The Aunt Who Came Back from the Dead

My nephew imprisoned me in the villa, cutting off all my connections to the outside world.

He told everyone I was gravely ill and needed absolute rest.

I had never married. I raised him as my own son, even naming him the sole heir in my will.

But he couldn't wait any longer.

To marry the daughter of my biggest competitor, he desperately needed absolute control of the company.

Today was the day he called the board of directors.

At the meeting, he tearfully announced that I had died of a sudden heart attack.

He even produced a forged will to justify inheriting all my shares.

His future father-in-law led the applause, congratulating him on becoming the youngest chairman of Sterling Global.

Everyone thought I was dead. My era was over.

Just as he raised a glass of champagne to celebrate...

The conference room doors were kicked wide open.

"My dear nephew, who told you that I was dead?"

I picked up the blood pressure medicine on the table and poured out two pills.

The white tablets rolled in my palm.

I crushed one and sniffed it.

There was no bitterness, only a faint sweetness.

It was a vitamin.

I stood up abruptly and pulled open the bedroom door.

The new nanny, Mrs. Gable, immediately blocked the way.

"Madam Sterling, where do you think you are going?"

"I am going out for some fresh air."

"Master Dominic ordered that your health is poor. You cannot leave this room."

Mrs. Gable shoved me back into the room and locked the door with a loud bang.

I slumped to the floor, a dull pain throbbing in my chest.

Dominic Miller, the nephew I raised with my own hands, actually wanted me dead.

I walked to the balcony and moved a lush potted lily.

A miniature communicator was buried in the soil.

I pressed the power button.

The screen lit up, and a coded message from my Chief Secretary, Elena Vane, appeared.

"Madam, Dominic has called an emergency board meeting for ten this morning to announce your death by heart attack."

I gripped the device so hard my knuckles turned white.

For twenty years, I exhausted myself raising this child for my late sister.

I sent him to the best schools abroad and poured the company's best resources into him.

I even wrote a will leaving the entire billion-dollar empire to him after my death.

But I had raised a venomous snake.

The communicator vibrated again. Elena sent a real-time audio feed from the meeting.

Dominic's sobbing voice came through the speaker.

"Uncles, my aunt suffered a sudden heart attack at the estate last night. The doctors couldn't save her."

"This is the death certificate issued by the hospital, and the will my aunt made before she passed."

"She left all her shares to me."

I heard a collective gasp from the recording.

Then came the voice of Seraphina Thorne, the heiress of Thorne International.

"Dominic, please stay strong. I am sure your aunt's soul in heaven wants you to take over the company as soon as possible."

Seraphina's father, Reginald Thorne, added loudly.

"A kingdom cannot go a day without a king. We should sign the papers today to finalize the transfer of shares."

I let out a cold laugh.

The Thornes were our biggest competitors.

To marry Seraphina, Dominic was using my life and my empire as a dowry.

I tapped the communicator and sent a command to my old head of security, Silas.

"Silas, move out."

Ten minutes later, the roar of an engine echoed outside.

A black SUV smashed through the iron gates of the estate.

Silas rushed into the yard with two bodyguards, kicking the villa door open.

Mrs. Gable tried to scream and block them, but Silas silenced her with a single strike.

He ran to the balcony and set up a telescopic ladder.

"Madam, come down quickly!"

I climbed out of the window without hesitation.

As soon as my feet hit the ground, Mrs. Gable crawled over and grabbed my leg.

"You can't leave! Master Dominic will kill me!"

I raised my foot and kicked her hard in the shoulder.

She shrieked and let go.

I got into the SUV and uttered three cold words.

"To the headquarters."

The car sped away.

Dominic, you thought you could do whatever you wanted because I was dead.

Today, I will show you who the true master of this empire is.

The SUV tore down the highway.

Elena's messages kept coming.

"Madam, the situation is bad. The first-floor security has been replaced by the Thorne family's men."

I replied, "Understood."

I watched the scenery fly by, the fire in my heart burning hotter.

This wasn't just a power grab. This was a long-planned murder.

I was going to uproot all of them.

The car was deathly silent.

Silas handed me a black cane.

"Madam, take this for protection."

I took the cane and gripped the handle tight.

The headquarters building was finally in sight.

The board meeting was already in a state of chaos.

Uncle Barnaby, an old shareholder who had built the empire with me, slammed the table and roared.

