Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Grandpa, Tristan Sterling and I Are Getting a Divorce
Two years ago, when Tristan Sterling and Holly Sinclair got married, Master Sterling drew up a will.
The will stipulated that Master Sterling would transfer five percent of his shares in Sterling Corporation to Holly Sinclair.
Master Sterling had his own private reasons for doing this.
Of all the younger generation, he was fondest of the two of them.
He hoped they would have a loving marriage and walk hand-in-hand through life, never abandoning each other.
Knowing his grandson was very reluctant to enter this marriage, he wanted to leave Holly with some security.
It was also a way to keep his grandson in check, in case he ever became unfaithful and wronged Holly.
That was why, when he drew up the will, he had only Tristan by his side.
No one else knew about it, not even Holly.
Looking at his still-silent grandson, Master Sterling sighed and said in a heartfelt, serious tone, "Tristan, I’m getting old. I can’t manage too much anymore. You and Brandon are both descendants of the Sterling family. Even though his bloodline isn’t pure, if you’re going to keep acting recklessly..."
The rest of his sentence went without saying.
A grim look crossed Tristan Sterling’s face.
He understood his grandfather’s threat perfectly.
In the two years since he took over Sterling Corporation, his methods and drive were in no way inferior to his grandfather’s in his youth. In fact, he had even surpassed him.
In those two years, Sterling Corporation had grown continuously, its businesses infiltrating markets all over the world.
’Am I supposed to just hand over all my hard work on a silver platter?’
’Impossible!’
After a moment, Tristan Sterling’s thin lips parted as he spoke softly, "Grandpa, don’t worry. My wife is, and only will be, Holly Sinclair."
"You’d best remember what you said today!" Master Sterling was satisfied.
"I will."
Tristan Sterling nodded, giving his assurance.
In truth, even without his grandfather’s prodding, he wouldn’t have gotten a divorce.
From the very beginning, he had never once considered ending this marriage.
The one making a scene had always been Holly.
...
"Grandpa wants to see you in the study," Tristan Sterling said flatly as he came downstairs, addressing Holly who was sitting on the sofa.
Holly Sinclair stood up and walked toward the stairs, her face devoid of expression.
But as she passed him, he grabbed her arm.
"Grandpa isn’t well. Don’t upset him," he instructed, his tone commanding.
Hearing this, Holly Sinclair let out a cold laugh.
She understood his subtext.
He just didn’t want her to say anything she shouldn’t.
Like that sordid affair between him and Vivian Linton.
Or the fact that they were in the middle of a divorce.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with an icy chill, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "When you were protecting Vivian Linton just now, why weren’t you worried about Grandpa getting upset?"
Tristan Sterling’s face darkened.
He was left speechless by her retort.
Holly Sinclair shook off his hand and headed for the study on the second floor.
Upon entering the study, Holly Sinclair called out softly, "Grandpa."
"Holly, come here."
Master Sterling beamed when he saw her, beckoning her over.
Holly obediently went to him.
Master Sterling picked up a small, yellow pearwood box from the coffee table.
He opened it to reveal a Jade Bracelet, a solid, glistening emerald green and exquisitely translucent.
Judging by its quality, it had to be priceless.
"This was passed down from your great-grandmother. It’s a Sterling family heirloom. My memory... I kept forgetting to give it to you. I finally remembered today."
Master Sterling said with a warm smile, picking up the bracelet and moving to slip it onto Holly Sinclair’s wrist.
In reality, this Jade Bracelet hadn’t belonged to Mrs. Sterling.
It was a token of love that Master Sterling had given to his first love, Thea White.
Thea White was Holly Sinclair’s maternal grandmother.
Back then, disapproval from both their parents and a series of misunderstandings had ultimately led to their breakup.
Thea White returned the Jade Bracelet, and he had treasured it ever since.
"Grandpa, this is too valuable! I can’t accept it!"
