She cut straight to the point. "So, what did you want to see me about today?"
Seeing she had no intention of playing along, Gabriel dropped the act. "I heard you stole some formulas from your sister. Give them back to her, and I'll let this slide."
Anastasia had suspected the formulas were the reason for this meeting, but hearing such a shameless accusation, she almost laughed in disbelief.
She turned to Queena, her tone sharp. "Is there no limit to your shamelessness? I won those formulas fair and square at an auction. Since when were they yours?"
A cold glint flashed in Queena's eyes, but her smile remained. "Anastasia, what use do you have for those formulas? You only bid on them because you saw me doing it, didn't you?"
"I won't hold it against you, but please, give the formulas to me. They're useless in your hands, but in mine, they can save many lives. Are you really going to endanger countless patients just to be stubborn?"
"Don't you dare try to pin that on me!" Anastasia let out a cold laugh. "Whether they're useful or not is for me to decide, not you. By your logic, I think someone with your twisted morals isn't fit to be a doctor. Why don't you get out of the medical field?"
"You!" Queena's gentle, polite facade finally cracked.
"Anastasia! How dare you speak like that?!" Gabriel roared. "Queena is your sister! Is this how you speak to your sister? Have you no manners?!"
Anastasia shot back, "If you're going to talk about my manners, shouldn't you reflect on yourself first? You've only ever cared about your two wonderful stepdaughters. I had a father, but it was like having no father at all. Is it really so strange that I lack manners?!"
"Oh, right," she added, as if just remembering something. "I actually knew what you wanted all along. You either covet what I have, or you want to leech off my hubby's power. Turns out I was right on both counts. But I still came. Do you know why?"
She crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked at them. "I came because I wanted to tell you in person. Yes, I have valuable things. And yes, my hubby is very powerful. If he were willing to help Queena, it would take just a single word from him to ensure her future would be smooth sailing."
"But I refuse to help! Because none of you... are worthy!"
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving the three members of the Sterling family fuming, their faces ashen with rage. Gabriel looked like he was about to have a stroke.

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