"I want to see a body! She was fine yesterday. How could she die so suddenly?"

"We demand to see her remains!"

Dominic's voice sounded even more grief-stricken.

"Uncle Barnaby, my aunt looked terrible in her final moments. She was always vain, so her last wish was for an immediate cremation."

"I have already scattered her ashes at sea."

"Bullshit!" Uncle Barnaby smashed his teacup on the floor.

"She was terrified of the water! She would never ask for a sea burial!"

Lawrence Miller's voice suddenly rang out.

"Old man, what are you implying?"

Lawrence was my brother-in-law, Dominic's father.

"Victoria was my sister-in-law. Dominic is her only family. Would we harm her?"

"You old fossils are just trying to bully a grieving son!"

Seraphina Thorne chuckled softly.

"Gentlemen, please, don't be so emotional."

"This is the core technology sharing agreement signed by Madam Sterling before she passed."

"As a dowry for my marriage to Dominic, the Thorne and Sterling families will become one."

"The value of your shares will double."

Uncle Barnaby was livid.

"That technology was her life's work! She would never give it to the Thornes!"

"This agreement is a forgery!"

The sound of chairs crashing came through the communicator.

Dominic shouted.

"Security! Uncle Barnaby and the others are losing control. Help them sit down!"

The audio picked up the sounds of struggling and cursing from the old board members.

"Let go of me! You animals!"

"Dominic Miller, you will burn in hell for this!"

I turned off the communicator and closed my eyes.

They didn't just want my company. They wanted to devour every drop of my hard work.

Eliminating the witness, claiming the inheritance, and flipping the truth.

The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the headquarters plaza.

I pushed the door open and strode toward the revolving doors.

Four guards in Thorne family uniforms blocked my way.

"Private meeting today. No outsiders allowed."

Silas stepped forward.

"Open your blind eyes. This is Madam Sterling!"

The lead guard sneered.

"Madam Sterling? She's a pile of ash now. You found some old hag to impersonate her?"

"Get lost before I get nasty!"

He reached out to shove my shoulder.

Silas grabbed his wrist and twisted hard.

A sickening crack echoed.

The guard collapsed, howling as he clutched his broken arm.

The other three pulled out batons and lunged.

The two bodyguards behind Silas met them head-on.

Fists hit flesh, and the sound of breaking bones filled the lobby.

In less than a minute, all four were on the ground.

I stepped over them and walked into the hall.

There were a dozen more Thorne guards inside.

They froze when they saw me.

Some recognized me and backed away in terror.

"Ma Madam Sterling?"

I gave them a freezing glare.

"Move."

They looked at each other, but no one dared to step forward.

I walked straight to my private elevator.

The doors opened, and I stepped inside.

Silas pressed the button for the top floor.

The elevator rose slowly.

My heart was steady.

Dominic, Seraphina, Lawrence.

Your time is up.

The elevator stopped at the fiftieth floor.

This was the heart of the empire's power.

The hallway was filled with Dominic's cronies.

They stumbled back in horror as I approached.

At the end of the hall, Dominic's voice leaked through the heavy oak doors.

"Mr. Miller, just stamp the documents."

The legal director, Arthur's voice, was trembling.

"But sir, the board members haven't signed. This share transfer"

Seraphina interrupted him coldly.

"Just stamp it. Stop wasting our time."

"Old man Barnaby, if you don't sign today, you'll get a court summons tomorrow."

"I have evidence of your mistress and the kickbacks you took. I have it all."

"Sign, or I will ruin your reputation!"

Barnaby roared.

"You're lying through your teeth! I have lived an honest life!"

Dominic spoke with fake sincerity.

"Uncle Barnaby, Seraphina is only doing this for the good of the company."

"Give up the shares, and I promise you a comfortable retirement."

"Otherwise, you're too old to handle prison. It wouldn't be dignified."

Lawrence Miller chimed in smugly.

"Exactly. Victoria Sterling was a tyrant for too many years. It's time for a change."

"The world belongs to the Millers now!"

"If you're smart, you'll stamp the papers and get out!"

I stood outside, gripping my cane.

Silas prepared to kick the door.

I raised my hand to stop him.

"Wait."

I took out my communicator and sent a message to Elena.

Inside the room, the legal director picked up the seal, ready to bring it down.

Suddenly, a loud snap echoed.

The entire building plunged into darkness.

