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Mistress Sabotaged Her Labor—Until Billionaire Father Arrived To Strip The CEO’s Entire Empire — Transcript

by When Riches Betray · 7,475 words · 1,419 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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0:00Deadly silence filled the room where
0:02Charlotte Hayes lay, her heart monitor
0:04racing while her husband laughed in the
0:06hallway with his assistant, Sienna.
0:11Just moments before Sienna had whispered
0:13three words to the nurse that threatened
0:16to turn a joyous birth into a death
0:18sentence.
0:20They dismissed Charlotte as weak and
0:22alone, believing her father was just a
0:24retired nobody from the Midwest.
0:26That was their fatal error. The man they
0:29insulted was Alister Sterling, the
0:31shadow king of Wall Street, and he was
0:33about to turn their entire world to ash.
0:37This is the story of how a CEO lost
0:39everything in 24 hours. The contraction
0:43hit Charlotte like a freight train, a
0:46blinding white heat that started in her
0:48lower back and wrapped around her
0:50abdomen like a tightening vise.
0:54She gripped the cold steel rail of the
0:56hospital bed, her knuckles turning the
0:59color of bleached bone. "Ethan."
1:03She gasped, her voice barely a whisper.
1:06The luxury suite at the Lenox Hill
1:08Pavilion was silent, save for the hum of
1:11the air filtration system and the
1:13rhythmic beep beep of the fetal monitor.
1:17It was a room that cost $8,000 a night,
1:20boasting views of the Upper East Side,
1:231,000 thread count Egyptian cotton
1:25sheets, and a private chef.
1:28But right now, it felt like a prison
1:31cell. Ethan Hayes, the CEO of Hayes
1:34Vanguard Tech, and the man Charlotte had
1:37loved since her sophomore year at NYU,
1:40was standing by the floor-to-ceiling
1:42window.
1:43He wasn't looking at her. He was looking
1:45at his phone, his thumb scrolling
1:48furiously.
1:50"Ethan, please."
1:52Charlotte tried again, the pain receding
1:55just enough for her to draw breath.
1:58"The doctor,
1:59where is Dr. Bellows?
2:01Ethan didn't turn around.
2:03He's coming, Char. Just relax. You're
2:06being dramatic. The nurse said you're
2:08only 4 cm dilated. You have hours.
2:12It feels
2:14wrong. Charlotte said sweat matting her
2:16blonde hair to her forehead.
2:19The pressure, it's too much.
2:21The door clicked open.
2:23It wasn't the doctor. It was Sienna
2:25Brooks. Sienna was Ethan's executive
2:29assistant, a title that did little to
2:31explain why she wore Louboutins to the
2:34office, or why she had a corporate
2:36credit card with a higher limit than the
2:38CFO. She walked in carrying a venti iced
2:42coffee and a tablet looking less like
2:44she was visiting a maternity ward and
2:47more like she was stepping off a runway
2:49in Milan. [clears throat]
2:51Ethan.
2:53Sienna said her voice smooth like velvet
2:56poured over broken glass.
2:59The Tokyo investors are on the line.
3:01They're panicking about the Q3
3:03projections. You need to take this.
3:06Ethan finally turned his face etched
3:09with stress,
3:10but not for his wife.
3:13Now, Sienna, she's in labor. They're
3:15threatening to pull the funding, Ethan.
3:18Sienna said glancing at Charlotte with a
3:20look that wasn't sympathy. It was
3:23boredom.
3:24If you don't take the call, Hayes
3:26Vanguard drops 10 points by morning.
3:30Do you want to be a father to a bankrupt
3:32legacy?
3:34Ethan looked at Charlotte, then back at
3:36the phone.
3:37The hesitation lasted less than a
3:39second.
3:41I have to take this, Ethan muttered
3:43walking toward the door.
3:45Ethan, no.
3:46Charlotte cried out reaching for him.
3:49Don't leave me. Something is wrong with
3:51the baby. I can feel it.
3:54Ethan paused, his hand on the doorknob.
3:56He looked back, his eyes cold.
3:59Stop it, Charlotte. You're fine.
4:02You have the best doctors money can buy.
4:05Stop acting like a child. I'm doing this
4:07for us.
4:09He walked out.
4:10Sienna didn't follow him immediately.
4:13She lingered in the doorway sipping her
4:15coffee.
4:16She looked at the monitor, then at
4:18Charlotte.
4:19You look terrible, sweetie.
4:22Sienna said, a small cruel smile playing
4:25on her lips.
4:27Don't worry. I'll make sure Ethan isn't
4:29disturbed. Men get so squeamish around
4:32all this fluid.
4:34Get out, Charlotte hissed. Sienna
4:37stepped closer lowering her voice.
4:40You know he was going to leave you
4:41months ago.
4:43He only stayed because of the pregnancy.
4:45Once this brat is out, you're just
4:48baggage.
4:49Expensive, boring baggage.
4:52Sienna turned and clicked her heels out
4:54of the room shutting the door.
4:57Charlotte was alone.
4:59The pain came back harder this time, a
5:01tearing sensation. She reached for the
5:04call button pressing it frantically.
5:07Nothing happened.
5:08She pressed it again.
5:10Beep.
5:11Nothing.
5:13Panic, cold and sharp, began to rise in
5:15her chest warring with the agony of the
5:18contractions.
5:20She needed help.
5:21She needed her husband.
5:24But most of all, she realized with a
5:26sinking heart, she needed the one person
5:29she had promised Ethan she would keep at
5:32a distance.
5:34Her father.
5:3520 minutes passed. To Charlotte, it felt
5:38like 20 years. The pain was continuous
5:41now, a rolling wave that gave her no
5:44respite.
5:45She had vomited twice into the basin
5:47beside the bed.
5:48No nurse had come to clean it.
5:51The monitor showing the baby's heart
5:52rate was making a sound that Charlotte
5:54didn't recognize, an erratic skipping
5:57rhythm.
5:58Finally, the door opened.
6:00A nurse bustled in.
6:02It wasn't the kind older woman from the
6:04morning shift. This was a new nurse,
6:07severe looking with a name tag that read
6:10Nurse Ratched. No,
6:12that was her imagination. The tag read
6:14Nurse Holloway.
6:17"About time." Charlotte gasped. "The
6:19button, it's not working. And the baby,
6:23the heart rate."
6:25Nurse Holloway didn't look at the
6:26monitor.
6:27She walked over to the IV drip.
6:30"Mr. Hayes asked us not to disturb him,
6:33Mrs. Hayes. He said you were having an
6:35anxiety episode and needed to calm
6:37down."
