He only learned he was a father after the woman who protected his children was already in the ground

While peace settled over Aurora Field, a storm was brewing in Seattle.

Taking advantage of Nathan’s absence, a rogue group of board members led by Richard Vance—a longtime ally of Margaret Sterling—had called an emergency shareholder meeting at Sterling Tech headquarters. Their objective: vote to replace Nathan as CEO on the grounds of 'executive abandonment and breach of fiduciary duty.'

At 9:00 AM on a crisp Monday morning, the glass conference room on the forty-third floor was filled with high-powered executives, corporate lawyers, and major investors.

Richard Vance stood at the head of the polished oak table, adjusting his gold cufflinks. “Nathan Sterling has checked out. He’s living in a rural town in North Carolina, ignoring multi-million-dollar acquisition deals, pursuing a personal matter that has compromised his leadership. As acting chairman, I move that we execute Section 4 of the corporate charter and remove him from executive authority.”

“Second the motion,” another board member declared.

Before the corporate secretary could record the vote, the heavy double glass doors of the boardroom swung open with a resounding thud.

The room fell into an absolute, breathless hush.

Nathan Sterling stepped into the room.

He wasn't wearing his traditional tailored charcoal suit. He wore a crisp white dress shirt with the collar open, a dark navy jacket, and no tie. Beside him walked Marcus Vance—the top corporate litigator on the West Coast—carrying two heavy leather briefcases.

But it wasn't the lawyer that captivated the room.

Walking on either side of Nathan, holding his hands tightly, were Hazel and Lily. Both girls wore matching navy-blue dresses with white lace collars, their brown curls brushed neatly, their small shoes clicking softly against the polished hardwood floor.

Nathan walked to the head of the table, his presence so commanding, so terrifyingly calm, that Richard Vance instinctively took two steps backward away from the podium.

“Mr. Vance,” Nathan said, his voice carrying an effortless, razor-sharp edge that made every executive sit up straight. “I believe you were in the middle of taking a vote regarding my company.”

“Nathan…” Vance stammered, his face flushing crimson. “This is a private executive session! You can't bring children in here!”

“These are my daughters, Hazel and Lily Sterling,” Nathan announced, his voice echoing through the vast glass room. “They are the primary beneficiaries of the Sterling Family Trust, which holds fifty-one percent of the voting shares of this enterprise.”

Nathan pulled out the center executive chair—the throne he had sat in for seven years—and gently guided Hazel and Lily to sit together in the massive leather seat. They sat side-by-side, their feet dangling inches off the floor, looking around the room with curious, fearless eyes.

Nathan stood behind their chair, resting his hands on the leather backrest, looking down the table at the frightened board members.

“Effective immediately,” Nathan declared, “Richard Vance is removed from the board of directors. Section 8 of my personal founder’s agreement gives me absolute authority to dissolve any board member without cause. Marcus, hand him his severance package.”

Marcus stepped forward, placing a single white envelope on the table in front of the stunned executive.

“As for the rest of you,” Nathan continued, his gray eyes sweeping across the frozen table, “Sterling Technologies is shifting its regional headquarters to Raleigh, North Carolina. Those who wish to remain with this company will pack their desks by Friday. Those who do not will receive generous severance packages.”

A senior investor raised a trembling hand. “Nathan… Raleigh? Why?”