The moment the calls connected , the tirades began - an endless stream of insults , each more cutting than the last : " Blind as a bat , disgrace to the family , unfilial , heartless ... " Not a single word repeated , and not a shred of dignity left . Blocking unknown numbers didn't work . Turning off the phone didn't work . Switching to backup numbers didn't work either . Whoever was behind it clearly had hackers covering their bases . And because the voices were so loud , others at the dinner party could faintly hear the words . People turned to stare , expressions twisted with barely hidden amusement . It was a humiliation the Lancasters had never experienced before . The couple fled the hall in disgrace , Wilson's famed composure shattered . For once in his life , even he cursed aloud before smashing his phone to pieces . At the hospital , Lydia nearly fainted when the insults poured in : " Mistress , fake daughter , usurper , slut , unworthy of the world stage ... " Her breath came short , and she actually spat up blood . Through the line came the sound of Zane and Jasper frantically pressing the emergency bell . As for Quade , he lasted less than two minutes before the barrage drove him into a frenzy . He fought back with curses of his own , the exchange raging for half an hour . But outmatched , he ended up smashing the custom phone Lydia had given him . At the end of the recording came the cheerful voice of one of the hired callers : " Boss , don't worry . Unless they stop using their phones entirely , we'll keep on them like ghosts . We've calculated it exactly - two days , twenty - three hours , and five minutes left . " Professional to the core . Not only background checks , but timed billing down to the minute . Claudia was stunned . In her entire life , she'd never heard such creative , vicious insults . She had learned something new . If an hour of this was enough to make them crumble , the next three days promised to be delightful . Even Clint , who had originally dismissed the whole scheme as childish , changed his mind after hearing the recordings . Juvenile or not , the move was devastating . He tried to imagine being hounded like that , cursed day and night , and even he felt his blood boil . 1/3 9:40 Tue , Oct 7 As he reported back with a grin , he even wondered whether he should order a " cursing package " for the Romero elders themselves . Mr. Romero preferred physical methods , but this psychological strike was brutally effective . Claudia's eyes sparkled as she turned to the calm man shutting off the recording . She had only joked , never expecting him to actually carry it out . The results were stunning . She felt a satisfaction she hadn't tasted in years . Who enjoyed being cursed out of nowhere ? Yet for her , that had been the norm for over a decade . Why hadn't she thought of this brilliant method of revenge before ? " Boss , you're amazing . Truly amazing . Whatever you want - if I can do it , I will ." Sterling looked at her rare moment of fawning with a hint of laughter . Still , for the sake of his wounds , he pushed her back with a finger to her forehead . She'd tried to massage him earlier and only managed to press every bruise he had . But watching her beam at him , radiant and unguarded , he couldn't bring himself to care . " The best thing you can do for me right now is stay away . " " Got it ! " Claudia bounded three feet back . Sterling frowned . Why did her distance irritate him now ? " Forget it . Come over and change my bandages ." " Yes , sir ! " As she worked , her fingers lingered , and when she took the chance to sneak a touch over his abs , he caught her red - handed . To appease him , she grudgingly gave up her room . All night , Claudia was ordered around by Sterling , but her lips curved the entire time . For the first time in her life , someone had openly fought back on her behalf . Even if it was just because Sterling himself had been annoyed at the calls , even if it was only a convenient outlet , she didn't care . She was happy . After all , this was her ten - million benefactor . 2/3 9:40 Tue , Oct 7 That night , curled up on the small sofa , Claudia drifted into dreams with a smile on her face . Sterling, however , lay awake , restless . The delicate scent lingering in the air , the too - soft bed beneath him , the oversized plush toy propped beside him , the clean floral sheets - all reminders that he was in a woman's room . And not just any woman . It made him restless , uneasy . He regretted trading sleeping places with her . When the faint scent teased him again , he sat up sharply . In the unlit living room , he turned his gaze toward her . Long minutes passed before he finally moved . Bending down , he lifted her into his arms . The girl stirred , her arms wrapping around his neck like vines curling up a tree . Her soft cheek rubbed against him like a kitten seeking warmth . The unfamiliar contact froze him in place . She was too soft , too warm . He didn't know whether to hold tighter or let go . He clenched his jaw , forcing down the urge to drop her , and turned toward her room . But just as he was about to lay her down , her lips parted in her sleep , murmuring one word - " Grandma . " Soft , tender , full of yearning . Sterling looked at his hand , gripped tightly in her small palm , unable to pull free . For once , he felt like he was wrestling not with her , but with himself . Send Gifts 10 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!