Mr. Winston Sr. had lived long enough to see all kinds of people.
He let out a cold laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The Winston family is beneath your notice, isn't it? Otherwise, why would you, Miss Evans, have broken off the engagement back then and married abroad, nearly making the Winstons the laughingstock of the entire city?"
"Now that you're back, is it because the Winston business has improved slightly, making us worthy of you? Save your schemes for a three-year-old."
The old man never minced his words.
"Trying to play games with me? You're not nearly clever enough! Even if I leave everything to Sophia, not a single penny will go to you!"
Liam Winston tightened his embrace around Chloe Evans, who had turned pale from the scolding.
"Chloe had no choice back then. After three years apart, we've finally reunited. How can you tear us apart like this? Besides, she isn't after money. Her parents even offered to invest if we start our own business—they just want us to live a stable life."
"Grandfather, you can't judge her like this."
As Liam spoke, his gaze flickered toward Sophia Sullivan, who stood calmly as if none of this concerned her. His irritation grew.
Mr. Winston Sr. was furious. "I don't even want to mention the disgraceful things you've done these past three years! Heartless and ungrateful—you'll get what's coming to you! And yet, you mistake a fish eye for a pearl!"
He had never imagined that his sharp-witted grandson could be so foolish. Trembling with rage, he glared at Liam, disappointment etched across his face.
"When you were gravely ill, it was Sophia who nursed you day and night without rest, never leaving your side. When the company was on the brink of collapse, she alone went to negotiate with that temperamental Ethan Sullivan. That's why the Winstons still stand today!"
The memory pained him. Everyone knew Ethan Sullivan was disabled and volatile. Sophia, just a young woman, must have endured countless humiliations to secure that deal.
Rumors even said she had knelt in Ethan's office for three hours straight to win that lifeline for the company.
And yet, once the crisis passed, this was how Liam repaid her.
"Ungrateful wretches face divine retribution—do you understand that?!"
"I know, and I haven't forgotten." Liam's expression was cold. "That's why I gave her 3 million USD in compensation, along with the villa at Blue Whale Bay. More than enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life."
Though he knew he was in the wrong, Liam refused to admit fault.
"Sophia is a good woman, but you can't force feelings."
Perhaps out of guilt, Liam turned to Sophia and emphasized, "I know what you're plotting, but I don't love you. Forced affection is meaningless. Even if you drag Grandfather into this, it won't change anything!"
"I will never let go of Chloe's hand again. Your attempts to drive a wedge between us are pointless."
Sophia smirked. "Drive a wedge? Have I said a single word this entire time?"
She wasn't unaffected—anger simmered beneath her calm. But after the divorce, stripped of the rose-tinted glasses of her youth, she found the situation almost laughable.
Perhaps the man she had loved wasn't the Liam before her now, but the passionate, sincere boy from her memories.
Liam caught the flicker of anger in her eyes and felt as if he'd been slapped. His face burned, but he forced himself to remain cold.
"Take the money and leave. I would never want someone like—"
Before he could finish, Mr. Winston Sr. snapped.
He swung his cane and struck Liam hard across the back.
Thud!
The blow sent Liam stumbling to his knees. Chloe rushed forward to intervene, but the butler blocked her without expression.
"Miss Evans, this is a Winston family matter."