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23 Chapter 23 My Husband Is Better Than You
After gathering a stack of promising journals, I settled at a quiet desk in a secluded corner and lost myself in study, I’d been reading for nearly an hour when my phone vibrated. Three missed messages from Arthur,
*Where are you? Grandmother insists we have lunch together.*
“Your… wife?” he finally managed. “But that’s impossible. You’re not married. The family would know–”
“Yes,” I admitted, still unused to hearing that surname attached to my own.
His eyes widened with fury. “You stupid bitch! Do you have any idea who I am? Who my family is?”
“I don’t need him to protect me.”
“Touch–me again, and the next one will leave a mark your fiancée will see.”
Caleb looked from me to Arthur, confusion blooming across his features. “You… you
know each other?”
Without hesitation, I slapped him hard across the face. The crack echoed through the quiet library.
“Is that why you’re engaged to my sister now? Because you ‘came around“?”
“No.” He slammed his hand on my book. “I’m not finished. Do you have any idea how humiliating it is? First, you reject me after graduation. Then you show up married to some mysterious nobody and claim the Sterling name?”
“Who said he can’t do anything?“.
“You rejected me, Caleb. The moment you learned I was illegitimate.”
The cold, authoritative voice cut through the air like a blade. I whirled around to find Arthur Sterling stepping from between the bookshelves, his expression thunderous. How long had he been there? What had he heard?
His grip tightened painfully. “I made you in college. Without me, you were just the scholarship charity case. I introduced you to people who mattered.”
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“Focus, Elara,” I muttered to myself. “Alzheimer’s research first.”
Instead, he yanked me closer, his other hand grasping my waist. “You still want me. Admit it.
I stepped closer, my voice deadly calm. “Threaten me again, and I’ll ensure every woman in your social circle knows exactly what kind of man you are.”
805
“Why don’t we make a deal?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Divorce your nobody husband. I’ll keep my engagement to Fiona–appearances matter, after all–but you and I could have an arrangement.”
I wandered through the biochemistry section, fingers trailing along leather–bound spines. Some of these journals weren’t even available at the university where I’d studied. Private research papers, unpublished findings–the wealth of knowledge here was staggering.
“Then who will? Uncle Arthur?” He sneered. “Even he can’t save you if I decide to make your life miserable. One word from me to Leo, and your position disappears.”
“Well, well. If it isn’t Mrs. Nobody.”
I stood outside the Sterling Group’s massive research library, my heart racing with anticipation. After that humiliating confrontation with Leo Finch, I needed a sanctuary. If he wouldn’t give me proper access to the databases, I’d find another way to gather information.
“Listen carefully,” I hissed as he straightened, his face contorted with pain and rage. “I don’t want you. I never wanted you after I saw who you really were. You’re shallow, status–obsessed, and pathetic.”
He sauntered closer. “I heard you’re working in R&D now. Leo says you’re completely out of your depth.” He picked up one of my journals. “Playing scientist, are we? How adorable.”
Disgust–rolled through me. “You want me to be your mistress?”
*This is ridiculous. I’m coming to find you.*
He gripped my arm. “You know what I think? I think this marriage of yours is a sham. Some pathetic attempt to make me jealous.” His fingers dug painfully into my skin. “Well, it worked.”
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“And yet, here we are.” Arthur’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me against his side. The gesture was clearly for show, but I couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through me at his touch. “Now, would you like to repeat what you just said about my wife’s
husband being a nobody?”
*Answer your phone.*
He waved his hand dismissively. “Details. We both know I would have come around eventually.”
The librarian barely glanced at my ID badge before waving me through. “First time here, Mrs. Sterling?”
A mocking laugh erupted from Caleb. “Your husband is a nobody! A worthless pawn you married to get your hands on the Sterling name. He can’t help you here. He can’t do anything!”
“And I declined to be your dirty secret the moment Fiona appeared with her legitimate birth certificate.” I tried again to pull away. “Let. Go.”
“Enjoy. We have the largest private research collection in the country.”
This was heaven.
“The only thing I want is for you to remove your hands before I make you regret touching me.”
“You’ll regret this,” he wheezed. “By tomorrow, you’ll be out of this company.”
“You’re offering me scraps from your table while you marry my sister for status. That’s not everything–that’s nothing.”
I tried to pull away. “Let go of me.”
“I’d rather clean toilets than accept your ‘help,” I spat.
As the doors closed behind me, I gasped. The library stretched three stories high with walls of books, journals, and digital archives. Floor–to–ceiling windows flooded the space with natural light, illuminating reading nooks scattered throughout.
His face darkened. “Fiona is legitimate. She’s suitable.”
Caleb’s face drained of color. “Uncle Arthur-”
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I looked up to find Caleb Sterling leaning against a nearby bookshelf, his handsome face twisted with contempt. My ex–boyfriend–the man who’d pursued me relentlessly through college only to dump me upon discovering my illegitimate status–now stood before me in an impeccably tailored suit, looking every inch the Sterling heir.
“You should.” He leaned down, invading my space. “Because unlike your nobody husband, I actually matter in this company.”
I checked the time with a wince. Apparently, I’d missed lunch with his grandmother. Before I could respond, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
I snatched the journal back. “I don’t care what Leo thinks. Or you.”
Something snapped inside me. I was done being threatened. Done being treated as less. I brought my knee up sharply between his legs.
Arthur’s lip curled into a contemptuous smile. “Caleb, meet my wife, Elara Sterling. The woman you just assaulted in my company.”
Caleb doubled over with a strangled groan. I took the opportunity to push him back, my palm connecting solidly with his chest.
Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. “You ungrateful bitch. I’m offering you everything.”
“Think about it.” His thumb stroked my arm. “I’m about to become head of the entire technology division. One word from me, and your career here takes off. Your mysterious husband can’t help you–but I can.”
His hand shot out, grabbing my jaw. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“And I wasn’t. You made that abundantly clear.” I stood up, gathering my materials. “Now if you’ll-”
He laughed, low and cruel. “Your husband isn’t here to protect you. No one even knows
who he is.”
The blood drained from Caleb’s face as realization dawned. His mouth opened and closed without sound, like a fish gasping for air.
I kept my expression neutral despite the fury building inside me. “If you’ll excuse me
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“That’s CEO Sterling to you,” Arthur replied icily, moving to stand beside me. His hand came to rest at the small of my back–a possessive, protective gesture that sent shivers up my spine.
I straightened my shoulders. “I know exactly who you are. And I know who my husband is. He’s everything you pretend to be–successful, powerful, and respected. He’s worth ten of you.”
I closed my book slowly. “I’m busy, Caleb.”
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