Chapter 5 5

The next morning, Emily walked into her classroom with a faint sense of unease. She wasn't sure what she expected-more unannounced visits from Lucas, perhaps, or maybe some grand gesture to bulldoze his way into her life-but the day began as uneventfully as any other. Her students filed in, full of energy and chatter, and soon, she was absorbed in her work, guiding them through spelling drills and art projects.

By lunchtime, she'd almost convinced herself that Lucas's text had been a fleeting moment of interest and nothing more.

But that illusion was shattered when her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen, her stomach flipping when she saw the name: Ava Sterling.

Stepping out into the hallway, she answered cautiously. "Hello?"

"Good afternoon, Ms. Harper," Ava said, her tone as calm and polished as before. "I'm calling to let you know that Mr. Sterling has arranged for an initial donation to your programs. He asked me to forward the details to your email."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. "An initial donation?"

"Yes," Ava replied, sounding almost amused by her disbelief. "It's a substantial amount, and Mr. Sterling has indicated it's only the beginning. He's also expressed interest in visiting one of your programs personally, should you be open to that."

Emily's mind reeled. She didn't even know how to process this. "Can I ask... how substantial are we talking?"

Ava hesitated for the briefest of moments. "Ten million dollars."

The world tilted slightly on its axis. Emily leaned against the wall for support, her breath catching in her throat. "You're joking."

"I assure you, I'm not," Ava said smoothly. "The transfer will be completed within the hour. Mr. Sterling was very clear about his intentions to fully support your work."

Emily was silent, her mind racing. Ten million dollars? It was an amount so far beyond anything she'd ever dreamed of raising that it felt unreal.

"I... I need to think about this," she said finally.

"Of course," Ava replied. "But please know that the funds are already in motion. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out."

The call ended, leaving Emily staring at her phone, her heart pounding.

Meanwhile, in the sleek corner office of Sterling Enterprises, Lucas leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"You're impossible," Nathan said from the chair across the desk. "Ten million? You're practically throwing money at her."

Lucas shrugged. "It's not about the money."

"Of course it's not," Nathan drawled. "It's about the girl. You're trying to buy your way into her good graces."

Lucas's smirk faded, his expression hardening. "I'm not trying to buy anything. I'm investing in something worthwhile."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Worthwhile, huh? Is that what we're calling it now?"

Lucas ignored him, turning his attention to the view outside. The city stretched out before him, glittering with opportunity. But for the first time, it wasn't the city that held his focus-it was a woman who saw through all the glitter and gold.

Emily spent the rest of the day in a haze, trying to focus on her students while her mind raced. When the final bell rang, she stayed behind, pacing the empty classroom as she grappled with the enormity of what had just happened.

Finally, she opened her laptop and checked her email. Sure enough, there it was-a confirmation from Lucas's office detailing the donation, complete with a formal letter outlining his intentions to continue supporting her programs.

She stared at the screen, her emotions a whirlwind of gratitude, suspicion, and something else she couldn't quite name.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Lucas.

Lucas Sterling: Did Ava reach out?

Emily hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. Finally, she typed a response.

Emily Harper: She did. I don't even know what to say.

Lucas Sterling: You don't have to say anything. Just use it to keep making a difference.

Emily Harper: This is... overwhelming. Are you sure about this?

Lucas Sterling: I've never been more sure about anything.

The certainty in his words sent a shiver through her. She didn't want to trust him-didn't want to believe that someone like Lucas Sterling could genuinely care about her work-but a small, stubborn part of her wondered if maybe, just maybe, she was wrong.

Emily Harper: Thank you. But I still want to know why you're doing this.

The response came quickly.

Lucas Sterling: Because you showed me something worth believing in.

Emily stared at the message, her heart pounding. She wanted to push him away, to keep the walls around her firmly in place, but something about him made it impossible.

For the first time in a long time, she felt the smallest crack in her defenses-and it terrified her.