All Chapters of The Return Of The Hidden Dragon: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
10 chapters
1: The Divorce Papers
The silence in the Sterling penthouse was heavier than lead. Even the ticking clock seemed afraid to interrupt.Victoria sat on the leather couch, legs crossed, wearing that immaculate navy suit that made her look like the goddess of commerce herself. On the glass table before her lay a thin stack of papers, clean, cold, final. “Sign them,” she said without looking up. Her tone was clipped, like an executive dismissing an underling. “We both know this marriage is long overdue for its end.”Alex Sterling stared at the papers as though they were an illusion. His hand hovered above them, fingers trembling slightly. “Victoria… you’re divorcing me over money?”Her eyes flicked to him, perfectly painted, emotionless. “Not money, Alex. Status.”She folded her arms. “I’ve built something incredible. People see me as an icon now. And you, ” she gave a quiet, derisive laugh, “you can’t even hold down a job.”Alex’s throat tightened. The words hit harder than she knew. “You wouldn’t have tha
2: The Return of the Heir
The convoy cut through London like a silent storm. Alex Sterling sat in the backseat, the glow of passing headlights brushing across his face. For years, he’d hidden that name, Sterling, like a curse. Now, every mile brought him closer to the truth he’d buried.Across from him, the silver-haired man from before adjusted his cufflinks. “Young Master, the board has been restless since your disappearance. Your uncle’s influence has grown... problematic.”Alex’s gaze stayed on the window. “Harold Sterling always wanted Father’s seat. Let him enjoy the illusion a little longer.”He leaned back, voice low. “I’ll decide what to do with him when the time comes.”The man nodded, almost nervous. “As you wish, sir. The estate has been prepared for your arrival. Lady Ivy insisted the old wing remain untouched, she said you’d want it that way.”At that, Alex’s expression softened slightly. “Ivy’s still there?”“Yes, Young Master. She’s been overseeing your inheritance personally. The staff... sti
3: The Boardroom War Begins
Morning light touched the glass walls of Sterling Tower, turning them silver in the London fog.The tall building stood like a giant among the city’s skyline. Inside, everything was quiet except for the low hum of elevators and the soft clicking of heels against marble floors.At the front desk, a young receptionist adjusted her tie and looked up from her computer. When she saw the man walking in, she almost forgot to breathe.He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a simple but perfectly cut black suit. His eyes were calm, too calm, and they held something sharp behind them. His steps were slow, confident, unhurried, as if the whole world was waiting for him. “Good morning, sir. May I help you?” she asked, trying to sound polite.The man stopped in front of her desk. “Alexander Sterling,” he said quietly, pulling a small silver ring from his pocket. The receptionist’s eyes widened when she saw the family crest carved on it, two lions and a crown.Nobody had seen that ring in
4: The First Strike Against Victoria
The rain started early that morning. Cold drops slid down the tall glass windows of Morgan Luxe Headquarters, painting the city in silver and gray. Inside, the air was warm, bright, and filled with the smell of perfume and polished wood.Victoria sat behind her wide marble desk. She wore a cream suit, her blonde hair tied perfectly, her red nails tapping against her phone screen. Her reflection in the glass behind her looked flawless, confident, but her eyes were restless.Her assistant, a young woman named Ella, hurried into the office holding a tablet. “Ma’am,” she said softly. “You should see this.”Victoria didn’t look up. “Can it wait? I have calls.”“I don’t think so,” Ella whispered.Victoria sighed, lowering the phone. “What is it this time?”Ella placed the tablet on the desk and stepped back. Victoria’s eyes fell on the headline flashing in bold: STERLING GROUP CUTS ALL TIES WITH MORGAN LUXE.She froze. The letters felt unreal. She blinked, reading again. Her hand tightene
5: The Trap Is Set
The morning sky was gray, heavy with clouds that hid the sun. Inside her penthouse, Victoria Morgan was wide awake.Coffee cups and papers covered the dining table. Her hair, usually perfect, hung loose around her shoulders.The bright lights of the room reflected off her laptop screen, showing the same headline over and over again: “ALEXANDER STERLING TAKES FULL CONTROL OF THE STERLING GROUP.”“MORGAN LUXE LOSES ALL STERLING FUNDING.”Her fingers trembled as she refreshed the page again, hoping the words would change. They didn’t.Her assistant, Ella, entered quietly. She carried a tray with a fresh cup of coffee and a worried look. “Ma’am,” she said softly, “you should take a break.”Victoria didn’t answer. She was staring at the photo of Alexander attached to the news article, tall, calm, serious. The man she had once called weak looked like a stranger now. “He planned this,” she whispered. “Every bit of it.”Ella hesitated. “Maybe it’s not personal, ma’am. Maybe he just, ”“Not p