6:39"Anxiety!" Charlotte screamed, clutching
6:42her stomach.
6:43"I am in labor.
6:45Check the monitor."
6:47Holloway glanced at the screen
6:48dismissively.
6:50"It's within normal range. You're
6:52hyperventilating. That distresses the
6:54fetus."
6:56She injected something into the IV port.
6:59"What is that?"
7:00Charlotte asked, her vision blurring
7:03slightly.
7:04"Is that the epidural?" "It's a
7:06sedative." Holloway said coolly.
7:09"Mr. Hayes and Ms. Brooks suggested you
7:12were becoming hysterical.
7:14This will help you sleep until the
7:15doctor is ready."
7:17"No."
7:18Charlotte tried to pull her arm back,
7:21but her limbs felt heavy.
7:23"I don't need sleep. I need to push. The
7:25baby is coming."
7:26"Dr. Bellows is in surgery."
7:29Holloway lied smoothly.
7:32She adjusted the sheets roughly, shoving
7:34Charlotte's legs back into position. "He
7:36will be here in an hour. Until then, you
7:39wait."
7:40As the drug hit her system, Charlotte's
7:42mind began to swim.
7:45But through the haze, she heard the door
7:47open again.
7:49It was Sienna's voice whispering in the
7:51hallway.
7:53The door was cracked open just an inch.
7:56"Yes, keep her under." Sienna was
7:58saying. "If the birth is complicated,
8:01Ethan will be too distraught to focus on
8:03the pre-nup renegotiation.
8:06If the baby
8:07has issues, even better.
8:10It keeps him dependent on the company
8:13and the company depends on me.
8:16And the payout? Nurse Holloway's voice.
8:20Wire transfer is already done. Just make
8:22sure Dr. Bellows is delayed by traffic.
8:25Let nature take its course. A distressed
8:28birth is a tragedy, not a crime.
8:31The door clicked shut. The horror of it
8:33cut through the sedative like a knife.
8:36They weren't just neglecting her. They
8:38were sabotaging the birth. They were
8:40risking her life and her child's life
8:43for leverage. For money.
8:46Ethan wasn't just busy.
8:48He was complicit or at least willfully
8:51blind.
8:53Charlotte's phone was on the bedside
8:55table buzzing.
8:57It was a text from Ethan.
8:59Meeting going late.
9:02Sienna says you're resting.
9:05Love you.
9:07She stared at the screen.
9:08Her fingers felt like sausages, numb and
9:11clumsy. She couldn't call 911. The
9:14hospital would just tell the police she
9:16was a medicated patient.
9:19She needed power.
9:21She needed force.
9:23She scrolled past Ethan's name, past her
9:26friends from the country club, who would
9:28just offer thoughts and prayers.
9:32She stopped at a contact simply labeled
9:34Dad.
9:35Ethan hated him. Ethan called him the
9:38mechanic.
9:39He thought Alister Sterling was a simple
9:41man who fixed cars in Ohio and lived off
9:45a meager pension.
9:46Charlotte had let Ethan believe that. It
9:49was easier than explaining the truth,
9:51that Alister had left the mechanic life
9:5340 years ago to found Sterling
9:56Blackrock, a private equity firm that
9:59owned half the infrastructure of the
10:01Western Hemisphere.
10:03Charlotte had walked away from the money
10:05to live a normal life with Ethan.
10:09She wanted to be loved for herself,
10:11not her billions.
10:13But now now normal was getting her
10:16killed.
10:18She hit the call button.
10:19It rang once.
10:22Charlie.
10:23The voice was deep, gravelly, and
10:26instantly alert. Alister never sounded
10:28sleepy, even though it was 2:00 a.m. in
10:31Zurich.
10:33Dad.
10:34Charlotte sobbed, her voice slurring
10:36from the sedative. They're hurting me.
10:39Ethan. Sienna.
10:41The baby.
10:43Where are you?
10:44The voice changed. The warmth vanished,
10:47replaced by the cold metallic precision
10:50of a weapon being loaded.
10:52Lenox Hill. Room 402.
10:55Dad.
10:56I think I'm dying.
10:59Listen to me, Charlotte, Alister said.
11:02Put the phone on your chest. Do not
11:04close your eyes.
11:06I am in Teterboro. I landed 20 minutes
11:08ago for a board meeting. I am coming.
11:11They drugged me. Who? Nurse. Halloway.
11:15Sienna. Paid her.
11:18There was a silence on the other end, so
11:21terrifying that the temperature in the
11:23room seemed to drop.
11:25Charlotte,
11:26Alister said softly,
11:28hold on.
11:29Daddy's coming.
11:30And God help them when I get there.
11:33The line went dead.
11:36In the hallway, Ethan Hayes was pacing.
11:39He had just closed the deal with Tokyo,
11:41saving his company's stock.
11:44He felt a rush of adrenaline. He was a
11:46master of the universe.
11:48You did great, tiger, Sienna purred,
11:51handing him a fresh coffee.
11:53She brushed a piece of lint off his
11:55bespoke Armani suit.
11:57See, I told you she'd be fine.
11:59Halloway says she's sleeping like a
12:01baby.
12:03I should check on her, Ethan said,
12:05glancing at the door.
12:08Don't wake her, Sienna warned.
12:11You know how hormonal she gets.
12:13Just let her rest. Dr. Bellows will be
12:15here soon.
12:16Let's go down to the cafeteria. I'm
12:19starving and you haven't eaten since
12:21breakfast. Ethan hesitated, his ego
12:24warring with his conscience. His ego
12:27won.
12:28Yeah, okay. Just a quick bite.
12:31They walked toward the elevators. The
12:33doors dinged open, but instead of an
12:35empty elevator, they were met with a
12:37wall of black wool.
12:39Four men stepped out. They were massive,
12:43wearing earpieces and suits that cost
12:45more than Ethan's car.
12:47They didn't look like hospital security.
12:50They looked like secret service.
12:52Behind them walked a man in his 60s. He
12:55wore a charcoal overcoat, a scarf, and
12:58carried a cane with a silver wolf's head
13:01handle.
13:02He had gray hair cropped short and eyes
13:05that looked like chips of flint.
13:08Ethan blinked. He recognized the man,
13:11but the context was wrong.
13:13That was Charlotte's dad, the mechanic.
13:16But he looked
13:18different.
13:20Alister?
13:21Ethan asked, confused.
13:24What are you doing here? Did Charlotte
13:25call you?
13:27Alister Sterling didn't stop walking.
