17. The Hidden Depths of the Sterling Dynasty
The Sterling Empire, oozing grandeur, harbored a murky past filled with dubious dealings and sinister secrets. It was widely rumored among the aristocracy that Richard Sterling’s fortune was not solely self-earned but inherited, amidst tales of nefarious business maneuvers, shady transactions, and connections to the underworld. The fear of the Sterling clan’s wrath kept these stories from spreading far.
While Richard Sterling basked in his affluent lifestyle at the Lumière, unknown to him, his empire was on the brink of exposure. Investigative journalists and auditors, working in the shadows, were slowly unraveling a narrative powerful enough to disrupt the very pillars of his existence.