Too Late for Your Tears

Chapter 6

Julian Sterling stepped out of his luxury car right outside the wooden gate of the Bennett Orphanage, and stopped his steps immediately when his eyes landed on a crowd of heavily bruised men gathered by the entrance.

It was Garrick Thorne and his five wounded thugs, who were still limping and trying to wipe the blood from their faces. Julian looked at the large group, suddenly recalling what his third sister Amelia had said about the gang coming to collect a debt from Ethan Vance.

Julian strode forward confidently, his leather shoes clicking loudly on the wet ground as he glared at the gangsters. "What are you people doing here in front of this property?" Julian demanded to know in a loud, arrogant voice.

Before he had been found by the Sterling family, Julian had lived as a common street resident and feared this specific gang like the absolute kings of the city. He used to tremble whenever their name was mentioned in the dark alleys.

But things were completely different now, and the multi-billion-dollar Sterling family was his official backing. He was a true young master of the most powerful household in the city, so he did not need to fear a bunch of street criminals anymore.

Garrick Thorne froze when he saw the ten heavily armed corporate security guards standing closely behind Julian. His mind was already in a massive state of panic because of what had just happened inside the dining hall.

Garrick remembered the furious, terrified look in his big boss Nicholas's eyes during their last video call. His boss had literally screamed at him to stay put and verify details, and a deep chill of primitive fear ran right through Garrick's body.

Garrick looked at Julian’s expensive silk suit and assumed this rich young master was a powerful ally who had come to help Ethan Vance. Not wanting to offend another hidden giant, Garrick immediately changed his expression and spoke to Julian amiably.

"Good evening, sir," Garrick Thorne said with a polite, shaky smile, lowering his iron crowbar completely. "There is no need for tension. We can go inside this building together, as I also have some urgent business to settle with Ethan Vance."

Julian felt a sudden, massive surge of satisfaction flood his chest when he heard the tough gang leader speak to him so respectfully. He looked at the bruised thugs and let out a low, wicked laugh inside his mind.

Julian thought to himself that Ethan Vance was truly a brainless fool who had managed to offend both the most powerful family and the most powerful gang in the city at the same time. There was absolutely no way out for him tonight, and he was completely finished.

"Fine," Julian snorted coldly, turning his back on the rain as he pointed toward the entrance. "Since we are all here for the same loser, let's see how he likes having visitors."

Julian turned to his own corporate security guards and gave a sharp, imperious command. "Kick this door open right now!"

Garrick Thorne furrowed his brow and frowned deeply, completely confused by the rich young master’s aggressive gesture. If this man was Ethan's friend, why was he ordering his guards to smash the entrance?

Before Garrick could speak, two heavy security guards stepped forward and delivered a powerful kick to the wooden door, sending it crashing inward with a loud bang. Julian led the way, and everyone filed into the warm dining hall together.

Ethan Vance was still standing near the center of the room, his hand gently resting on Chloe Bennett’s shoulder as he tried to comfort her. He looked up slowly when the door shattered, his eyes turning into freezing slits as he saw Julian and the thugs enter.

Julian stopped his steps and looked around the broken room, a look of supreme disdain appearing on his face as he mocked Ethan loudly. "Well, look at you, hiding inside this pathetic shack like a wild dog!"

Ethan walked forward smoothly, his face deathly pale from his terminal illness, but his posture remained completely steady. "Who the hell are you, and why did you bring these dogs into my house?"

"Who am I?" Julian laughed maniacally, his voice echoing off the walls as he adjusted his expensive silk cuffs. "I am Julian Sterling, the only true biological son of the Sterling family! You are nothing but a useless, fake stand-in who stole my place for ten years!"

Ethan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, a deep wave of heartbreak washing over him because he knew the family had already replaced him completely. He had worked like a dog for them, only to be thrown into the mud the moment this true son arrived.

But a sudden memory flashed through Ethan's mind, and he remembered his adoptive father’s very last words on his deathbed. His father had explicitly told him that he had no biological son alive, which meant Julian could not possibly be a real bloodline.

Ethan shot a sharp, piercing look straight into Julian's eyes, questioning his identity directly. "The true son? Adoptive father told me the truth before he passed away. Who are you really, and why are you lying to my sisters?"

Julian’s arrogant expression flickered with a sudden wave of intense panic, his eyes darting toward his guards for a brief millisecond before he forced a loud scream. "Shut your mouth, you dirty liar! How dare you question my bloodline!"

Julian quickly stepped closer to change the topic, his voice exploding with heat. "You are just trying to divert attention because you are a criminal! You stole a highly confidential patent document from eldest sister's study before you left the villa today!"

"I took nothing from that house," Ethan answered directly, his voice dropping into a freezing register. "Charlotte knows that very well."