13:30He didn't even look at Ethan. He walked
13:32straight past him, his cane clicking
13:34rhythmically on the linoleum.
13:36One of the bodyguards, a man with a scar
13:39running through his eyebrow, stepped in
13:41front of Ethan, blocking his path with a
13:43massive hand. Hey! Ethan shouted. Who do
13:47you think you are? Get out of my way.
13:50This is my wife's floor.
13:53Not anymore, the bodyguard rumbled.
13:55Sienna stepped up, her face flushing
13:58with indignation.
13:59Excuse me, I'm going to call security.
14:02You can't just barge in here. Do you
14:04know who he is?
14:06He is the CEO
14:08of Hayes-Vanguard.
14:13>> turned slowly, looking at Sienna, not
14:15with anger, but with the curiosity one
14:18might show a cockroach before stepping
14:20on it.
14:21Hayes-Vanguard,
14:23Alister repeated. His voice wasn't loud,
14:26but it carried down the entire hallway.
14:29That's the company currently trading at
14:31$42 a share, correct? Ethan frowned.
14:35How do you know the stock price?
14:37Because
14:38Alister said, checking his Patek
14:40Philippe watch, "In about 5 minutes I'm
14:43going to short it into the ground, and
14:45by the time my daughter delivers my
14:47grandson, you won't be the CEO of a
14:50lemonade stand."
14:53"You're crazy." Sienna scoffed. "You're
14:56a mechanic."
14:58Alister finally smiled. It was a
15:00terrifying sight.
15:02"I fix things."
15:04"Yes."
15:05"And right now I'm here to fix a very
15:07big mistake my daughter made."
15:10He turned to the lead bodyguard.
15:12"Kovacs, secure room 402.
15:16No one enters or leaves except my
15:18medical team.
15:19If nurse Holloway or Dr. Bellows tries
15:22to touch her, break their hands."
15:24"Yes, sir." Kovacs said.
15:27"And bring the administrator here."
15:29Alister added.
15:31"Now."
15:32Ethan watched stunned as the mechanic
15:35barked orders, and a team of six
15:38doctors, his doctors
15:40No.
15:41These were strangers came rushing out of
15:44the service elevator, pushing a mobile
15:46ICU unit.
15:49They were wearing jackets with a logo
15:51Ethan recognized from Forbes magazine,
15:53The Sterling Institute.
15:56"Wait."
15:57Ethan stammered, the color draining from
15:59his face. "The Sterling Institute.
16:02That's that's a billion-dollar medical
16:04research firm.
16:06You you work for them."
16:08Alister paused at the door of room 402.
16:12He looked back at Ethan, his eyes devoid
16:14of any familial warmth.
16:17"I don't work for them, boy." Alister
16:19said.
16:20"I own them.
16:22I own the bank that holds your mortgage.
16:24I own the firm that insures your car.
16:27And as of 10 minutes ago, I am the
16:29majority shareholder of the hospital you
16:32are standing in."
16:33He pushed the door open. "And now,"
16:36Alister said, stepping into the room
16:38where Charlotte lay whimpering.
16:40"I'm going to do the one thing you were
16:42too weak to do.
16:44I'm going to be a father."
16:46The door slammed shut in Ethan's face.
16:49Inside the room, the scene was chaotic.
16:52Charlotte was pale, her lips blue.
16:56The monitor was screaming a high-pitched
16:58alarm.
17:00"Daddy."
17:01She whispered, her eyes fluttering.
17:03Alister dropped his cane. He rushed to
17:06the bedside, taking her cold hand in
17:08his. The titan of Wall Street, the man
17:10who made prime ministers tremble, had
17:13tears in his eyes.
17:15"I'm here, Charlie." He said, his voice
17:17breaking. "I'm here. You're safe."
17:20He looked up at the Sterling Institute
17:22doctors swarming the room. "Save her."
17:25He snarled. "If she dies, this city
17:28burns." [clears throat]
17:30Inside room 402, the atmosphere had
17:33shifted from neglect to a battlefield.
17:36The air was thick with the scent of
17:38antiseptic and the sharp tang of ozone
17:41from the defibrillator charging.
17:44Doctor Richard Evans, the chief of
17:46obstetrics at the Sterling Institute,
17:48and arguably the best surgeon on the
17:50East Coast, barked orders with military
17:53precision.
17:54He pushed the hospital's original
17:55equipment aside as if it were children's
17:58toys, replacing it with the advanced
18:00portable gear his team had brought.
18:03"Fetal heart rate is dropping. 60 beats
18:05per minute. Decelerating."
18:08A nurse shouted, her eyes glued to the
18:10new monitor.
18:12"Cord compression is likely."
18:15"She's not dilating."
18:17Doctor Evans said, checking Charlotte.
18:20He looked at the IV bag hanging on the
18:22stand, the one Nurse Holloway had set
18:24up.
18:25He frowned, ripping the bag off the hook
18:27and handing it to a colleague.
18:29Test this.
18:31Now.
18:32It smells like a cocktail.
18:35Alister stood in the corner, out of the
18:37way, but radiating a terrifying
18:39intensity.
18:41He held Charlotte's hand until the
18:43moment they had to scrub in for the
18:45emergency C-section.
18:47Daddy.
18:48Charlotte murmured, her eyes rolling
18:50back.
18:51Don't let them.
18:53Take the baby. I am the guard dog,
18:55Charlie. Alister whispered, kissing her
18:58sweat-slicked forehead.
19:00Sleep now.
19:01When you wake up, the nightmare will be
19:03over.
19:04As the anesthesia took hold and
19:06Charlotte went limp, Alister turned his
19:09attention to the only other person in
19:12the room who wasn't part of his team.
19:15Nurse [clears throat] Holloway was
19:16pressed against the wall, her face the
19:18color of ash. She had tried to leave
19:21when the Sterling team burst in,
19:23but Kovac, the scarred bodyguard, had
19:26simply locked the door and stood in
19:28front of it.
19:29Alister walked over to her.
19:31He didn't yell.
19:33He didn't raise a hand. He simply leaned
19:35in, close, his voice a low rumble that
19:38vibrated in her chest.
19:41My doctors are currently analyzing that
19:43IV bag, Alister said.
19:47If they find anything other than
19:48standard saline and approved medication,
19:52if they find sedatives meant to suppress
19:54labor or Pitocin levels high enough to
19:56cause uterine rupture,
19:59do you know what happens to you?
20:01Holloway trembled. I
20:03I was just following orders.
20:06Dr. Bellows.
20:07Dr. Bellows isn't here, Alister cut her
20:10off.
20:11You are.
