Flames of Legacy: the Heir's sacrifice

Chapter 1: Lisa couldn't believe her eyes. Miss Lilith Sterling had specifically requested her to bring the latest quarterly files to her office. To say it was unreal would be an understatement, because Miss Lilith would rather send the janitor on corporate errands than look at Lisa or even breathe the same air as her. “Maybe she's finally softening towards me,” Lisa naively thought as she gathered the documents and went up to the top floor. She knocked once.Then, twice and receiving no response, she pushed the door open. “Good afternoon, Miss.” The documents slipped from Lisa’s hands and dropped to the floor as her blood ran cold. Standing at the head of the table was Williams Kingston, her boss and secret lover, and he was kissing Lilith Sterling passionately. Lilith broke the kiss and turned with a smirk. “Oh, I didn’t know you were here.” Lisa forced herself to move. She knelt to gather the scattered papers, her cheeks burning as the board watched in silence. Williams stepped forward to help her. “No,” Lilith said, her voice smooth. She moved past him and stepped on Lisa’s little finger as Lisa scrambled to collect the documents. Pain shot up Lisa’s hand, but she bit it back. _Is this real or was my eyes playing tricks on me?_ She stood, placed the files on the table, and faced them both. “Here are the files you requested, Miss Sterling.” Lilith answered, “Place them on the table.” Lilith’s eyes gleamed. “Good girl.” Lisa turned and left. By the time she reached her office, her hand throbbed and tears threatened. The door opened and Williams followed her in. “Lisa, please,” he said. She faced him. “How could you? Right there? After everything you promised me?” “Lilith made me bring you in,” he said. “The board gave me an ultimatum. Marry her or watch the empire collapse. Stocks are down forty percent. Jobs are on the line. My father’s life’s work will vanish.” Lisa pulled her hand from her pocket and held it up. The promise ring caught the light. “William, you promised you’d marry me, you promised us a future together.” Her voice broke while she showed him the ring on her finger. He reached for her. “I know, and I promise to keep it, but please... right now, it has to wait.” “Wait?” Lisa stared at him. “I’m pregnant.” Silence hit like a wall. The door opened again. Lilith stepped in. “Pregnant? You really are a loose girl. Williams will never settle for a lowlife secretary like you.” Lisa’s hands moved to her stomach. “You promised me a child. You said we'll build a future together, an unbreakable family. Did it all mean nothing to you? Lilith laughed, sharp and dismissive. “Not in this city. Power, money, influence. That is all that matters. Clean yourself up. This changes nothing.” Williams stood between them, jaw clenched. _God, Lisa. Hold on. Just hold on a little longer. I will fix this somehow._ Lilith left, and the door clicked shut. Williams pulled Lisa close. “I did not plan this. CFO embezzlement. Insider trading. The board saw the Sterling marriage as the only lifeline. I thought I could protect us.” Lisa pulled back, tears fresh. “I’ve been pregnant for weeks. I wanted to tell you better, not like this. Did you lie to me all this time? Was the boardroom kiss the start of you throwing us away?” He held her tighter. “We will figure this out. You are the only one who sees the real me. Not the CEO. Not the heir. Just me. Wait for me. Please.” _Did he lie? Is this love or just leverage?_ Lisa thought. The baby made everything urgent now. He stepped back. “Stay strong for me. For our child. I have to go back out there and play the part. But this is not over.” A knock rattled the door. “Williams, the board needs you,” Marcus called. “More partners are pulling out.” Williams glanced at her once. “I will come find you later. I promise.” He left. Lisa pressed her palm to her stomach. She would protect this baby. She would fight. But in this city of power and money, she did not know how far love could go before it broke. ——— Williams rejoined the boardroom with Lilith at his side. Her smile was perfect for the investors, but her eyes cut to the office door behind him. One wrong move, and the news would destroy everything they had just saved. A phone buzzed in Williams’ pocket. A text lit the screen. Unknown number. Two words. "We know". __ __ __ Lisa stared at her phone until the screen went dark. "We know". Two words from an unknown number, and her blood went cold. She deleted the message, but her hands shook. Someone had seen her. Someone knew about the baby. Her office felt smaller by the minute. The throb in her finger reminded her of Lilith’s heel. _Is this leverage?_ A knock hit the door before she could answer it. Marcus stepped in without waiting. “The board is in chaos. Williams left you to come back to the wolves.” “Did he say anything about me?” Lisa asked. Marcus hesitated. “He said to tell you to stay put.” Stay put while Lilith circled him like a shark. Stay put while an unknown number held her baby over her head. “No,” Lisa said. She stood. “I’m not hiding.” Marcus blocked the door. “If you walk out there now, you will make it worse. Lilith is already telling investors you are unstable. She is using the kiss.” Lisa’s stomach turned. “Using it how?” “She is saying Williams ended things with you because you became obsessed. She has witnesses.” The floor felt unsteady under Lisa’s feet. _Did he lie?_ Her phone buzzed again. Same unknown number. "Boardroom. Now. Or we send the photo." Lisa’s breath caught. Photo. Of what? She looked at Marcus. “I have to go.” “You can’t,” he said. “Williams will lose control of the room.” “Then he shouldn’t have kissed her in front of everyone.” Lisa moved past him. Her finger burned, but she did not stop. The hallway was full of whispers. Secretaries she had worked with for years would not meet her eyes. Lilith had started the war already. She pushed into the boardroom. Every head turned. Williams stood at the head of the table with Lilith at his side. His face was tight. Lisa ignored him. She faced the board. “Who sent the text?” Lilith’s smirk returned. “What text, dear?” Lisa pulled out her phone. “Boardroom. Now. Or we send the photo.” She read it out loud. “Someone is blackmailing us.” Murmurs spread. Investors shifted. Williams stepped forward. “Give me the phone.” Lisa held it back. “Not until you tell me what photo.” Lilith laughed. “She is paranoid. That is what obsession does.” She turned to the board. “We should remove her from the building before she causes a scene.” "She wants me gone before I spoke." Lisa thought. Williams’ jaw clenched. _God, Lisa. Hold on. Do not break now._ Lisa lifted her chin. “You want me gone because I am pregnant with his child.” Silence dropped. Lilith’s smile vanished. “Lies. She will say anything to ruin this merger.” “Then test me,” Lisa said. “Right now.” Williams moved between them. “Enough.” His voice was low and hard. “Lisa, come with me.” “No,” Lilith said. “She stays. We vote now.” The board chair raised his hand. “All in favor of pausing the Sterling merger pending investigation.” Hands went up. Slowly at first, then more. Lilith’s eyes narrowed. She pulled out her own phone and typed fast. Lisa’s phone buzzed in her hand. A photo loaded. It was her. From weeks ago. Leaving a clinic. Her hand on her stomach. Timestamp clear. Lisa’s blood ran cold. Lilith looked up and smiled. “So. You do have proof.” Marcus stepped forward. “Where did you get that?” Lilith shrugged. “Investors care about risk. A pregnant secretary is risk.” Williams stared at the screen. His face went blank. _I can’t protect her if they have this._ Lisa met his eyes. “Was it you?” He did not answer fast enough. The board chair cleared his throat. “Miss Carter, security will escort you out.” Two guards appeared at the door. Lisa’s phone buzzed again. Same number…