My stepmother kicked me out of the house two days after my father died—the next morning, a group of SUVs parked in front of her house….’
My father’s funeral, retired Colonel William “Bill” Sterling, took place on a gloomy, rainy day at Arlington National Cemetery. He was a man of few words, stern and mysterious. They said he worked as a security consultant after his military service, but I never knew exactly what he did.
I, Jack Sterling, 26, stood alone beside the filled-in grave. Not far away, under a large black umbrella held by the driver, was Elena – my father’s young, beautiful, and ambitious second wife. She had only been in the family for two years, but had already changed everything: from the curtains and the maid to isolating me from my father.
After the funeral, we returned to the McLean mansion. It was a vast, cold fortress of stone and glass.
“Jack,” Elena called as I was tidying up some of my father’s mementos in the study. She stood leaning against the door, a Martini in her hand, her tight-fitting black dress betraying a triumphant air.
“What is it, Elena?”
“I spoke with my lawyer this morning. The will has been published.” She took a sip of her drink. “All the assets, including this house, the investments, and the cash, belong to me. Your father didn’t leave you a penny.”
I stood speechless. My father was strict, but he was always fair. This was unlike him at all.
“I don’t believe it,” I said. “I want to see the papers.”
“You can see them whenever you like,” Elena sneered, tossing a travel bag at my feet. “But not here. I want you out of the house immediately. Tonight.”
“My father only died 48 hours ago!” I yelled. “This is my house!”
“It used to be,” Elena said coldly. “It’s mine now. And I don’t want to see your pathetic face lurking around here anymore. Get out of here before I call the police and report you for trespassing.”
I looked into her eyes. There was no humanity in them. Only cold, calculating intent. I knew I couldn’t win against her now. I grabbed my bag, walked out of the house where I grew up, and trudged through the freezing rain to find a cheap motel.
That night, I tossed and turned in the cigarette-scented room of Motel 6. My phone suddenly rang. A text message from an unknown number, no text, just a series of numbers: 08:00 AM – PROTOCOL OMEGA.
I didn’t know what it meant, but my gut feeling told me that tomorrow would be a very long day.
Chapter 2: The Invasion
The next morning, I returned to Sterling Mansion. I didn’t intend to cause trouble; I just wanted to retrieve my old Jeep, the keys to which Elena hadn’t yet confiscated.
But as I turned onto the tree-lined road leading to the main gate, I was forced to brake sharply.
Blocking the mansion gate wasn’t a police car.
It was a convoy of black Cadillac Escalades, tinted windows, and government license plates. There were at least ten of them, parked in a long line, their engines roaring like wild beasts waiting.
Elena was standing in front of the house, wearing silk pajamas, her makeup half-finished, yelling at a man in a black suit at the head of the convoy.
“Who are you? Why are you blocking my way? I’ll call 911!” Elena screamed.
I pulled over, got out, and walked toward them.
The man in the suit turned when he saw me. He was about 50, graying-haired, wearing sunglasses and a security headset. He ignored Elena and walked straight toward me.
“Mr. Jack Sterling?” he asked, his voice deep and stern.
“That’s me,” I replied cautiously.
“I am Marcus Vance, Director of Aegis Defense Solutions,” he said, holding up his ID. “We’re here to execute Colonel William Sterling’s true will.”
Elena rushed forward, pushing her way between us. “What will? My lawyer has already announced it! I am the sole heir! Get out of my property!”
Marcus Vance slowly removed his sunglasses, his icy gaze causing Elena to recoil.
“Madam,” Marcus said slowly. “You inherited Mr. William’s personal assets. That’s true. You have money in your bank account, you have stocks, you have jewelry.”
He pointed to the massive mansion behind him.
“But she doesn’t own this house. And she certainly doesn’t own what’s beneath it.”
Chapter 3: Secrets in the Basement
“What do you mean?” Elena stammered, her face beginning to turn pale.
“This house,” Marcus explained, turning to look at me. “It’s actually a Level 4 underground headquarters of Aegis Defense. Your father, Colonel Sterling, isn’t just an ordinary security consultant. He’s the founder and operator of the largest private intelligence network on the East Coast, handling shady deals for the government.”
I was speechless. Long business trips, midnight calls, a perpetually locked office… It all made sense now.
“This house is registered under a shell company,” Marcus continued. “And according to the company’s charter, when the CEO dies, control of the facilities and data is transferred to a pre-designated successor.”
Marcus pulled a tablet from his vest pocket and handed it to me.
“You need a retinal scan, Jack.”
“Me?” I
Bewildered.
“Your father installed your biometrics into the system when you were 18. He knew this day would come. He knew what Elena would do.”
I looked at the scanner. A blue light flashed across my eyes.
BEEP.
“CONFIRMATION: JACK STERLING. ACCESS: ALPHA LEVEL. WELCOME, NEW CHAIRMAN.”
The electronic voice emanated from the tablet. Simultaneously, the phones of all the agents standing around rang with a synchronized “Ping.”
They all turned towards me, stood at attention, and bowed.
“Welcome, Mr. Chairman,” Marcus said.
Elena stood frozen. “What the hell… Chairman? This house is mine! I have the papers!”
“Your papers are only valid for the civilian structure above,” Marcus said coldly. “But under the National Security Act and the special land lease agreement, this area is currently on high alert. And you, Elena, are trespassing on a secure facility.”
Marcus gestured. Two large men stepped forward.
“We are compelled to ask you to leave immediately. You have 15 minutes to pack your personal belongings. Anything related to the company – including computers, hard drives, and even the house’s security system – you are not allowed to touch.”
“No! You can’t do that!” Elena screamed, lunging at Marcus and scratching him.
Click.
The sound of handcuffs echoed. Elena’s hands were locked behind her back.
“You have just assaulted a federal security officer,” Marcus said, his voice devoid of emotion. “Now you don’t need another 15 minutes. We’ll send your things to the police station later.”
Elena was dragged roughly toward an SUV, still cursing and threatening to sue. But I knew, with the power of Aegis, she would never win.
Chapter 2: The True Legacy
The grounds fell silent again. Only the rumble of the car engine could be heard.
Marcus handed me a key, a solid black key.
“Come in, boss,” he said. “There’s a lot to do. Your father left a detailed manual in the Vault. He said you’re the only one he trusts to take over the real ‘Family Business’.”
I took the key. It was ice-cold and heavy.
I watched as Elena’s car disappeared behind the gate. She won the money in the bank, but she lost all real power. She thought she’d kicked me out of the house. But in reality, she was just standing on the lid of a volcano whose trigger I held.
I turned to Marcus.
“Mr. Marcus,” I said. “Cancel the ban on her belongings. Send all her clothes and jewelry to her new address. I don’t want anything that smells of her in my headquarters.”
“Understood, sir.”
I entered the house. This time, not as the estranged son, but as the true master of the dark empire my father left behind.
The oak door closed behind me. The magnetic lock clicked shut with a solid sound.
My father didn’t leave me money to spend. He left me a kingdom to rule. And his first lesson: Never let your enemy know what cards you’re holding until they reveal theirs.
Elena went all-in. And she lost completely.