20:13And in the state of New York, attempted
20:15manslaughter of an unborn child carries
20:18a sentence of up to 25 years.
20:22But that's if you go to prison.
20:24He paused, letting the silence stretch.
20:27If my daughter or my grandson dies,
20:30Alister continued, you won't make it to
20:33the police station. Do you understand
20:35me?
20:36Holloway broke. The facade of the stern,
20:39uncaring nurse shattered, revealing a
20:42terrified woman who had gambled her
20:45career for a bribe she would never
20:47spend.
20:49It was Sienna.
20:51Holloway sobbed, sliding down the wall.
20:53She paid me $10,000 cash.
20:56She said She said if the baby had
20:58complications, Ethan would get a payout
21:01from the insurance policy on the fetus.
21:03She wanted the baby to suffer oxygen
21:05deprivation.
21:06Just enough to be
21:08managed.
21:10Not dead.
21:11Just damaged.
21:13Alister's face went rigid.
21:16It was a monstrous plan.
21:18Keep the child alive, but dependent,
21:21forcing Ethan to stay in the marriage
21:23for appearances, while draining the
21:25family trust for medical care. Money
21:28Sienna likely planned to siphon off.
21:31Kovach, Alister said, turning his back
21:35on the sobbing woman.
21:37Record her confession.
21:38>> [clears throat]
21:38>> Get the police commissioner on the line.
21:41I want this woman in handcuffs before
21:42the umbilical cord is cut.
21:45Yes, sir.
21:46Behind him, Dr. Evans' voice rose above
21:50the din.
21:51Scalpel.
21:52Making the incision.
21:54The room fell silent, save for the beep
21:57of the monitors and the wet sounds of
21:59surgery.
22:01Alister held his breath. He had
22:03negotiated billion-dollar mergers, faced
22:05down cartels in Mexico, and survived a
22:08heart attack.
22:10But nothing terrified him more than
22:12these next 30 seconds.
22:15I see the head, Evans said. Cord is
22:18wrapped twice around the neck. Tight.
22:21Scissors.
22:22A snip. A pause.
22:25Baby is out.
22:26Silence. The baby wasn't crying.
22:29Alister's heart stopped. He stepped
22:31forward, his knuckles white on his cane.
22:34Why isn't he crying? Suction, Evans
22:37commanded. Stimulating? The team swarmed
22:40the tiny purple form on the warming
22:42table. They rubbed the small back. They
22:45suctioned the airway. 1 second, 2
22:48seconds, 3.
22:50Then a sputter, a gasp, and finally a
22:54loud indignant wail that filled the
22:56room, shattering the tension like a
22:58hammer through glass.
23:00He's pinking up, the nurse announced,
23:03relief flooding her voice.
23:05Apgar scores are rising. He's fighting,
23:07sir. He's a fighter.
23:10Alister let out a breath that sounded
23:12like a sob.
23:14He walked over to the warming table and
23:16looked down at his grandson.
23:18The boy was tiny, angry, and beautiful.
23:22He had Charlotte's nose.
23:25Welcome to the world, little one.
23:27Alister whispered, "I'm sorry it's a
23:30mess,
23:31but I'm going to clean it up for you."
23:34He turned to Kovac. Stay here. Guard
23:37them with your life.
23:39Alister adjusted his coat. He picked up
23:41his cane. The fear in his eyes was gone,
23:44replaced by a cold, hard resolve. Now,
23:49Alister said, opening the door,
23:51I have a son-in-law to destroy.
23:54The waiting room of the maternity ward
23:55was decorated in calming pastels, but
23:58the mood was electric with tension.
24:01Ethan Hayes was pacing back and forth,
24:03furiously typing on his phone. "Why
24:06isn't Holloway texting back?" Ethan
24:08snapped. "And why is the door locked?
24:11That goon won't let me in."
24:13Sienna was sitting on a plush chair,
24:15looking at her nails. She seemed annoyed
24:17rather than worried.
24:19"Relax, Ethan. Your father-in-law is
24:22just making a scene.
24:23>> [clears throat]
24:23>> He's a blue-collar guy trying to throw
24:26his weight around. Once the baby is
24:28born, we'll call security and have him
24:30removed. You have legal rights. He
24:33doesn't. He looked rich, Sienna. Ethan
24:37muttered. That coat was cashmere, and
24:40the watch, that was a Patek Philippe
24:42Grandmaster Chime.
24:44>> [clears throat]
24:44>> That's a $3 million watch. A mechanic
24:47doesn't wear that.
24:48Sienna rolled her eyes. Knockoffs exist,
24:51Ethan. God, you're so gullible. Focus on
24:54the Tokyo deal. Did the funds clear?
24:57Ethan checked his banking app. Yeah. The
25:00initial tranche of 50 million is in the
25:02Hayes Vanguard operating account. We're
25:05safe. The stock is holding steady. The
25:08door to room 402 opened.
25:11Alister Sterling stepped out.
25:13He closed the door gently behind him,
25:16then turned to face them.
25:18He walked slowly, the tap-tap-tap of his
25:21cane echoing in the corridor.
25:24He didn't scream.
25:26He didn't attack.
25:27He walked past them to the large
25:29flat-screen TV mounted on the wall,
25:32which was currently playing a soap opera
25:34on mute.
25:36Alister reached up and changed the
25:38channel to CNBC.
25:42What are you doing? Ethan asked,
25:44stepping forward. Is Charlotte okay?
25:47Is the baby born? My daughter
25:49[clears throat]
25:49is alive. Alister said, not looking at
25:52him. My grandson is healthy, no thanks
25:55to you. I demand to see them. Ethan
25:58shouted. You have no demands. Alister
26:02said calmly. You only have debts. Watch
26:05the screen, Ethan.
26:07On the TV, the ticker at the bottom of
26:09the screen was scrolling.
26:11Suddenly, the breaking news banner
26:13flashed red.
26:15Breaking SEC launches investigation into
26:18Hayes Vanguard Tech.
26:21Ethan froze. What Alister pulled out his
26:23phone and pressed a single button on
26:26speed dial. He put it on speaker.
26:29Execute order 66.
26:32Alister said, into the phone. On the
26:35other end, a voice, sharp, British, and
26:38efficient, replied, "Yes, Mr. Sterling.
26:41Dumping the short position now.
26:43Releasing the audit report to the
26:44press."
26:46"What are you doing?" Ethan screamed,
26:49grabbing his own phone as it began to
26:51blow up with notifications. "You thought
26:54you signed a deal with a Japanese
26:55conglomerate," Alister said, turning to
26:58look Ethan in the eye.
