Chapter 3The Trust Fund Diagnosis

A dozen black, imposing muzzles.

Instantly raised, aimed directly at Julian's head.

My father turned pale with sheer terror.

"Julian!"

His voice was shaking uncontrollably.

"Don't do anything stupid! Let him go!"

"Mom. Dad."

The sharp glass sliced deeply into Julian's own palm.

Blood dripped steadily onto the floor.

But he didn't even seem to feel the pain.

His voice choked with emotion.

"Since I was a kid, you and my older brothers always protected me."

"Today, it's my turn to protect our family."

My oldest brother, Ethan, his eyes bloodshot, screamed until his voice cracked.

"Julian! Are you out of your mind?!"

"You're only twenty-two! Your life is just starting!"

"If the sky falls on the Sterling family, I'm the oldest, I'll hold it up!"

"Switch with me! Get your ass over here right now!"

The remaining five brothers.

Also struggled like madmen, desperate to swap places with their youngest brother.

"There's no time!"

Julian gritted his teeth, his red-rimmed eyes locked onto Ethan.

"Get everyone out of here!"

"Run! Now!"

Hearing this, my mother's legs gave out completely, and she collapsed onto the floor.

My six brothers, their eyes burning with unshed tears, scrambled to their feet.

"Julian!"

Chloe held onto me, crying so hard she was nearly hyperventilating.

"Fascinating."

William let out a soft, amused chuckle.

He didn't struggle.

He didn't beg for his life.

He didn't even order his bodyguards to fire.

His eyes were filled with pure, unadulterated enjoyment.

"I thought this was just going to be a boring execution."

"I never expected to witness such a touching, desperate struggle."

William's voice was practically humming with excitement.

"This little hunting game."

"Is getting more entertaining by the minute."

"Shut up!"

Julian's hand violently tightened its grip.

The glass dug deeper, pressing dangerously against William's jugular.

He roared at the room.

"Do you want to test me?!"

"Let's see who's faster: your bodyguards pulling the trigger, or me slicing your throat open!"

He turned his head, screaming hoarsely at us.

"We are out of time! Go!"

Two lines of murky tears rolled down my father's cheeks.

To save the rest of us.

He swallowed his agony and forcefully pushed my mother backward toward the door.

"Take Chloe and Mia and go!"

My mother wept uncontrollably.

She stumbled forward, grabbing Chloe and my hands, preparing to turn and run.

BANG!

A bullet slammed violently into the marble floor inches from my mother's feet.

The stone shattered instantly, sending shrapnel flying.

My mother screamed, her legs buckling in terror.

Chloe shrieked in horror.

The sudden, deafening gunshot.

Nailed everyone exactly where they stood.

"Go?"

William's voice dropped into a dark, guttural laugh.

"Did I give you permission to leave?"

The moment he finished speaking.

A lethal red laser dot appeared on the chest or forehead of every single member of the Sterling family.

Outside the massive living room windows.

The chilling, synchronized clack of sniper rifles chambering rounds echoed through the glass.

"Do it, you useless piece of trash."

William's voice was soft, almost hypnotic.

He looked at Julian with open, mocking defiance.

He even tilted his head, intentionally pressing his neck closer to the jagged edge of the glass.

"Don't hesitate."

"Just half an inch deeper, and you sever my carotid artery."

Julian's hand began to shake. Uncontrollably. Violently.

"Why are you shaking?"

William smiled, a sick, twisted expression.

"Are you scared?"

"Let's see if your hand is faster than the bullets of my sniper team."

"If I bleed a single drop."

"The heads of your parents, your brothers, and your sisters will be blown apart in a fraction of a second."

Julian completely broke.

The rigid, defiant posture of his spine collapsed instantly.

His grip on the glass went completely slack.

The blood-stained shard fell to the cold marble floor.

It landed with a sharp, despairing clink.

William sighed.

Looking profoundly bored, he raised his hand.

He touched the thin scratch on his neck where the glass had grazed the skin, inspecting the faint smear of blood.

"I gave you the opportunity to be a hero."

"It's a pity you're such a coward!"

William turned around.

Looking down with absolute aristocratic disdain at Julian, who was slumped defeated on the floor.

"You Sterlings. You are all cowards in your very bones."

He elegantly adjusted his tailored suit cuffs.

"This boring little melodrama."

"Is over."