Chapter 21: An Impossible Bargain
The silence in the warehouse stretches, thick and suffocating, each tick of the unseen clock amplifying the impossible weight pressing down on Isabella. Her gaze flickers between Alejandro, bound and helpless, his eyes a storm of fear and silent protest, and Merrick, whose triumphant grin is a blade twisting in her gut. "Sterling Corporation?" Isabella finally manages, her voice a raw whisper that barely cuts through the oppressive air. "You want everything?" "Precisely, Ms. Sterling," Merrick purrs, his gaze sweeping over her with a predatory gleam. "The empire you so meticulously built. The power you wield with such… authority. All of it. In exchange for the continued existence of your… *husband*." He emphasizes the last word with deliberate mockery. Alejandro Vargas strains against h
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