CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: ANGELIC FACADE, STERLING FAMILY ELDEST SON (PART 1)

"You..." Sean Hale looked shocked, "You suspect Mrs. Sterling?"

"I am a lawyer, I have to maintain an objective perspective," Attorney Clayton replied calmly. "She is now Mrs. Sterling. If something happens to President Sterling, she would be the biggest beneficiary."

Sean Hale and Attorney Clayton had both been by Ethan Sterling’s side for many years, both having backgrounds in law.

The difference was, Attorney Clayton was older, more composed, while Sean Hale was younger, more emotional.

"But..." Sean Hale spread his hands, "Didn’t they sign a prenup?"

Attorney Clayton glanced sideways at Ethan Sterling, who lay sleeping in the hospital bed.

"There were no wealth-protection clauses in the prenup for Mr. Sterling."

"What?" Sean Hale was astounded, "This... How could this be possible?"

The marriage between Ethan Sterling and Seraphina Thorne was initially a business transaction.

As shrewd as Ethan Sterling was, he didn’t protect his assets in the prenup?

Sean Hale couldn’t have imagined this at all.

"Even so, I still don’t believe this is Mrs. Sterling’s doing."

Sean Hale remained steadfast in his trust for Seraphina Thorne, disagreeing with Attorney Clayton’s speculation.

"Mrs. Sterling would never do such a thing; I can see that she loves President Sterling."

After the incident, Seraphina Thorne was in a state of complete collapse; it couldn’t have been an act.

Attorney Clayton shrugged, "In the face of interest, love is sometimes worthless."

Before becoming Ethan Sterling’s exclusive lawyer, he had worked at a law firm.

He had come across all sorts of people, all kinds of cases...

Thus, he had witnessed the darkest depths of human nature.

He didn’t have much contact with Seraphina Thorne, so he didn’t share Sean Hale’s opinion of her.

Sean Hale shook his head, "No matter what, I believe in Mrs. Sterling."

Attorney Clayton didn’t try to persuade him, instead turning to look at Ethan Sterling, "When can we see President Sterling?"

"The doctor said if his condition stabilizes, President Sterling can be transferred to a general ward 24 hours after waking," Sean Hale checked his watch, "In about twenty hours."

Attorney Clayton nodded, "You stay here to protect President Sterling. I’ll go check with the police station."

"Okay," Sean Hale responded lightly, "I won’t let anyone harm him again."

As Attorney Clayton turned to leave, Henry Sterling was walking down the hallway with his assistant.

Sean Hale introduced the two; Attorney Clayton sized up Henry Sterling and politely shook his hand before turning to leave.

Henry Sterling’s gaze swept over the two bodyguards standing outside the intensive care unit.

"Who are they?"

"They’re people brought by Attorney Clayton," Sean Hale shrugged, "Just in case."

"That’s right. Until things are cleared up, we need to be cautious," Henry Sterling’s gaze left the bodyguards and settled on Ethan Sterling through the glass, before ultimately landing on Sean Hale.

"You should rest for a bit; I’m here!"

Sean Hale gently shook his head, "I’m fine, but you should go back to the hotel and rest."

"With Ethan in this state, I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I went back," Henry Sterling sighed, "Thank goodness he’s okay; otherwise... I’d worry if our father could handle it."

Sean Hale glanced sideways at Henry Sterling, surprised.

He knew Henry Sterling was Ethan Sterling’s half-brother.

He had always thought that Henry Sterling wouldn’t care much for this brother, and the expression of the man before him surprised Sean Hale.

If he hadn’t known their relationship beforehand, he probably wouldn’t have thought Henry Sterling wasn’t Ethan’s biological brother.

Henry Sterling caught onto his thoughts and smiled, "Do you think my relationship with Ethan is different from what you imagined?"

Sean Hale shrugged.

"Many people think I would hate him," Henry Sterling laughed self-deprecatingly, "Including my mother, but... I don’t know why, I just can’t bring myself to hate him. Actually, Ethan did nothing wrong; the grudges of the previous generation have nothing to do with him."

Sean Hale smiled but said nothing.

Henry didn’t say anything further, turning back around to focus on Ethan’s face.

As he gazed at Ethan’s face, an image of another face similar to Ethan’s flashed before his eyes.

It was Ethan’s mother, and even now, Henry could remember what that woman looked like.

He remembered going abroad with his father as a child, secretly tailing him and seeing him kiss a young girl.

The girl was Ethan’s mother.

She was so beautiful, like an angel.

But Henry hated her because she took away his father’s love, causing his parents to always fight.

His mother said the woman was a mistress, a vixen, "She deserved to die."

Later on, his father brought home a boy, a boy who had a face similar to the vixen’s.

His father said the boy was named Ethan Sterling and that he was his brother.

Before Ethan appeared, he had been his father’s pride.

But Ethan was smarter, more favored by his father.

He hated Ethan, even more than Ethan’s mother.

He didn’t need a brother who outshone his talents and was more favored.

The Sterling Family needed only one son, and there was only one son—

That was him, Henry Sterling!

...

...

The next evening, after doctors conducted various evaluations, they agreed to transfer Ethan Sterling to a general ward.

The medical staff carefully moved him onto a stretcher and pushed him into a general ward.

Throughout the entire process, Seraphina Thorne stayed by his side, gently holding his hand.

Arthur Sterling and Henry Sterling were also present, and Ethan Sterling remained composed regarding their presence.

Once the nurses had settled him and left, Ethan spoke in a raspy voice.

"Sean Hale, have everyone irrelevant leave."

"Ethan!" Henry Sterling frowned, "Dad he..."

Arthur Sterling raised his right hand, signaling Henry not to say more.

"Alright, rest well; we’ll go back now. Call me anytime if you need anything."

This last sentence was addressed to Sean Hale.

"Let’s go; I’ll see you out."

Sean Hale opened the door, and Arthur and Henry Sterling left the room one after the other.

Inside the ward, only Seraphina Thorne and Ethan Sterling remained.

Reaching out, Ethan pulled Seraphina to his side, giving her a once-over, "Did you get hurt anywhere else?"

Seraphina lightly shook her head, "I’m fine; you’ve just had surgery, get some rest."

Ethan was about to say more when Attorney Clayton pushed open the door and walked in.

Standing in front of Ethan, Clayton glanced at Seraphina, hesitant to speak.

"You’re hungry, aren’t you?" Seraphina noticed he didn’t want to talk with her around and offered, "I’ll go get you something to eat."

"No need," Ethan grasped her fingers, "You should rest well; let Sean do it later."

As they spoke, a nurse walked in.

"Miss Thorne, the doctor has arranged for your check-up."

"Okay," Seraphina replied, giving Ethan a smile, "I’ll go check it out and be back to accompany you later."

She nodded to Attorney Clayton and followed the nurse out.

Ethan took a deep breath and furrowed his brow slightly.

"How is it?"

Having just undergone surgery, he wasn’t in a good state.

He only acted as if everything was fine to avoid worrying Seraphina.

"So far, there’s been no trace of the vehicle or the driver. The police checked the license plate, and it’s fake, which means..." Clayton frowned, "This wasn’t an accident; it was an attempted murder."