Chapter 8: She's Got Me In Her Corner

"Wait, you want to end this engagement thing right now?" John couldn't hide his surprise at Irene's straight-forward approach, though he quickly switched to eager mode. "Well, if that's what you want..."

James, always on point, pulled out the papers like magic. "Here you go, Miss Irene," he said softly, setting up the leather folder like he was handling something precious.

Irene grabbed the fancy pen without missing a beat. Five years ago, she would've been a mess signing these papers, probably crying her eyes out over losing Richard. But that girl? Long gone. This Irene - confident, successful, and totally over it - just wanted to wrap this up and move on.

"Hold on." Richard cut in, watching her like a hawk. His usual smooth-talking act was nowhere to be found. "Maybe we should talk about this privately first."

Irene didn't even bother looking up. "Nothing to talk about." Her signature was quick and clean - no drama, no tears, just closing the book on something that should've ended years ago.

John looked like Christmas had come early. "Well, that's done." He practically snatched the papers up. "Now that we've handled this little mess-"

"Actually," he switched gears, turning to Anna with this super warm smile, "I've got two announcements. First off, the board's given the green light to transfer two percent of my shares to Anna for her dowry."

Anna pulled her best "daddy's good girl" act - all wide eyes and hand over her heart. "Oh Father, I just... The shares really don't matter to me. Being your daughter is all I've ever wanted - I'd give up everything else just for that."

John and Rose basically turned to mush watching their precious adopted daughter's little show.

"Oh honey, stop being so modest." Rose was basically glowing. "After everything you've done for the family, you totally deserve this. And actually..." She could barely contain her excitement. "We've got even better news. We're thinking about setting you up with the Vein family!"

Wow, how perfect, Irene thought with an eye roll. Little miss perfect gets the shares AND a rich husband. Must be nice.

The room got super quiet. Anna went for the shy look, but Irene caught that flash of gotcha in her eyes. Richard barely seemed to notice the whole engagement thing though - he was too busy staring at Irene like she was some puzzle he couldn't figure out.

"Absolutely not." Joseph's voice cracked through the room like a whip.

Everyone spun around to find him at the doorway in his wheelchair, James hovering behind him like always. Joseph looked seriously pissed as he wheeled himself forward.

"Dad," John tried, "this is just good business. Anna's proven-"

"Proven what?" Joseph let out this totally unamused laugh. "Someone without Sterling blood has no right to our shares. None."

Rose jumped in, her perfect hostess act slipping. "Dad, we raised Anna for twenty years. She's just as much our daughter as-"

"As who?" Joseph cut her off. "As the daughter you kicked to the curb? The one with actual Sterling blood? The same one who's made something of herself even though you all tried your best to wreck her life?"

Anna's sweet act cracked for a hot second, pure hate flashing across her face before she pulled it together. "Grandfather, please. I know I'm not blood family, but I've tried so hard to honor the Sterling name-"

"Just stop." Irene kept her voice soft, but everyone heard her crystal clear. "Let's quit pretending, Anna. You're not my sister, and we both know you never tried to be."

The silence after that? You could've heard a pin drop. Anna's perfect daughter mask totally shattered under Irene's calm callout.

"James." Joseph's voice had that don't-mess-with-me tone that built their whole empire. "Get the safe."

James moved like a ninja, coming back with this thick envelope with the company logo all shiny on top.

"Dad?" John's voice had that warning edge. "What are you doing?"

Joseph took the envelope from James, his hands rock steady. "Something I should've done five years ago." He held the papers out to Irene. "Twenty percent of the company shares, straight to you, sweetheart."

And boom - chaos hit.

"You can't!" Rose lost it completely. "Dad, this isn't some little decision!" Her mind was obviously racing to her three sons, probably seeing their inheritance going up in smoke.

John went ghost-white. "Father, be reasonable-"

"Reasonable?" Joseph's voice rose over the mess. "Like when you threw out your own kid? When you picked your precious reputation over your daughter?" His whole face softened when he looked at Irene. "If this family won't stand by you, you've still got your grandfather in your corner!"

Irene's hands shook a little taking that envelope. It felt heavy - not just the paper, but like... everything it meant. Her grandfather backing her when everyone else bounced.

Anna looked ready to explode, watching twenty percent of the company - way more than her measly two percent dowry - slip through her fingers. Richard's eyes were glued to that envelope, probably doing math in his head.

"This is crazy." John moved toward Irene, hand out. "Give me those papers. Now."

Irene stepped back, holding that envelope like it was her lifeline. That scared girl who ran away five years ago? Gone. In her place stood this total boss who knew exactly what she was worth, who'd built her own life and raised three genius kids all by herself.

"Since you don't want me as your daughter," she said, cool as ice, "what right do you have to stop me?"

That shut everyone up real quick. John's hand dropped like it got burned. Rose stopped mid-protest. Anna's perfect little world started cracking at the edges.

Irene leaned down to kiss her grandfather's cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, meaning way more than just the shares.

Joseph patted her hand, his eyes twinkling like he was having the time of his life. "Show them what a real Sterling looks like, baby."

Head high, Irene walked out. The click of her heels was the only sound in that stunned-silent room. At the door, she turned back one last time - took in her dad's useless anger, her mom's scheming fear, Anna's barely hidden hate, and her grandfather's proud grin.

Five years ago, she'd run from this place crying and confused. Now? She was walking out like a queen, with real power in her hands. The Sterling blood in her veins finally had some Sterling steel to back it up.

The heavy doors shut behind her, and Irene let herself smile. Let them stew in their drama. She had three brilliant kids waiting at the hotel, a killer career she'd built from nothing, and now a fat chunk of the company that'd thrown her away.

Game on - and this time, she was writing the rules.