6: The Bait Is Taken
The morning sun rose behind a curtain of thin clouds, casting a pale light over London’s skyline. Inside her penthouse, Victoria Morgan stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection.Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her pearl earrings. She looked perfect, her hair smooth, her lips bright red, but her eyes told another story. They were tired, restless, almost afraid.Behind her, the television played the morning news. Every channel showed the same name: Alexander Sterling.He was everywhere, his image, his power, his silence, and that silence scared her most.Victoria turned off the TV. Her assistant, Ella, walked in quietly with a tablet and a worried look.“Ma’am, the press conference is ready. Reporters are already waiting.”Victoria nodded, forcing a confident smile. “Good. Today, we end Alexander’s story.”But her voice lacked the sharpness it once had. It sounded like someone trying to convince herself that everything was under control.Ella hesitated. “Are you su
7: THE FALL OF HAROLD STERLING
The sun rose cold and pale over London, spilling light across the tall glass buildings.Inside his luxury office, Harold Sterling stood by the window, watching the traffic below. He looked calm from a distance, but his clenched jaw and shaking hand told another story.For years, Harold had been the man no one dared to cross. His voice could ruin careers, but now, that same voice trembled each time his phone rang.He had lost three major investors in the last twenty-four hours. His shares were crashing. His company name, Sterling International, was all over the news. Headlines screamed betrayal, fraud, corruption, aAnd all of it traced back… to him.He slammed his fist against the glass desk. “Impossible! Someone planted this!”His assistant, a nervous young man named Reed, stood frozen by the door. “Sir… there’s another problem.”Harold turned sharply. “What now?”Reed swallowed hard. “The police want to see your financial records. They said… they received an anonymous tip.”Harold’
8: VICTORIA’S DESCENT
The rain had not stopped since morning. It beat against the tall glass walls of Morgan Luxe Headquarters, turning the view of London into a blur of gray. Inside, Victoria Morgan sat at her desk, her chin resting on her hand, staring at nothing.Her phone lay beside her, silent, lifeless. She had called Harold a dozen times. No answer. Each minute that passed felt heavier.She was angry, but underneath that anger was something worse, fear. Harold’s downfall had spread through the news like wildfire. The great Harold Sterling, once a name that ruled business, was now a symbol of failure and shame.Victoria knew who had done it. She didn’t even need proof. There was only one man who could destroy someone so quietly, so perfectly. Alexander Sterling. Her ex-husband.She whispered his name under her breath like a curse. “You think I’m next, don’t you?”But she would not go down without a fight.The office door opened quietly. Ella, her young assistant, stepped in, holding a stack of pape
9: THE QUEEN’S REVENGE
The rain had stopped, but the city still looked gray. Victoria hadn’t slept all night.She sat on the edge of her bed, her hair loose, eyes swollen from crying. The documents from Ella’s computer lay scattered around her, each one like a knife in her heart.Betrayal. Lies. Loss. It all played in her head on repeat. For hours she had asked herself the same question: “Why me?”But sometime before dawn, that question changed. Now she asked: “How do I make him pay?”Victoria rose from the bed and walked to the mirror. Her reflection looked fragile, broken, but behind her tired eyes, something had changed. There was fire now.She whispered to herself, her voice calm and cold. “You wanted war, Alexander. You’ll get one.”She got dressed, not in her elegant suits, but in black jeans and a leather jacket. She tied her hair back tightly.Like she used to before a deal, then she took her phone and began calling people, one by one.Some didn’t answer. Some hung up as soon as they heard her voice
10: THE COUNTERATTACK
The sun had barely risen when the city began whispering again. Every newspaper headline carried one name: Alexander Sterling. “Sterling Global Faces Corruption Probe.” “Anonymous Leak Exposes Illegal Deals.”The world thought Alexander was losing, but in truth, he was only beginning. Inside his penthouse, Alexander stood before the tall window, watching the morning fog drift over the city. He looked calm, almost peaceful, but his eyes were sharp, burning with quiet anger.His assistant, Clara, entered carefully. “Sir, the lawyers are asking if you want to release a public statement.”Alexander didn’t turn around. “No. Let them talk. Fear spreads faster than truth.”Clara hesitated. “And… about Victoria Morgan? The press believes she was behind the leak.”Alexander finally smiled, a cold, perfect smile. “Of course she was. She wanted a war. Now she’ll learn what it feels like to fight one.”He turned, picking up his coat. “Prepare the car. I’m going to see her.”Clara blinked. “In pe