The moment Holly Sinclair heard it was a family heirloom, she quickly hid her hands behind her back, shaking her head in refusal.
’I’m about to divorce Tristan Sterling. How can I have the nerve to accept something so precious?’
"You are Tristan’s wife, the future matriarch of the Sterling family. This bracelet can only be yours."
"No, Brandon isn’t married yet. This bracelet should be passed to his future wife..."
"I said it’s for you, so it’s for you!"
Master Sterling’s expression turned grim, his tone becoming heavier.
Holly Sinclair frowned, caught in a difficult position.
’Even though Tristan just warned me not to upset Grandpa... still...’
’Grandpa will have to find out about the divorce sooner or later.’
’Instead of racking my brains trying to hide it, it’s better to just be honest now.’
’That way, he can be mentally prepared.’
Holly Sinclair pressed her lips together firmly and said with a serious expression, "Grandpa, I really can’t accept this. Tristan Sterling and I—"
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Master Sterling suddenly began to cough violently.
He coughed until his face was as white as a sheet, looking as if he might pass out at any moment.
"Grandpa!"
Startled, Holly Sinclair quickly began patting her grandfather’s back.
After a good while, Master Sterling finally managed to stop coughing.
Holly Sinclair then hurried to pour him a glass of water.
After drinking the water, Master Sterling leaned back in his wheelchair, closed his eyes, and slowly steadied his heavy breathing.
"Grandpa," Holly Sinclair said, very worried.
"Oh, Holly..." When Master Sterling opened his eyes again, they were rimmed with red.
That single cry struck a chord deep in Holly Sinclair’s heart.
She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer as they rolled silently down her cheeks.
’Since my parents passed away, the people who doted on me most were my brother and Grandpa.’
’And after my brother fell into a coma, only Grandpa was left to treat me so well.’
Master Sterling took Holly Sinclair’s hand, slid the Jade Bracelet onto her wrist, and said with a tremor in his voice, "I don’t have many days left."
"Nonsense!"
Holly Sinclair was deeply shaken. Forgetting all about refusing the precious gift, she shouted with red-rimmed eyes in feigned anger, "Grandpa, don’t you dare say such things!"
"I’d like to live to be a hundred, too, but birth, old age, sickness, and death are the laws of nature. No one can escape them." Master Sterling chuckled, looking as though he had already come to terms with life and death.
"Grandpa!"
But Holly Sinclair couldn’t accept it.
Looking at her grandfather’s vacant eyes, her heart twisted in pain.
’Grandpa’s condition is even worse than before he went abroad for treatment.’
The words "Tristan Sterling and I are getting a divorce," which had been on the tip of her tongue, now felt impossible to say.
’Grandpa dotes on me so much. If he knew I wanted to divorce Tristan Sterling, he would be heartbroken...’
’How could I bear to hurt someone who is so good to me?’
Master Sterling forced a smile and patted Holly’s hand. "Holly, I know Tristan has been a bit reckless lately, but don’t you worry. If he dares to do anything out of line, I won’t let him off the hook. COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Perhaps at the thought of Tristan Sterling protecting Vivian Linton just moments ago, Master Sterling’s blood boiled, and he was seized by another coughing fit.
"Okay, okay. Thank you, Grandpa."
Holly Sinclair quickly patted his back again, nodding gently.
Receiving her response, Master Sterling finally felt at ease.
He had been afraid Holly would be angry with Tristan.
He didn’t want his grandson to be like him in his youth and lose the one person who had eyes only for him...
...
To celebrate Master Sterling’s return, Stella Grayson instructed the kitchen to prepare a lavish dinner.
At the dinner table, Holly Sinclair was considerately serving her grandfather some food.
Suddenly—
"Holly Sinclair, clear your schedule for this weekend. You’re coming with me to the hospital," Stella Grayson, sitting across from her, said coolly.
"Mom, are you not feeling well?" Holly Sinclair frowned and asked instinctively.
"It’s you."
