Chapter 2

~Natalie~

‘Sterling Heiress Goes Wild: Natalie Spotted Drunk At A Runtown Club.’

‘Video Showing Natalie Carried Out By Strangers!’

My stomach dropped as I clutched my phone tighter, eyes blurred as I read the next news, which got me spiraling.

‘Sterling Heiress in Club While Dear Dad Collapses Due to Heart Attack!’

Videos. Tweet. Photos. Memes.

I was trending and not only that, the media got to know about my dad collapsing before I did.

“No, no, no” I whispered, pulse pounding as I tried to phone his assistant. Freya is the only one who will be with him at this moment.

I groaned when she wasn't picking up her calls-standing up from the bed, I picked up my bag and clutched it tightly.

A knock thundered on the hotel door and I froze.

“Room service,” a voice called.

I ignored it, grabbed the baseball cap I saw on the table and pulled it over my jeans before leaving the hotel.

I was about to call Freya when her call came in. Without hesitating, I picked up the call.

“Where are you?” I asked immediately.

“The family hospital,” she responded, and I cut the call. The heck would this man collapse? I wonder what had happened.

I tried to act put together, but I was doing a terrible job. My body was shaking, and it was obvious– we just had a disagreement and I decided to just have a little fun.

One free night of not being an obedient child has led to all these.

I boarded a taxi since I couldn't wait for a ride.  The ride to the hospital felt like an eternity. I kept pressing onto the driver to hasten and increase his speed.

My dad's in the hospital and he needs me!

He always did, even when he could be a brute at times. I bit my lower lips, legs shaking as I constantly checked the time.

I kept muttering curse words aloud and hissing every second. I was tempted to check what was going on online, but that wouldn't help. The moment I arrived at the hospital, I threw a few dollars at the driver and jumped out of the car.

I couldn't care less if other people saw me or took sneaky pictures of me and that was because my focus was on one person– my dad.

The elevator doors opened into chaos. Nurses rushed in, monitors beeped, and my heels echoed as I stormed down the corridor, barely able to breath. I spotted Dad's assistant, Freya, outside a private room.

She looked up at me, eyes red. “Natalie!”

“Where is he?” I demanded, wanting to meet my Dad.

“You shouldn't see him, like–”

“Where. Is. " He?” I repeated my words, cutting her off before she could finish her word. Freya stepped aside, her lips sealed, trying not to offend me.

She pointed at the door and I stepped into the room. I see my father lying motionless on the bed, pale and still; a tube in his arms and a machine breathing for him.

Beeps tracked his heartbeat– slow and steady.

I stayed rooted on the ground.

“No,” I said softly, so low no one could hear except you were near me.

A nurse glanced up, recognizing me as his daughter. “Miss Natalie,” she called.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Massive stroke. They found him collapsed in his study early this morning. " Paramedics said it must have happened during the night,” She responded and I staggered back.

He called!

He called me yesterday, and I was blinded by anger that I had turned it off.

Just if I had waited to hear what he had, I might have known he had an attack.

My knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the chair beside his bed, hands trembling as I reached for his cold fingers.

“I– he was fine yesterday! " He was yelling at me, he couldn't…” I choked on my words.

It felt surreal! This is a dream, it can't really be.

Dad just needed to wake up from his home, and we could talk things out. I might even comply with his demands and marry his best friend's son.

Freya walked in. Her hands on my shoulder, “Natalie, he saw the news yesterday!”

My stomach twisted.

What news? My wild night news?

“But I just went out for fun… it's something we could cover with some cash,” I mumbled while she shook her head in a negative way.

“Not that,” she said, and my brows etched in confusion.

“Then what news are you talking about?” I asked and she let out a sharp exhale.

“Someone leaked out a tip about the company going bankrupt, and it surely is going bankrupt,” she announced, and my eyes widened.

Sterling going bankrupt?

There is no way in hell we are going bankrupt. I would be able to know if it were and wasn't it yesterday morning we bagged a multi-million deal yesterday?

“Not possible, Freya!” I muttered still in disbelief.

“That's why he wanted you to marry our best friend's son, Natalie. Your dad made a huge mistake when he signed a deal that would cost him a lot and, yes, you did win a multi-million deal. " It won't be enough to cover up his loss,” she stated, but it got me more confused.

“What deal? What loss? " What decision did he carry behind my back?” I demanded, wanting to hear detailed explanations of what he had done.

He shouldn't have left me in the dark all this while… why couldn't he tell me about it rather than downgrade me like women can't do anything right.

“That should be the least concern now, Natalie. " The board members are already talking about pulling you out of the company and making Sebastian the heir,” she revealed, feeling frustrated.

The bastard!

He was supposed to be my dad's best friend, and now he is trying to take over what doesn't belong to him.

“I am still the heir; I own more than half the shares there. " They wouldn't dare,” I said through gritted teeth, whilst trying to steady my racing heart.

“Not when Sebastian is ready to clear off the debt your father owed,” she pushed, and I deflated.

“I need to talk to him. " I would marry his son if that's what he wants, or perhaps try to stall time before he does!” I said to myself.

“I am afraid that would be impossible. Sebastian didn't want to continue with the initial agreement. " He said you have dented your image, and it wouldn't be good for his family’s reputation,” Freya reported, causing my shoulders to deflate as I stared at my father lying still on the bed with no inkling of the mess that had occurred.