27:00"You didn't. You signed a deal with
27:02Sterling Blackrock Asia,
27:05a shell company I own."
27:07"You
27:08you gave me $50 million." dollars.
27:11Ethan looked confused.
27:14"I lent you $50 million,"
27:16Alister corrected.
27:18"And if you read the fine print of the
27:19contract, which I know you didn't
27:22because you were too busy cheating on my
27:23daughter, you would see the character
27:26clause." Sienna stood up, her face pale.
27:30She knew what that was.
27:32"The character clause."
27:34Alister continued, his voice like ice,
27:37"States that if the CEO engages in moral
27:40turpitude, criminal negligence, or
27:42family abandonment during a critical
27:44health event, the loan is immediately
27:47callable in full,
27:49plus penalties."
27:51"You can't do that," Ethan stammered. "I
27:53just did." Alister pointed to the TV.
27:57On the screen, a reporter was standing
28:00outside the New York Stock Exchange.
28:02Panic selling has hit Hayes Vanguard,
28:04HVT, after a massive dump of shares by a
28:08mystery short seller.
28:10Rumors are circulating of CEO Ethan
28:13Hayes being involved in an insurance
28:16fraud scheme regarding his wife's
28:18pregnancy.
28:20The stock has plummeted 40% in the last
28:2210 minutes."
28:24"40%?" Ethan gasped. He watched the
28:27ticker.
28:28HVT,
28:30$24.50,
28:32$21, $18.25.
28:37It was free falling. My team is also
28:39releasing the audio recording of Nurse
28:41Holloway's confession to the board of
28:43directors right now, Alister said
28:46pleasantly.
28:47She implicated you, Sienna, and by
28:49extension you, Ethan, for creating a
28:52hostile environment.
28:55Ethan's phone rang.
28:57It was the chairman of his board.
28:59Answer it, Alister goaded. Ethan put the
29:02phone to his ear, his hand shaking.
29:05Hello, Marcus.
29:07Ethan, what the hell is going on?
29:09>> [clears throat]
29:09>> Marcus screamed through the phone. The
29:12SEC is raiding the downtown office. The
29:15stock is in the toilet, and we just got
29:17a recording of your assistant bribing a
29:20nurse.
29:21You're fired, Ethan. Effective
29:23immediately.
29:25Don't come to the building. Your key
29:27card is deactivated.
29:29The line went dead.
29:31Ethan dropped the phone. It cracked on
29:34the floor.
29:35I'm
29:36fired. He whispered.
29:39I built that company.
29:41And I just bought it for pennies on the
29:43dollar, Alister said.
29:45I'm taking Hayes Vanguard private. I'll
29:48strip it for parts, keep the patents,
29:50and fire everyone who ever covered for
29:53you.
29:54Alister took a step closer to Sienna.
29:57And you, he said.
30:00Sienna wasn't looking at Ethan anymore.
30:02She was looking at the exit sign.
30:05Ms. Brooks, Alister said.
30:08The credit card you've been using, the
30:11corporate black card.
30:13What about it? Sienna snapped, trying to
30:16regain her composure.
30:18It's under the company name.
30:20Actually, since I just acquired the debt
30:23of the company, I did a quick audit.
30:25You've charged $400,000
30:28in personal expenses, handbags, trips,
30:32jewelry. Since the company is now
30:34insolvent because of the loan recall,
30:37that's not corporate expense anymore.
30:40That's embezzlement.
30:42Two police officers turned the corner of
30:44the hallway.
30:45They weren't coming for Holloway this
30:47time. They were walking straight towards
30:49Sienna.
30:51Officer.
30:52Alister nodded to them.
30:54That's the woman.
30:55Grand larceny and conspiracy to commit
30:58medical malpractice. The phone call with
31:00Marcus, the chairman of the board, had
31:02ended. But the silence it left behind
31:05was louder than any scream.
31:08Ethan Hayes stood in the sterile
31:10hospital corridor. The phone slipping
31:13from his sweaty palm and cracking
31:15against the linoleum floor.
31:18The screen shattered a spiderweb of
31:20glass that perfectly mirrored his life
31:23in that exact moment.
31:26Fired. Ethan whispered the word tasting
31:29like ash in his mouth.
31:31They can't fire me.
31:33I am the founder. Alister Sterling stood
31:36a few feet away, leaning casually on his
31:39silver wolf cane.
31:41He watched Ethan's disintegration with
31:43the clinical detachment of a scientist
31:46observing a specimen under a microscope.
31:50Founders are fired every day, Ethan.
31:53Alister said, his voice low and
31:55rumbling.
31:56Especially when they're under
31:57investigation by the SEC for insider
32:00trading and insurance fraud.
32:03You see, when I shorted your stock, I
32:05didn't just break the bank. I triggered
32:07the covenants in your corporate charter.
32:10You are toxic assets now. Radioactive.
32:14Sienna Brooks, who had been aggressively
32:16tapping on her phone trying to transfer
32:18funds to an offshore account, suddenly
32:21let out a sharp gasp. Her face, usually
32:24a mask of arrogant perfection, went
32:27chalk white.
32:29It's frozen, she shrieked looking up at
32:32Ethan with wild eyes.
32:34My accounts, the Cayman accounts, it
32:37says federal freeze order.
32:40Ethan, fix this. Call your lawyer.
32:43My lawyer isn't answering. Ethan
32:45muttered, staring at the wall.
32:48Marcus said
32:49Marcus said the FBI is at the office.
32:53Alister chuckled a dry, humorless sound.
32:57You didn't think I'd come here alone,
32:58did you?
32:59I'm a mechanic. Remember, I bring the
33:02right tools for the job.
33:04And for a job this messy, the right tool
33:07is the district attorney.
33:10The elevator doors at the end of the
33:12long hallway chimed a cheerful ding that
33:16felt hideously out of place. Four
33:18uniformed officers stepped out, followed
33:21by a man in a cheap suit holding a stack
33:23of paperwork.
33:25They weren't moving with urgency. They
33:27were moving with inevitability.
33:29They walked past the nurses' station,
33:31their heavy boots thudding against the
33:33floor.
33:34Sienna took a step back, her Louboutin
33:37heel catching on the floor.
33:40No.
33:41She whispered.
33:42No, you can't. I'm just an assistant. I
33:45just take notes.
33:47The lead officer, a burly man with a
33:50nameplate that read Sergeant O'Malley,
33:53stopped in front of her.
33:55He didn't look impressed by her designer
33:56dress or the aura of superiority she
33:59usually projected.
