The Unseen Hand of Sterling

of the shattered sculpture. He cried out, genuinely this time, as a sharp edg

rily forgotten, her eyes wide wit

th

Call my father," he gasped. "And call

d enough. He knew this looked bad for Olivia,

been alerted and now on her way. When Susan arrived, breathless and panicked, followed sho

ut the sculpture o

parents, "my father... he' s been having a

s father exchanged

it was lunches, then after-work drinks to 'discuss strategy.' He started buying her gifts, small at first, then more expensive. A new laptop, a

ve it! That' s terrible, Ethan. For your mother,

moment, then looked directly at

y," he said coolly. "An an

s father stared, speechless. The

al treatment, the way she lets him undermine me,"

d her voice. "Oliv

ke that! Mark is just... enthu