Chapter 144: An Old Family Friend

The party continued around them, but the Sterling family remained the subject of quiet conversation.

Everywhere Lucia looked, she saw people watching them. Some stared openly. Others whispered behind their glasses of champagne. There were curious glances, sympathetic looks, and a few expressions that carried something less kind.

Lucia noticed all of it. She simply refused to react. She had learned long ago that dignity was not something a person lost when fortune disappeared.

Money could disappear overnight. Companies could collapse. Properties could be sold. Names could be forgotten. But character remained.

And Lucia was proud of hers.

The Sterling family had never built its fortune through deception. Their wealth had come from years of hard work, honest business, and the vision of Edward Sterling.

Her son had always believed that a successful company should benefit more than the person sitting in the chairman’s office.

He had helped employees when they were struggling. He had supported relatives without expecting repayment. He had helped business partners who were close to bankruptcy. He had even supported people who could never give him anything in return.

That was the Edward Lucia remembered. And no rumor could change that.

She looked across the ballroom. Although she had rarely attended Edward’s business meetings or joined him at corporate events, she knew many of the people in the room.

She recognized the older gentleman standing near the fireplace.

James Anderson. He had once been one of Edward’s closest business partners.

Near the bar was Richard Collins, who had attended countless charity events with Edward.

Beside him stood Thomas Walker, one of the former shareholders of Sterling Corporation.

There were others.

Men and women who had once gathered around Edward when Sterling Corporation was one of the most powerful companies in the country. Now they were standing in Arthur Jones’s ballroom.

Lucia studied their faces. Some looked uncomfortable. Some looked surprised. Others looked genuinely emotional.

She wondered how many of them still remembered Edward as a man rather than simply the former chairman of a company that had collapsed.

A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

"Lucia?"

She turned.

An older man stood before her. His hair was mostly gray now, but Lucia recognized him immediately.

Her eyes widened.

"James."

James Anderson smiled warmly.

"It’s been too long."

Lucia smiled.

"Far too long."

James looked at her for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

"I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me."

"How could I forget?"

They both laughed quietly.

James glanced around before looking back at her.

"I heard the Sterling family would be here tonight."

James shook his head.

"I never imagined I’d see you all gathered together again."

Lucia looked toward her children and grandchildren.

"Neither did I."

James sighed.

"How have you been?"

Lucia gave him the answer she had given countless times over the years.

"I’m fine."

James smiled sadly.

"You were always strong."

Lucia looked at him.

"Edward used to say the same thing."

At the mention of her son, James’s smile faded.

"I miss him."

Lucia lowered her gaze.

"So do I."

James looked toward the Sterling family.

"I remember Edward talking about all of you."

"He talked about his work too much."

James laughed.

"That’s true."

He shook his head.

"But he was different from most businessmen."

Lucia nodded.

"He cared too much."

"He did."

James’s expression became thoughtful.

"Do you know how many times Edward refused to let us terminate a struggling supplier?"

Lucia smiled faintly.

"Probably too many."

"He’d say, ’If we can help them survive, why wouldn’t we?’"

James chuckled.

"Sometimes I told him he was too generous."

Lucia’s eyes glistened.

"He was."

"He once told me that money was only useful if it could improve someone’s life."

Lucia smiled.

"That sounds exactly like him."

James looked at her.

"He was a good man, Lucia."

The smile on Lucia’s face trembled.

"Thank you."

"He was also loyal."

James hesitated.

"And that’s why I never understood what happened."

Lucia’s expression became serious.

"Neither did I."

James lowered his voice.

"Do you still believe it was an accident?"

Lucia remained silent for a moment. She carefully remembered Liliana’s instructions.

No suspicion. No accusations. Nothing.

"We don’t know what really happened. So it’s hard for us to believe anything yet."

James nodded.

"I understand."

He looked around.

"There are many people here tonight who owe Edward more than they realize."

Lucia glanced toward the former shareholders.

"Do you think they remember?"

"Some do."

"And others?"

James sighed.

"People have short memories when money is involved."

Lucia didn’t respond.

James reached for her hand.

"I’m glad you came tonight."

"So am I."

"I hope you’ll forgive me for not visiting you all these years."

Lucia smiled.

"There is nothing to forgive."

James shook his head.

"There is."

He looked genuinely regretful.

"When Sterling Corporation collapsed, everything became complicated. Business relationships changed. People became afraid of being associated with the family."

Lucia’s smile disappeared.

"I know."

"But I never believed Edward was responsible for what happened."

Lucia looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

James hesitated.

"Some people blamed him."

"I know."

"They said he made reckless investments."

Lucia’s jaw tightened.

"He didn’t."

"I know."

James looked at her firmly.

"Edward was many things. Reckless wasn’t one of them."

Before Lucia could answer, another voice interrupted.

"James."

They turned.

Arthur stood a few feet away. His expression was pleasant.

"Enjoying the reunion?"

James smiled.

"Very much."

Arthur nodded.

"I’m glad."

Then he looked at Lucia.

"Mother, may I have the next dance?"

Lucia’s heart tightened. For a moment, she looked at Arthur. She had watched this boy grow up. She had comforted him when he cried. She had defended him when others questioned his place in the family. She had loved him as her own son.

But after Edward and Vanessa died, Arthur had disappeared.

Now he stood before her as a powerful man. And she couldn’t stop wondering whether the son she had raised was still somewhere inside him.

"Of course," Lucia finally said.

Arthur extended his hand. Lucia placed hers in it. They walked toward the dance floor. And around them, people watched.

Arthur rested one hand gently against her back.

"Mother," he said softly, "you haven’t changed."

Lucia smiled.

"Neither have you."

Arthur gave a quiet laugh.

"I certainly have."

"Perhaps."

The music began.

They moved slowly across the floor.

Lucia studied his face.

"You became very successful."

"I worked hard."

"Edward would have been proud."

Arthur’s expression shifted.

"Would he?"

Lucia looked at him.

"Of course."

Arthur smiled.

"I wish I could have heard him say that."

Lucia’s heart ached.

"You could have."

Arthur looked at her.

"If you had come home."

Silence settled between them.

Arthur’s eyes lowered.

"I couldn’t."

"Why?"

He didn’t answer immediately.

Then he looked at her again.

"Because after Edward died, I didn’t know where I belonged."

Lucia felt a familiar pain.

"I am your mother."

"I know."

"You could have come to me."

"I was afraid."

"Of what?"

Arthur’s expression became difficult to read.

"That everyone would look at me and see the reason Edward was gone."

Lucia’s steps faltered. Arthur immediately steadied her.

She stared at him.

"Why would anyone think that?"

He smiled faintly.

"Because I was the last person he trusted."

Lucia’s heart pounded.

Before she could respond, Arthur continued dancing as though he hadn’t said anything unusual.

Across the ballroom, Liliana watched them. Chris stood beside her but said nothing. She had heard enough through the recording device to know that something had changed.

Arthur had just revealed something important.

He believed people might associate him with Edward’s death.

But why?

Liliana looked at her grandmother. Lucia’s expression remained composed. Yet Liliana could see something in her eyes. Confusion. Pain.

And perhaps the first real crack in the story Arthur had carefully constructed for twenty years.

The music continued.

Arthur smiled at Lucia. But behind that smile, something was hidden.

And Liliana was determined to find out what it was.