Liam Winston's face darkened.
He fixed Sophia Sullivan with a warning glare.
"Mind your words, Sophia."
Before he could finish, Sophia let out a light chuckle.
"I always measure my words carefully."
Her gaze swept over Liam with faint amusement.
"It's your new secretary who made quite the spectacle at the wedding banquet."
Sophia never tolerated disrespect.
Those who crossed her would pay double.
"Rumor has it the Winstons have more than one heir?"
Her lips curled in a mocking smile.
"But Ms. Evans' mother certainly knows how to handle things."
She turned to Chloe Evans with deliberate condescension.
"That dramatic scene at the wedding showed real talent for keeping a husband in line."
Sophia adjusted her cuffs with deliberate slowness.
"At least she won't end up like the Winstons, drowning in illegitimate children."
Sophia never shied from hitting where it hurt.
An eye for an eye was her motto.
"You!" Chloe's face twisted in fury.
The wedding fiasco remained A-City's favorite gossip.
Having the wound ripped open made her tremble with rage.
Chloe forced down her anger, eyes reddening.
"Noah and I are just friends!"
Her voice quivered with feigned hurt.
"You can insult me, but how dare you slander the Winstons?"
Sophia leaned lazily against the doorframe.
"You misunderstand, Ms. Evans."
She arched a brow at Liam.
"I was complimenting your parents'... resourcefulness."
Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the wood.
"After all, Mrs. Winston never mastered those skills, did she, Liam?"
Liam's temper snapped.
His father's indiscretions were an open wound.
Sophia's casual mention pushed him to the edge.
He lunged forward to grab her—
Only to freeze under her icy stare.
...He'd never forget the agony of his broken fingers.
This woman fought like a trained soldier.
Unbeatable in combat, unmatched in wit.
Liam's face cycled through shades of pale and purple.
Noah Valentine stepped in as peacemaker.
"We're all friends here, no need for hostility."
Unaware of Sophia's lethal skills, he kept his tone calm.
"Let's discuss the collaboration elsewhere."
The Winston Group deal was too lucrative to lose.
Noah turned to Sophia, adopting a stern facade.
"If you insist on accusing me of plagiarism—"
He raised his voice for Liam's benefit.
"Then produce the evidence!"
Sophia had anticipated this move.
Years ago, she'd entrusted all her draft sketches to Noah.
He'd claimed they were destroyed.
Now those discarded drafts had become his golden goose.
The irony wasn't lost on her.
Chloe seized the moment to fan the flames.
"Baseless accusations prove nothing!"
She clung to Noah's arm.
"Making such claims without proof is outrageous!"
Noah waved a magnanimous hand.
"My schedule is packed today, fans are waiting."
Adjusting his collar with practiced arrogance.
"Any further slander will result in legal action."
With that, he strode from the lounge.
Outside, frenzied cheers erupted.
"Noah! We'll always support you!"
The adoring screams inflated his ego.
Liam watched approvingly.
His plan to manipulate public opinion through Noah needed acceleration.
Turning back to deliver a final warning—
He found the lounge empty.
Sophia had vanished without a trace.