"Three hundred million."
"And all the shares I hold will be yours!"
Stella Sterling held up the documents in her hand. Three hundred million for ten percent of the Sterling Groupâs shares wasnât much at all. If she were willing to sell them on the open market, she could definitely get more.
However, selling them wouldnât be so easy. For one, not many people could come up with that much cash on short notice, and the Sterling Family would never allow her to sell.
Therefore, if her father was willing to buy them, it was the best option.
And she was confident that after his emotional appeals failed, he would have no choice but to buy. Otherwise, if ten percent of the shares fell into the hands of an outsider, it would be enough to destabilize the Sterling Familyâs control over the Sterling Group.
As expected, Marcus Sterling immediately tried to play the sympathy card. "Stella, weâre all family here. In the future, everything the Sterling Family owns will go to you and your brother. Yara, as dear as she is to us, is not my daughter. The Sterling Group wonât be passed down to her. So why must you act this way!"
Yara Sterling, who had just rushed home, overheard this. Her expression darkened, and she froze on the spot.
"Since itâs all going to be mine eventually, whatâs the problem with giving me three hundred million to play with now? Besides, you get the shares back. Youâre happy, Iâm happyâisnât that perfect? Right, Dad?"
Stella Sterling covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. Her father sounded so sincere. In the past, she might have actually believed him.
But now? After everything that happened in her past life, knowing they were willing to let her die for Yara Sterlingâs sake... how could she ever believe a word he said?
She couldnât trust him one bit.
Hearing Stellaâs words, her father finally lost his temper. "I just gave you fifty million the other day! What could you possibly be spending so much money on? Do you have any idea how hard money is to come by? You donât earn a single cent, so you have no concept of its value!"
"If I recall correctly, Yara Sterlingâs allowance is in the tens of millions every year, and thatâs not even counting all the other money you spend on her. Iâm only asking for three hundred million, and Iâm even giving you ten percent of the shares in return. Thatâs hardly excessive, is it!
"Besides, the only reason I spend so much is because everyone says I live like a pauper. To avoid disgracing the Sterling family name, I have to throw money around to keep up appearances."
Her father started to say something else, but Stella cut him off impatiently. "Three hundred million. I want to see the money immediately. Not a penny less. Otherwise, Iâll turn around and sell them to the Sterling Groupâs biggest rival!"
Her fatherâs breathing grew labored, as if he were about to have a heart attack, but Stella remained completely unfazed. Mikeâs people would be arriving soon, and she still had things to take care of.
In any case, she wasnât worried about finding a buyer for the shares.
Furious as he was, Marcus Sterling was also terrified that his defiant daughter would actually go through with it. He had no choice but to concede, promising to have the money ready for Stella by the next day and even giving her a few tens of millions upfront.
With her money in hand, Stella turned and walked away, completely ignoring the murderous glare boring into her back. As she passed Yara Sterling, she whispered, "You heard all that, didnât you? No matter how hard you try to win them over, youâll always be just an outsider. Tsk, tsk. How pathetic!"
Yara Sterling clenched her fists, silent. Stella, however, had already swept past her and was on her way out, humming a little tune. Her cheerful mood stood in stark contrast to the three grim-faced members of the Sterling family she left behind. She could even hear their muffled curses trailing after her...
"You should stop cursing me, you know. Donât forget, Iâm the one holding the shares. If I get angry and decide to go back on my word... well, the consequences..."
Stella suddenly turned back with a smile, making the three of them jump.