Chapter 6 - THE NAME
Julian sat alone in his car for almost an hour.
The driver remained silent.
No one disturbed him.
Alexander.
Elena had named their son after Alexander Sterling.
Julian’s grandfather had been the only member of the Sterling family Elena genuinely adored.
Alexander Sterling had built half the company Julian later inherited.
He was ruthless in negotiations, impossible at family dinners, and strangely gentle with Elena.
He used to tell Julian the same thing whenever they argued.
“That woman understands this company better than half the men you pay seven figures to flatter you.”
Julian had always dismissed it.
Now the memory made his stomach turn.
His phone rang.
Chloe.
He let it ring.
It stopped.
Then began again.
On the third call, he answered.
“Where are you?”
“Driving.”
“From where?”
Julian said nothing.
Chloe laughed bitterly.
“You went to the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“On our wedding night.”
“Yes.”
The silence that followed was dangerous.
“Is he yours?”
Julian looked out the window.
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Elena tested during the pregnancy.”
“And you believe her?”
“Yes.”
“No DNA report?”
“She has one.”
“You haven’t seen it.”
“I believe her.”
Chloe’s breathing sharpened.
“You believe Elena.”
“Yes.”
“After everything.”
Julian rubbed his forehead.
“What exactly is everything, Chloe?”
“Not this again.”
“Yes.”
“You cannot interrogate me because your ex-wife had a baby.”
“I’m not interrogating you.”
“You sound like it.”
Julian looked at the snow-covered streets.
“What did Elena’s fertility report actually say?”
Chloe went silent.
“Why does that matter tonight?”
“Answer me.”
“You saw it.”
“I saw a summary.”
“Because you were busy.”
“I saw a summary you prepared.”
“I was your Director of Public Relations.”
“You had no reason to summarize my wife’s medical records.”
“You asked me to handle the divorce communications.”
“That came later.”
Chloe did not respond.
Julian’s voice became colder.
“Where did you get the report?”
“Elena’s email.”
“How?”
“She had given the office access during the foundation campaign.”
Julian remembered.
Elena’s scheduling account had been connected temporarily to a shared executive system.
Chloe had managed it.
“What did the original report say?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You remember everything.”
“Not medical jargon from a year ago.”
Julian ended the call.
Then he called his chief information officer.
The man answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Sterling?”
“I need every archived email from Elena’s old executive account.”
There was a pause.
“Sir, that account was deactivated.”
“I know.”
“Legal may need to authorize—”
“I am authorizing it.”
“Understood.”
“And do not notify Chloe.”
The silence this time was different.
“Yes, sir.”
Julian ended the call.
In the hospital, Elena was awake.
Alexander slept beside her.
Amelia had gone home for clothes.
The room was quiet.
Elena stared at her son and wondered whether telling Julian the truth had been a mistake.
Her phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
She almost ignored it.
Then a message appeared.
Congratulations on the Sterling heir.
Elena’s blood ran cold.
A second message followed.
You should be more careful who knows which room you’re in.
She immediately pressed the nurse-call button.
Within minutes, security was notified.
The number was traced to a prepaid device.
No name.
No account.
No explanation.
Elena stared at the screen.
Only four people knew the paternity.
Elena.
Amelia.
Her attorney.
May you like
And Julian.
Which meant someone had learned the truth very quickly.
