Sophia Sullivan's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.
The group surrounding Charlotte Vance froze in place.
They quickly regained composure, plastering fake smiles across their faces.
"Miss Sullivan, we were just fooling around."
Their earlier bullying of Charlotte had been calculated - they knew she wouldn't dare speak up.
Without allies in the lab, Charlotte was an easy target.
But the situation had changed.
Sophia stood beside Charlotte, her gaze icy cold.
Everyone had noticed Ethan Sullivan's special treatment of Sophia these past days.
However reluctantly, no one dared openly cross her.
Caleb Vance's resentment burned brighter.
He discreetly covered his bruised wrist with his sleeve, forcing a smile.
"Just some harmless fun. We always joke around like this. Charlotte's used to it."
His eyes bore into Charlotte with silent warning.
"Right, Charlotte? Next time we'll pick a better spot so management doesn't get the wrong idea."
As Sophia opened her mouth to speak, she felt Charlotte tug gently at her sleeve.
"Miss Sullivan... we really were just playing..."
Charlotte's voice trembled with suppressed tears.
Caleb smirked in triumph.
He'd known Charlotte wouldn't dare contradict him.
Even if Sophia wanted to intervene, she had no grounds now.
Caleb stepped forward boldly, pretending to dust off Charlotte's clothes.
"We'll find somewhere more appropriate next time, Charlotte."
He gave Sophia an innocent look.
"Miss Sullivan, surely someone managing the entire lab doesn't have time to police coworkers' harmless jokes?"
Leaning closer to Charlotte, Caleb shot Sophia a challenging glance.
"Friends teasing each other is normal workplace behavior. You're making too much of this."
The sarcasm couldn't be clearer.
Caleb seethed with resentment.
If not for Sophia, he wouldn't have fallen so low.
Seeing her powerless to act gave him vicious satisfaction.
He waved to his companions. "Let's go somewhere else—"
A sudden, excruciating pain exploded in his abdomen.
The sickening thud of impact echoed.
No one saw Sophia move.
Caleb flew backward half a meter, crashing to the floor.
"My back—!"
He writhed in agony, feeling like his organs had rearranged.
Before he could react, a container of steaming food smashed into his face.
Scalding sauce dripped down his cheeks as he screamed.
"Ahhhh!"
The onlookers stood paralyzed.
Sophia's expressionless face resembled an avenging angel.
The crowd instinctively stepped back.
Sophia calmly picked up an iced coffee and flung it at the group.
"Miss Sullivan, this is too much!"
"What did we do wrong?"
"Even if you dislike us, you can't act like this!"
Shock and outrage mingled as they processed Sophia's public assault.
Caleb trembled with rage.
From the kick to the scalding food - he'd never been humiliated like this.
"This is assault! I'll sue you!"
Caleb tried rising, but pain immobilized him.
Sophia smiled sweetly.
"Assault? We're just joking around."
Her innocent expression contrasted with her glacial eyes.
"Colleagues roughhousing is normal. There aren't any cameras here."
She waved her phone.
"But I did record your bullying of Charlotte."
"This level of 'fun' would qualify as assault in court."
Caleb ground his teeth.
He never expected Sophia to turn the tables.
Sophia murmured to Charlotte, "Don't worry. We have evidence."
Charlotte kept her head lowered.
"Miss Sullivan... please don't get involved..."
Her guilt-laden voice quivered.
Sophia frowned.
This wasn't like Charlotte.
The girl always stood up bravely when it mattered.
Why cower when she was the victim?
Unless... someone had leverage over her.
When Charlotte finally looked up, Caleb's venomous glare made her flinch.
"We really were just playing!" she insisted.
Sophia observed everything coldly.
Her gaze swept the crowd.
"Leave now if you don't want this video going public."