "Who the hell is she? And why did you bring her into a family meeting?"

Miles didn’t even flinch. "Calm down, Chester. Control your blood pressure— you’re old anyway. No need to push yourself too hard."

Kyle clenched his fists. "You—"

David cut in coldly, "She is the staff member in my office. The one who was threatened by a local goon to add a drug into my juice that day— the day I had my accident."

The woman’s hands trembled as David continued,

"That man who blackmailed her was hired by Kyle."

A storm of gasps erupted around the hall.

Even Gordon’s face hardened as he turned toward his nephew. The temperature of the entire room seemed to drop.

Chester barked, "This is a lie! False allegations! What proof do you have? You’re working together to trap my son!"

David’s eyes flickered with contempt. "Trap? The man who threatened her was a loan recovery agent from your company— ACE Finances."

The whispers turned into a low rumble— a quiet but clear wave of realization spreading through the generations sitting in the hall.

The woman finally spoke up, voice breaking.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling. He said he’d hurt my daughter if I didn’t do it... I was terrified... please, forgive me."

David nodded, gently. "You can go now."

The woman bowed, shaking, and walked out.

Kyle shot up from his chair, furious. "You’re all mad! This is a setup! You’re all in it together!" He started pacing, breathing faster, then suddenly snapped— "I won’t let you frame me!"

He charged forward, his hand raised toward David—

but before he could even take another step—

A sound echoed through the room.

Kyle’s body jerked as a heavy kick slammed into his ribs. He flew back and hit the marble floor, gasping in pain.

The room froze again.

The nurse, the one who had wheeled David in, was standing there— her posture too steady, too sharp for a hospital worker.

She lowered her leg, her stance perfect.

And her voice cut through the stunned silence.

"Not this time, Kyle."

Then, slowly— she reached up and pulled off her mask.

Silvey’s eyes widened, disbelief flooding her face.

"Layla..."

Kyle, still on the floor, coughed, trying to breathe. His face went pale, his eyes trembling as he looked up at her.

His lips parted in shock— and one word escaped his mouth.

"Luna...?"

The entire hall erupted into stunned whispers again—

a name that hadn’t been heard in years, spoken like a ghost suddenly returned to life.

And Miles... only leaned back, watching it unfold with a faint, knowing smile.

Because this was far from over.

Flashback — Star Harbor, Sterling Security Basement, Interrogation Room

Luna Whitecliff sat in the dimly lit room, her hands cuffed to the table. The air was cold, silent, except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan.

Miles stood outside the glass wall, watching her. She looked calm, still — too still. Her eyes didn’t dart around like someone afraid. They just stared at the table.

Miles turned to the agent beside him.

"Open the door and give me the key."

The agent nodded. "Yes, boss."

The metal door clicked open, and Miles stepped inside. His presence filled the room — composed, controlled, yet heavy with authority.

Luna looked up at him, her voice steady.

"Whatever you do, I’m not going to say anything to you."

Miles said nothing. He unlocked her cuffs and set the key on the table.

Luna’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard.

Miles took a seat opposite her. A moment later, the door opened again — an agent came in quietly, placed two cups of coffee on the table, and left.

Luna frowned, glancing at the cups.

Miles leaned back. "Choose your cup yourself, will you? There’s nothing wrong with the coffee. It just helps you think clearly."

After a moment, Luna picked one up.

Miles took a slow sip from his own cup. Then his tone changed — calm, deliberate.

"Your father, Dr. Mason Whitecliff, used to work in my dad’s research lab."

Luna’s expression stayed neutral.

"And your dad’s research lab burned down — killing him. What are you trying to say?"

Miles’s gaze didn’t waver.

"Do you even know it wasn’t an accident?"

Luna frowned, her voice sharp.

"So now you’re trying to manipulate me."

Miles gave a faint smile. "I know you were at the Pacific, Luna."

Her hands froze around the cup. Her eyes narrowed.

Miles continued, quietly. "I know what you were doing there. You were mass-producing the same thing your father once tried to destroy."

Luna shook her head. "You’re lying."

Miles leaned forward slightly. "I don’t have a reason to lie to you, Luna. To be honest, I don’t even need you. I could destroy Kyle right now, even without your help. I know his movements. I know you shipped that drug across the world. And I know what he’s trying to do."

The confidence in his voice made her flinch — she could tell he wasn’t bluffing. The man sitting in front of her wasn’t just powerful; he was informed, precise, and far more dangerous than anyone she’d ever faced.

Miles’s tone softened, but only slightly.

"Your father was the one who accidentally created that drug. It was part of my dad’s cancer cure research."

He paused, his eyes darkening.

"Somehow, Kyle found out about the failed formula. He killed my father, Luna. His men burned the lab to erase every trace."

Luna’s breath hitched.

Miles looked down, then back at her. "What I don’t understand is this — it’s been seventeen years. And yet you’re still working for the same man who destroyed both of our childhoods."

He stood from his chair, slowly, the metal legs scraping against the floor. "I can’t figure that part out. That’s why you’re here — for answers."

He turned toward the door.

"When you have that answer, you call me. Until then, you’re staying here."

The world seemed to tilt around Luna. The information he’d just dropped on her was heavy — too heavy to process all at once. Her heartbeat rang in her ears, her thoughts spinning.

As Miles reached for the handle, a quiet voice came from behind him.

"Wait."