From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - Future Of The Stern Family

It was expected that the man whose birthday they were celebrating would eventually make an appearance—everyone had been prepared to offer their praise, present their gifts, and show respect to one of the most powerful men in the world.

But instead of entering to applause and admiration, Dennis Stern walked straight into chaos.

All attention had been pulled away from the celebration and toward one specific scene—and now, the man of the hour had arrived to witness the mess firsthand.

"Father!" Karen gasped.

Her hands were trembling as she immediately dropped the walking stick she'd been holding. She lowered her head, staring at the ground, too shaken to even think about picking it up.

"Of all days... this is the one you choose to cause a scene?" Dennis said, his voice cold and controlled. "You're disrupting a celebration—my birthday.

"You all better have a damn good explanation for what I'm seeing right now."

His eyes moved slowly, taking in the full picture—

Aron, bloodied and bruised.

Karen, visibly shaken.

Chad, back on his feet, face swollen and red.

And then there was Max.

Of all people... Dennis hadn't expected him to be in the middle of it all.

"Grandfather!" Chad called out, lifting his head.

"I'm so sorry for everything that's happened. Please, let me explain. One of the waiters accidentally spilled champagne all over Max, and I guess it must've pushed him over the edge.

"For some reason, he thought I was behind it—and out of nowhere, he just punched me right in the face.

"My mother, of course, couldn't let that slide, so she stepped in to put him in his place. Then Aron got involved, and things just spiraled out of control.

"All of this—everything you're seeing—it all started because Max lost his mind."

From the crowd's perspective, Chad's version of the story made a lot of sense.

No one had seen him deliberately trip the waiter. And they definitely hadn't witnessed the two times earlier when Chad purposely bumped into Max.

And since hardly anyone even knew Max was a Stern—or knew his name, for that matter—he figured they probably didn't have a clue there was an inheritance competition happening behind the scenes.

Dennis didn't say a word at first. He simply walked forward, slow and deliberate, stopping right in front of Max.

He stared him straight in the eye.

"Why haven't you said anything?" he asked. "Are you not going to defend yourself?"

"Defend myself?" Max repeated, his voice calm but unwavering. "Yeah, I hit him. That part's true. But does the reasonreally matter? Why should I explain myself?"

"I did what I did—because I chose to. I'm fully aware my actions come with consequences. But I take responsibility for them. I control my own body, my own choices. And even if you were standing in front of me when it happened... I'd do it again."

Dennis lowered his gaze to the ground.

Some guests thought it was because he was trying to contain his fury. Others assumed it was disappointment—head bowed in shame over his family turning a birthday party into a battleground.

But in truth, he was hiding a grin.

I don't know what happened to you, Max Stern... but this fire in you? I like it.

So many of my children and grandchildren come running to me, begging to fix their problems, asking me to play judge in the middle of their messes. But you... you didn't flinch. You took a stand.

You were never a fighter before—but now, maybe... you're the first real fighter in the Stern family.

Dennis suddenly lifted his arms, his voice booming.

"Let's not let this little drama ruin a grand celebration!" he declared. "It's a birthday—we celebrate.

"As for the rest of you, clean up this mess... and pretend like none of it ever happened."

I figured as much, Max thought. Dennis carries himself like a mob boss—controlled, powerful. There's a line you don't cross, and he makes sure you know it. But out of everyone in this family... I think I understand him better than the rest.

Because I've built an empire before too.

Max needed to understand what it truly meant to live as a Stern.

And more importantly—what kind of life Max Stern had been living before he showed up in this body.