Chapter 131: In Matthew St. Claire’s Eyes

The investigation room remained silent after the sibling’s revelation.

No one could stop thinking about Edward Sterling. The eldest son and the pillar of the Sterling family. The man who had carried an entire corporation while protecting everyone behind him.

Victor Reyes slowly closed one folder before looking toward another person seated at the table.

"Chairman Matthew."

Matthew St. Claire looked up.

"Yes?"

Victor folded his hands.

"Did you know Arthur Jones?"

Matthew thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"Personally?"

"No."

"I knew he existed. But we never met."

Everyone looked at him.

Matthew smiled faintly as memories resurfaced.

"Edward talked about Arthur all the time. He was proud of him."

Chris looked surprised.

"You never mentioned that before."

Matthew nodded.

"He admired Arthur. He often described him as someone brilliant. He would tell me..."

Matthew chuckled softly, imitating Edward’s voice.

"’Matt, one of these days you have to meet Arthur.’"

"’You two would get along. He’s smarter than I am when it comes to numbers. You’ll enjoy talking business with him.’"

Amanda smiled as she remembered.

"Edward always spoke highly of him."

Matthew nodded.

"He did. He trusted Arthur completely. There wasn’t even a hint of doubt whenever he mentioned his name."

Victor quietly took notes.

"So, Arthur had Edward’s full confidence."

Matthew answered without hesitation.

"Absolutely. If someone had told Edward that Arthur would betray him..."

Matthew slowly shook his head.

"He would’ve laughed."

Victor turned another page.

"Chairman Matthew, can you tell us how you first met Edward Sterling?"

Matthew smiled.

"This story is much happier."

Everyone listened quietly.

"It was during our university years."

He looked affectionately at Amanda.

"Amanda and Vanessa were already inseparable."

Amanda laughed softly.

"They were roommates. They did everything together."

Matthew nodded.

"One afternoon Amanda insisted I meet Vanessa’s boyfriend. I wasn’t interested."

Amanda rolled her eyes.

"You were studying."

"I was."

Matthew admitted.

"I thought introductions were a waste of time."

Chris smiled.

"Sounds like you."

Matthew ignored the comment.

"So I finally agreed."

He looked toward Liliana.

"That’s where I met your father."

Matthew’s smile widened.

"The moment we shook hands, we started arguing."

The younger generation blinked.

"Arguing?" Emily asked.

Matthew laughed.

"About business."

Edward believed traditional manufacturing would continue leading the economy. Matthew insisted technology and entertainment would shape the future.

"We debated for almost four hours."

Amanda laughed.

"Vanessa and I eventually left them at the café. They didn’t even notice."

The room chuckled.

Matthew smiled.

"When we finally finished, Edward looked at me and said..."

He imitated Edward once again.

"’I think we’re going to be friends for a very long time.’"

"And he was right."

The friendship quickly became something deeper.

"We graduated. He built Sterling Corporation. I established St. Claire Entertainment. We were competitors in ambition. But never enemies. We challenged each other. If my company achieved something, Edward would congratulate me. Then work twice as hard. If Sterling Corporation reached a new milestone, I’d do exactly the same."

Amanda smiled.

"They made each other better."

Matthew nodded.

"We both dreamed of building companies known around the world. We were young, ambitious, and perhaps a little too confident."

Everyone laughed softly.

Then Matthew’s expression softened.

"There was another joke."

Victor looked up.

"The marriage?"

Matthew smiled.

"Yes. It started as a joke."

Edward had once raised a glass during dinner.

"’If I have a daughter, and you have a son, let’s make them marry.’"

Amanda laughed.

"I remember Vanessa throwing a napkin at him."

"’They’re not even born yet!’"

Edward simply laughed.

"’Then we’ll wait.’"

Matthew smiled warmly.

"We all laughed. It sounded ridiculous. But somehow, it became a promise."

Matthew became quiet. His expression turned serious.

"Then, my company nearly collapsed."

The room fell silent.

Chris had heard the story before. The others had not.

"St. Claire Entertainment was barely surviving. We had talented trainees. But no investors. No advertisers. No confidence from the industry. People said entertainment wasn’t a real business. They called it a childish dream."

Amanda lowered her eyes.

"There were nights we thought we’d lose everything."

Matthew nodded.

"I almost gave up."

He looked toward Edward’s photograph.

"Then, Edward came."

Victor listened carefully.

"He didn’t ask for anything. He simply placed several documents on my desk."

Matthew smiled sadly.

"I asked him what they were."

"He said..."

"’Your future.’"

Amanda wiped away a tear.

"It was an investment."

Matthew nodded.

"A massive one. He personally guaranteed loans. He introduced me to investors. He convinced companies to trust St. Claire Entertainment. He even risked Sterling Corporation’s reputation."

Chris looked surprised.

"You never told me it was that much."

Matthew smiled.

"I wanted you to succeed because of your own efforts. But the truth is, without Edward, there would never have been a St. Claire Entertainment."

Silence filled the room.

Matthew slowly continued. "I owed him more than money. I owed him everything."

He looked toward Chris and Liliana.

"When Chris was born..."

Edward laughed."

"He held him and said..."

"’This little boy will become my son-in-law.’"

Everyone smiled.

Matthew laughed softly.

"I told him..."

"’Only if you finally have a daughter.’"

Four years later...

"Liliana was born."

Matthew looked directly at Liliana.

"The day I first carried you, I remembered that promise."

His voice became quieter.

"After Edward and Vanessa died, I told myself, I couldn’t save my best friend. But I could protect his daughter. So..."

"I made another promise. I would fulfill his final wish."

He looked down.

"I constantly reminded Chris."

"’Liliana is the only woman you will marry.’"

"I wanted both of you to grow up together. I thought I was honoring Edward."

Matthew’s eyes became red.

"But perhaps, I was also selfish."

He bowed his head.

"I’m sorry. I never asked what either of you truly wanted."

Before anyone else could speak—

Chris smiled.

"Dad."

Matthew looked up.

"I need to correct one thing."

Matthew blinked.

"You didn’t make me love her."

Everyone looked toward Chris.

"I fell in love with Liliana long before I understood what marriage meant."

"When I found her crying after her parents’ funeral, I told myself, I never wanted to see her tears again. When she smiled at me again, I reminded myself, I would protect her happiness forever. When she kept cheering for me, my heart already chose her."

He smiled at her.

"I would’ve chosen her. Even if no promise had existed."

Chris reached for Liliana’s hand.

"I was actually happy. When I found out that the girl I already loved was the girl I was going to marry."

Liliana smiled through her tears.

Matthew laughed quietly, wiping his own eyes.

"So, my greatest worry turned out to be unnecessary."

He looked at the couple.

"I’m grateful. You didn’t fall in love because of our promise. You fulfilled it because you already loved each other."

The room warmed with quiet smiles.

Victor allowed the moment to settle before asking one final question.

"Chairman Matthew, during all those years, did Edward ever tell you anything about Arthur..."

"...or the missing funds inside Sterling Corporation?"

The smiles slowly disappeared. Matthew’s expression became thoughtful.

He leaned back in his chair.

"I believe... There was one conversation. And at the time, I didn’t realize how important it was."

The room immediately became silent once again.