34:01Sienna Brooks? O'Malley asked.
34:05I
34:06I want to speak to my attorney.
34:08Sienna stammered, pointing a manicured
34:11finger at Alister.
34:12This man is harassing me. He's a crazy
34:15old man.
34:16You have the right to remain silent,
34:19O'Malley said, pulling a pair of
34:20handcuffs from his belt.
34:23The metal clicked ominously. Anything
34:25you say can and will be used against you
34:28in a court of law.
34:30You are under arrest for conspiracy to
34:31commit medical manslaughter,
34:33embezzlement, and wire fraud.
34:37Medical manslaughter?
34:39Ethan's head snapped up. The fog of his
34:42financial ruin cleared just enough for
34:44the horror of that phrase to sink in. He
34:47looked at his mistress, the woman he had
34:49blown up his marriage for.
34:52Sienna.
34:54What did you do?
34:56Sienna's demeanor cracked as the officer
34:59grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind
35:01her back. The cool, collected executive
35:04assistant vanished. In her place was a
35:07cornered animal. I did what I had to do.
35:10Sienna screamed, thrashing against the
35:12officer's grip. You were too weak to
35:14leave her, Ethan.
35:16You kept whining about the baby. The
35:18baby?
35:20The baby. I needed that brat out of the
35:22picture
35:23so we could have the money without the
35:25baggage.
35:26You
35:27You told Holloway to hurt him.
35:30Ethan stepped forward, his hands
35:33shaking. You wanted my son
35:35brain-damaged.
35:37Sienna laughed. It was a jagged, ugly
35:40sound.
35:41I wanted him manageable. And don't look
35:44at me like you're a saint, Ethan. You
35:46stood there. You let me handle it. You
35:49walked out of that room to take a phone
35:52call while your wife was screaming.
35:54You're just as guilty as I am.
35:57Get her out of here, Alister commanded.
36:00He didn't yell, but the authority in his
36:02voice was absolute. The officers dragged
36:05Sienna toward the elevators. She kicked
36:07and screamed, hurling profanities that
36:10echoed off the sterile walls. She looked
36:13at Ethan one last time as the doors
36:15began to close.
36:17You're a loser, Hayes. She shrieked, her
36:20face contorted with hate. You were
36:23always a loser. I only slept with you
36:27because you had a checkbook, and now you
36:30have nothing.
36:32The door slid shut, cutting off her
36:34voice.
36:36Silence rushed back into the hallway,
36:38heavy and suffocating.
36:40Ethan stood alone. His suit, which had
36:43cost
36:45suddenly felt like a costume he had no
36:47business wearing.
36:49He looked at the floor,
36:51then slowly, terrified, he looked up at
36:54Alister.
36:56The mechanic was blocking the door to
36:58room 402.
37:00His large frame filled the doorway, and
37:03the scarred bodyguard, Kovac, stood
37:06slightly behind him, arms crossed over a
37:09chest the size of a barrel.
37:11Alister, Ethan began, his voice
37:14cracking. He wiped a hand across his
37:16face, trying to wake himself up from the
37:18nightmare.
37:19I
37:21I didn't know.
37:22You have to believe me. I'm a
37:24businessman. I'm ambitious.
37:27But I'm not a monster.
37:29I didn't want my son hurt.
37:32Ignorance is not a defense, Ethan. It is
37:34an indictment, Alister said.
37:37He didn't move.
37:40You allowed a viper into your bed, and
37:42then you invited her into your wife's
37:43delivery room. You handed over the
37:45safety of your family to a woman who
37:47viewed them as obstacles to a payday. I
37:50can fix this, Ethan said, the
37:52desperation rising in his chest like
37:54bile. Let me see Charlotte. She loves
37:58me.
37:58We have history. I can explain that I
38:01was manipulated. She'll understand.
38:04She's forgiving.
38:06He took a step toward the door. Kovac
38:08didn't even blink. He just shifted his
38:11weight, and the air around him seemed to
38:13thicken with threat.
38:15Alister raised a hand, stopping Ethan in
38:17his tracks.
38:19Charlotte is not the girl you married
38:20anymore, Ethan.
38:22Pain changes people. Betrayal changes
38:25people.
38:26In that room, she just fought a war.
38:29She fought for her life and her child's
38:32life, while you were checking stock
38:34prices.
38:36I am the father,
38:37Ethan shouted, his control finally
38:39snapping.
38:40That is my son in there. You cannot keep
38:43me from him.
38:44>> [clears throat]
38:44>> I have rights.
38:46You have nothing, Alister roared. The
38:50sudden volume made Ethan flinch
38:52physically.
38:53Alister stepped forward, the cane
38:55hitting the floor with a sound like a
38:57gunshot. You want to talk about rights?
39:00Alister hissed, closing the distance
39:02between them until Ethan could see the
39:04flecks of gold in the old man's furious
39:07eyes. You forfeited your rights when you
39:10prioritized a conference call over your
39:12wife's agony.
39:14You forfeited your rights when you let
39:15your mistress bribe a nurse.
39:18My lawyers are currently filing an
39:20emergency order of protection.
39:22We have the recordings of Holloway.
39:24We have Sienna's testimony.
39:27We have the footage of you leaving the
39:28room. Alister leaned in, his voice
39:31dropping to a terrifying whisper.
39:34By the time the sun comes up, you will
39:36be the most hated man in New York. The
39:39press is already running the story.
39:42The CEO who sold his family.
39:45If you step foot in a courtroom, no
39:48judge will give you visitation.
39:50They will give you a restraining order.
39:54Ethan collapsed. His legs simply gave
39:57out, and he slid down the wall to the
39:59floor, burying his head in his hands.
40:02I have nothing left, he sobbed.
40:05The company is gone. My money is seized.
40:09My house, the mortgage?
40:12The bank will foreclose on the penthouse
40:14by Monday, Alister confirmed coldly.
40:17I own the bank. Remember, I've already
40:20instructed them to expedite the
40:21eviction.
40:23Ethan looked up, tears streaming down
40:25his face.
40:27Why why are you doing this? You're
40:29supposed to be a simple guy from Ohio.
40:32You're supposed to be a mechanic.
40:35Alister straightened his coat.
40:37He looked down at the broken man with a
40:38mixture of pity and disgust. I am a
40:41mechanic, Ethan.
40:43I fix things that are broken.
40:45And I remove parts that are defective.
40:48Alister tapped the tip of his cane
40:50against Ethan's shoe.
40:52You are a defective part. You compromise
40:55the integrity of the machine.
40:57So, I am scrapping you.