Every piece of equipment lost power instantly.

Cries of confusion broke out in the room.

"What's happening!" Dominic screamed.

"Sir, the power is out. The network is down. The electronic seal system won't work," the director said.

Lawrence cursed.

"Get maintenance on the phone! Not now of all times!"

Elena's voice rang out in the dark.

"Sir, the backup generator will take three minutes to kick in."

I stood in the dark hallway, staring at the closed door.

Three minutes.

That was plenty of time.

The cronies in the hall turned on their phone flashlights.

When they saw my face clearly, they shrieked.

"Ma Madam Sterling!"

"It's a ghost!"

Some ran for the stairs, screaming.

I ignored them.

Silas and the guards stood behind me like grim reapers.

Inside, Dominic was still frantic.

"Arthur, sign the paper version! Use a thumbprint!"

Barnaby cursed.

"Dominic, you animal! Get off me!"

A heavy thud sounded from inside.

Then, a cry of pain from Uncle Barnaby.

My eyes turned cold.

They were getting physical.

I raised my cane and pointed at the door.

"Break it."

Silas and the guards charged.

They hit the door with everything they had.

The heavy oak doors were torn from their hinges.

The locks shattered, and wood splinters flew everywhere.

At that exact moment, the lights flickered back on.

The backup power was active.

Under the harsh lights, the conference room was a mess.

Uncle Barnaby was being pinned to the table by two guards.

Dominic was grabbing Barnaby's hand, trying to force it onto the ink pad.

Seraphina stood nearby, holding a freshly poured glass of champagne.

Reginald Thorne was grinning, raising his glass.

Lawrence stood at the head of the table, giving his victory speech.

"From this day forward, Victoria Sterling's era is dead!"

"My son, Dominic Miller, is the new Chairman!"

The crash of the door cut him off mid-sentence.

Every head turned toward the entrance.

I stood there in my signature black power suit, gripping my cane.

Silas and my guards flanked me.

The air froze.

Dominic's grip loosened, and Barnaby's hand hit the table with a thud.

The champagne glass slipped from Seraphina's fingers.

It shattered on the expensive Persian rug.

Reginald's smile froze, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull.

Lawrence's mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

The room was deathly quiet.

I stepped over the broken glass and walked into the room.

The click of my heels echoed like a ticking clock.

I walked to the head of the table and looked at Dominic.

He was shaking, his face turning ghostly pale.

"My own funeral? Why wasn't I invited?"

My voice was like ice.

Dominic's legs gave out, and he collapsed into the chair.

"Au Aunt Victoria"

He stuttered, his teeth chattering.

Uncle Barnaby broke free from the guards, tears streaming down his face.

"Madam! You're alive! Thank God!"

The other old board members stood up in excitement.

I nodded to them.

"I'm sorry for what you had to endure."

I turned my gaze back to Dominic.

"You said I had a heart attack? You said my ashes were in the sea?"

"I'm standing right here. Are you disappointed?"

Dominic shook his head frantically, scrambling backward.

"No, no, Auntie, the hospital made a mistake!"

"I really thought you were gone! I was devastated"

He tried to squeeze out a few tears, but it looked pathetic.

I raised my hand.

Slap!

A resounding blow landed on his face.

His lip split instantly, blood trickling down.

"A mistake?"

I pulled a stack of printed bank statements from my pocket and threw them in his face.

"You wired three million dollars to the Chief of Cardiology to forge my death certificate."

"Was that a mistake too?"

The papers fluttered to the floor.

Dominic stared at them, completely broken.

Reginald Thorne saw the tide turning and cleared his throat.

"Well, Victoria, since this was all a misunderstanding, we'll be taking our leave."

He grabbed Seraphina to go.

"Stay right there."

My voice stopped him cold.

"Reginald, do you think you can just walk in and out of Sterling Global as you please?"

Reginald turned around, trying to look composed.

"Don't push it, Victoria. The Thornes aren't easy targets."

I smiled.

"Thorne International is under investigation for commercial fraud. You used shell companies to embezzle thirty million from my projects."

"I have already reported it."

"The police should be at your office right now."

Reginald's face went white. He grabbed his phone.

The panicked voice of his secretary came through.

"Sir, the feds are here! they're seizing the ledgers!"

Reginald's phone slipped from his hand.

His knees buckled, and he had to grab the table to keep from falling.