Julian leaned in extremely close, ensuring his guards and Garrick Thorne could not hear or see his movements clearly. A malicious, disgusting grin twisted his handsome face as he whispered mockingly into Ethan’s ear.

"I know you are telling the truth, you broke loser," Julian whispered with pure malice, his eyes gleaming. "Because I am the one who stole the patent document from Charlotte's drawer and hid it. But it doesn't matter what you say today, because no one will ever believe a street rat over me."

Before Ethan could react, Julian smoothly reached his hand toward Ethan’s tattered jacket pocket, pretending to pull out a thick piece of paper using a quick sleight of hand. He spun around dramatically, holding the stolen document high in the air.

"Look here, everyone!" Julian announced loudly to his men, his voice full of a triumphant pride. "The proof of theft has been found right on this impostor's person! He is a confirmed thief!"

Julian turned back to his ten muscular corporate security guards, pointing his finger straight at Ethan’s chest. "Attack him right now! Today, I am going to personally ensure this disgusting street thief is beaten to a complete pulp!"

Julian paused for a brief moment, a low, ruthless smile appearing on his lips as he recalled his conversation with Charlotte back at the villa. "Eldest sister only gave me orders to break both of his arms as a warning."

Julian sneered openly, his eyes flashing with a predatory greed. "But in my personal opinion, since this trash refuses to admit his fault and dares to insult my bloodline, he does not deserve to use his legs either!"

Julian raised his hand, shouting a massive incentive to the crowd. "I am offering a reward of exactly one million yuan to whoever breaks Ethan Vance's arms first! Go and take it!"

The ten corporate guards were instantly fired up when they heard the massive sum of money. They gritted their teeth, grabbing their heavy metal weapons tightly as they stepped forward, ready to beat Ethan down into the dirt.

Ethan remained perfectly calm on the outside, his face showing zero fear, but his internal heart was in a massive, agonizing turmoil. The fact that Charlotte had explicitly ordered his arms to be broken shattered his remaining soul into invisible pieces.

He had worked tirelessly for ten entire years to build Charlotte's corporate business, reading countless business magazines in the dark and teaching himself to become a globally renowned investment genius just to help her.

He had reviewed the Sterling Apex Group's financial statements every single night without rest, drawing up extensive plans for their business direction and secretly placing top talents within the company to ease her burden.

Yet, his eldest sister had been completely indifferent to all his pure devotion and sacrifice. She had believed this fake young master’s words without a single doubt, offered Ethan zero chance for explanation, and ordered his body to be broken.

A raw, calcified wave of pure fury completely exploded inside Ethan Vance's soul as he looked at the approaching guards. He could no longer hold back his deadly underground strength for an ungrateful family.

"I am giving all of you one single warning," Ethan said, his deep voice sounding like a freezing winter wind that cut through the room. "Get the hell out of this orphanage right now, or I will no longer show a single drop of mercy to anyone."

Julian let out a sharp, mocking laugh, shaking his head down at him. "Listen to this beggar talk big! You are finished, Ethan!"

Ethan ignored the taunt, turning his head slightly toward Chloe Bennett who was standing frozen in fear. "Chloe, take Mother Martha, Grandfather Joseph, and the little children back into the inner rooms right now. I will handle everything out here."

Chloe looked at the ten massive corporate guards and the six armed thugs, her body shaking violently with an intense worry for him. "But Ethan, there are too many of them! You cannot fight all these people alone!"

"Go inside, Chloe," Ethan insisted with an absolute, unyielding finality in his eyes. "Trust me."

Unable to argue with his powerful gaze, Chloe quickly gathered the old couple and led them toward the back bedroom. But she did not close the door completely, staying by the edge of the hallway to watch anxiously, her eyes red with tears.

Seeing Ethan’s complete defiance, Julian grew incredibly angry, his face turning an ugly shade of red as he looked over at Garrick Thorne. "Garrick! What are you and your men waiting for? Attack him right now! His attitude is completely disgusting!"

Julian pointed his finger at Ethan’s face, trying to use the gang to do his dirty work. "This loser's family owes your syndicate one million yuan and maliciously refuses to pay! Go and teach him a lesson he will never forget!"

Garrick Thorne furrowed his brow deeply and strode forward with heavy, quiet steps. Julian didn't notice the gang leader's dark expression at all, stepping forward to taunt Ethan one last time.

"You are a dead man, Ethan!" Julian taunted loudly, a triumphant smirk on his lips as he looked down at him. "You have officially offended the gang, and they are going to tear you—"

Before Julian could finish his sentence, Garrick Thorne raised his heavy hand and slapped Julian Sterling hard across the face.

The massive force of the hit echoed like a gunshot through the dining hall, sending the rich young master spinning sideways before he crashed violently against the muddy floorboards.