41:00Alister turned his back on him. Kovacs,
41:02escort Mr. Hayes to the exit. If he
41:05resists, you have my permission to be
41:08creative.
41:10My pleasure, sir.
41:12Kovacs rumbled. Ethan didn't resist. He
41:15didn't have the strength. He allowed the
41:17bodyguard to his feet and shove him
41:20toward the elevators.
41:22As the doors opened, Ethan looked back
41:24one last time at the closed door of room
41:28402.
41:30He realized with a sickening jolt that
41:33he would never see what was behind it.
41:36He had traded the priceless for the
41:37worthless.
41:39The elevator took him down straight into
41:41the hell he had built for himself.
41:43Alister waited until the elevator
41:45chimed, signaling Ethan was gone.
41:49Only then did he let out a long, shaky
41:51breath. The anger drained out of him,
41:54leaving only an old man's exhaustion.
41:57He wasn't a vengeful god. He was just a
41:59father who had come very close to losing
42:02his world.
42:04He turned to the door of room 402,
42:07composed his face into a gentle smile,
42:09and pushed it open.
42:11The contrast inside was jarring. The
42:14hallway had been cold fluorescent and
42:17filled with the stench of ruin.
42:19The hospital room was warm, dim, and
42:21smelled of lavender and new life.
42:26Charlotte was propped up in bed, pillows
42:28surrounding her. She looked pale,
42:30exhausted with dark circles under her
42:32eyes.
42:34But, she was alive.
42:36The IV lines were clean. The monitors
42:38were rhythmic and steady.
42:41And in her arms, wrapped in a blue
42:42blanket with a small beanie on his head,
42:46was the baby.
42:48Alister walked over softly, his cane
42:51making no sound on the floor.
42:53"Is he gone?"
42:55Charlotte asked.
42:56Her voice was raspy, but strong.
43:00She didn't look at the door.
43:01She couldn't bear to.
43:04"He's gone, Charlie."
43:05Alister said, sitting in the chair
43:07beside the bed. "He won't be coming
43:09back. I made sure of it."
43:12Charlotte looked down at the baby.
43:15The infant was sleeping, a tiny fist
43:17curled against his cheek.
43:19He let out a soft sigh, unaware of the
43:22war that had just been fought for his
43:24future.
43:26"He looks like you, Dad."
43:27Charlotte smiled weakly.
43:30"He has your chin."
43:32"Stubborn."
43:33Alister reached out a weathered finger
43:35and stroked the baby's impossibly soft
43:38cheek.
43:39"He's better than me."
43:41"He's going to be better than all of us.
43:43I was so scared." Charlotte whispered, a
43:46tear escaping and sliding down her nose.
43:50"When Holloway gave me that shot, I
43:52thought I'd never wake up. I thought
43:54Ethan would "Shh."
43:56Alister soothed, taking her hand.
43:59"Ethan is the past. He is a lesson,
44:02Charlotte. A hard lesson, but a
44:04necessary one.
44:06We don't look back at the wreckage. We
44:08look at the road ahead."
44:10Charlotte nodded.
44:12She took a deep breath, inhaling the
44:14scent of her son. The fear began to
44:16recede, replaced by a fierce protective
44:19love.
44:21She was a mother now.
44:23She couldn't afford to be a victim.
44:25"He needs a name." Charlotte said. "I
44:27can't name him after his father's
44:29family."
44:30"No." Alister agreed. "New start. New
44:34name."
44:35Charlotte looked at her father.
44:37She saw the man who had flown across the
44:39ocean at 2:00 a.m.
44:43The man who had torn apart a hospital
44:45and a corporation to save her. The man
44:48she had hidden from her husband because
44:50she was afraid he was too rough for her
44:53high society life.
44:55She realized now that his roughness was
44:57the only thing that had shielded her
44:59from the wolves.
45:01"Leo," she said firmly.
45:04"Like your father.
45:06The one who started the shop in the
45:07garage."
45:09Alister's eyes misted over.
45:11"Leo, the lion. It's a heavy name to
45:14carry."
45:15"He's strong enough," Charlotte said,
45:18kissing the baby's forehead.
45:19"He's a Sterling.
45:21Leo Sterling."
45:24Alister tested the name. It sounded
45:26right. It sounded like iron and gold.
45:29"Rest now, my loves," Alister whispered,
45:33leaning back in the chair to keep watch.
45:36"The wolves are gone.
45:38The mechanic is on duty."
45:40As Charlotte drifted into a peaceful
45:42sleep, holding the future of the
45:44Sterling empire in her arms, Alister
45:47took out his phone. He sent one final
45:50text to his legal team.
45:52"Liquidate the rest of the Hayes assets.
45:54Donate the proceeds to the children's
45:56ward.
45:57Burn the rest." He put the phone away,
46:00closed his eyes, and listened to the
46:02steady, strong heartbeat of his
46:05grandson.
46:07Five years later,
46:09the wind whipped off the Hudson River,
46:11cutting through the thin polyester
46:12jacket of the parking valet.
46:15Ethan Hayes shivered, stomping his feet
46:17to keep the feeling in his toes.
46:20He looked nothing like the titan of
46:21industry he had been half a decade ago.
46:24His hair was thinning, graying
46:26prematurely at the temples. His face was
46:29gaunt, the result of two years in a
46:32minimum security prison for securities
46:34fraud, and three years of scraping by on
46:38minimum wage.
46:39He worked at the Gilded Lily, one of
46:42Manhattan's most exclusive event venues.
46:45Tonight was the New York Future
46:47Foundation
46:49gala.
46:50The irony wasn't lost on him.
46:52Five years ago, he would have been
46:54sitting at the head table, pledging a
46:56tax deductible million dollars.
46:59Tonight, he was parking the cars of the
47:01men who used to work for him.
47:04"Hey new guy." The valet manager
47:06shouted. "Wake up. We got a VIP arrival,
47:10a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Don't scratch it
47:13or it's your life."
47:15Ethan nodded, keeping his head down.
47:18"Yes, boss."
47:20The sleek black car pulled up to the
47:22curb. It was a custom Phantom, the
47:25Spirit of Ecstasy on the hood gleaming
47:27in gold.
47:29Ethan rushed to the passenger door,
47:31practicing the subservient smile he had
47:33forced himself to learn.
47:35He opened the door.
47:37A woman stepped out. She wore a dress of
47:40emerald silk that hugged a figure that
47:42was stronger and more confident than he
47:44remembered.
47:45Her blonde hair was swept up in an
47:47intricate braid, revealing diamond
47:50earrings that caught the paparazzi's
47:52flashbulbs.
47:53Ethan froze.
47:55The handle of the door felt slippery in
47:57his sweating palm.
47:59It was Charlotte.
48:00She didn't look at the valet.
48:02She turned back to the car, extending a
48:04hand.
48:05"Come on, Leo.
48:07Watch your step, darling."
48:09A little boy jumped out of the backseat.
48:11He was 5 years old, wearing a miniature
48:13tuxedo.
48:15He had messy blonde hair and bright,
48:17intelligent eyes.
48:19Ethan's breath hitched. Leo.
48:22This was his son.
48:24The boy he had abandoned in the womb for
48:26a business deal that didn't exist.
48:29"Grandpa's already inside." Leo chirped,
48:32adjusting his bow tie. "He said I can
48:35bid on the silent auction if I use my
48:37own allowance."
48:39Charlotte laughed, a sound so free and
48:41happy it pierced Ethan's heart.
48:44"We'll see, little wolf. We'll see."
48:46Ethan couldn't help himself. The grief
48:49and regret that had been eating him
48:51alive for 1,800
48:53days boiled over.
48:55"Charlotte." He croaked.
48:58Charlotte froze.
49:00She turned slowly.
49:01Her eyes scanned the valet, taking in
49:04the cheap uniform, the worn shoes, the
49:06tired face.
49:08There was no spark of recognition at
49:10first.
49:11Then a flicker of realization.
49:14And then
49:15>> [clears throat]
49:15>> nothing.
49:16No anger, no hate.
49:19Just a wall of indifference.
49:22"Hello Ethan." She said. Her voice was
49:25polite, the way one speaks to a stranger
49:27on the subway.
49:28"Is
49:29is this him?" Ethan whispered, looking
49:32at the boy.
49:33He took a half step forward.
49:36"Leo, hey buddy. I I knew your mom a
49:39long time ago."
49:41Leo looked at Ethan, then up at his
49:43mother.
49:44"Mom?"
49:46"Who is the waiter?"
49:49Ethan flinched. Before Charlotte could
49:52answer, a shadow fell over them.
49:54Alister Sterling had emerged from the
49:56venue entrance. He moved slower now,
49:59leaning heavier on his cane,
50:02but his presence was still as formidable
50:04as a mountain.
50:06"Is there a problem here?"
50:08Alister asked, his voice gravel and
50:10steel.
50:12He looked at Ethan.
50:14Alister didn't smile.
50:16He didn't gloat.
50:17He looked at Ethan with the weary
50:19patience of a man dealing with a minor
50:21inconvenience.
50:23"No problem, Mr. Sterling." Ethan said,
50:25his voice trembling.
50:27"I was just
50:29admiring the car."
50:31"It's a nice car." Alister agreed. "I
50:34bought it with the dividends from the
50:36Hayes-Vanguard patent sale. It seemed
50:38fitting."
50:40The insult was precise, surgical, and
50:42devastating.
50:44"Ethan."
50:45Charlotte said softly.
50:48"Please, just park the car."
50:50"I miss everything."
50:52Ethan choked out, tears spilling onto
50:55his cheeks.
50:56"I heard about Sienna.
50:58She testified against me.
51:01She blamed it all on me.
51:03I lost everything, Char.
51:05I'm living in a studio in Queens.
51:08I just
51:09I wanted you to know that I'm sorry.
51:12Every day I'm sorry. Charlotte looked at
51:15him.
51:16For a moment, Ethan thought he saw pity.
51:19But then she looked down at Leo, who was
51:21holding her hand tightly, looking at
51:24Ethan with suspicion.
51:26You didn't lose everything, Ethan.
51:28Charlotte said.
51:30You threw it away.
51:32There is a difference.
51:34She crouched down to Leo's level,
51:35turning her back on Ethan.
51:38Come on, Leo. Let's go inside. Grandpa
51:40promised you ice cream before dinner.
51:43Yay!
51:44Leo cheered, forgetting the sad man in
51:47the vest instantly. They began to walk
51:49up the red carpet.
51:52Wait. Ethan called out, desperation
51:55seizing him.
51:56Does he know? Does he know who I am?
52:00Alister stopped. He turned around one
52:02last time.
52:03>> [clears throat]
52:03>> He knows his father is a great man,
52:06Alister said. He knows his father
52:08protects him, teaches him, and reads to
52:10him every night.
52:12He calls me papa.
52:14Alister stepped closer, lowering his
52:16voice so only Ethan could hear.
52:20You aren't a father, Ethan.
52:21You're a cautionary tale, a ghost, and
52:25ghosts don't get to speak to the living.
52:27Alister turned and walked away, his cane
52:31tapping a victory march on the pavement.
52:34Ethan stood there on the curb, the keys
52:36to the Rolls-Royce in his hand.
52:39The flash bulbs popped, capturing the
52:41dazzling Sterling family as they entered
52:44the warmth and light of the gala.
52:46The heavy oak doors slammed shut. Hey!
52:50The manager shouted from the booth. Stop
52:52daydreaming, park the damn car, or
52:54you're fired. Ethan Hayes, the former
52:57CEO,
52:58the man who would have been a
52:59billionaire, wiped his eyes with his
53:02dirty sleeve.
53:04He got into the car that was bought with
53:05his own failure, put it in gear, and
53:08drove it into the shadows.
53:10He was finally exactly where he deserved
53:12to be.
53:13In the dark.
53:15Alone.
53:16And that is the story of how Alister
53:19Sterling taught a ruthless CEO that some
53:23things like family and loyalty cannot be
53:26bought, sold, or traded on the stock
53:28market. Ethan Hayes thought he was the
53:30king of the world, but he forgot that a
53:33king is nothing without his queen.
53:36He traded a lifetime of happiness for a
53:38moment of greed,
53:40and he paid the ultimate price.
53:43What did you think of Alister's revenge?
53:46Was it too harsh, or did Ethan get
53:48exactly what he deserved? I want to hear
53:51your thoughts. If you think Alister went
53:53too far, type mercy in the comments.
53:57But if you think Ethan got what was
53:58coming to him, type justice.
54:01Do that.
54:03If you enjoyed this story of betrayal
54:05and redemption, please destroy that like
54:08button. Do it for Charlotte and Leo.
54:11And don't forget to subscribe, and hit
54:13the bell notification.
54:16We drop new stories of karma and revenge
54:19every single week. And trust me, you do
54:22not want to miss the next one.
54:25Thanks for listening, and remember, be
54:27careful who you step on comfortably,
54:30because they might be the ones holding
54:32the ladder.

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