Sophia Sullivan nearly laughed out loud when she heard the news.
"Suing me?" She set down her teacup. "We settled everything during the divorce. What grounds does he have?"
The divorce agreement had been crystal clear. Digging up old grievances now was utterly ridiculous.
Ethan Sullivan's voice dripped with sarcasm. "He claims you transferred assets worth ten million before the divorce."
Liam Winston and Chloe Evans never failed to sink lower than she thought possible.
For someone of Sophia's caliber, ten million was pocket change. If she wanted to start a business, raising billions would take just a few funding rounds.
If she'd actually sweet-talked Liam for such a paltry sum, Ethan would've suspected it was compensation for emotional damages.
Ian Gallagher scoffed immediately. "Sophia would never do such a thing. They're outright slandering her!"
Ethan tapped the table lightly, adding details.
"According to Ian Watson, Liam has a subsidiary company suffering major losses. You worked there briefly, and he suspects you planted the problems."
Sophia snorted. "Is he out of his mind?"
Instead of reflecting on his poor management, the incompetent CEO was blaming his ex-wife for a brief stint at his company.
She barely resisted rolling her eyes.
"Why not claim Chloe's runaway bride act and the Winston family's downfall were my masterplan too? All just to marry him?"
Mockery aside, she wasn't actually worried. Courts required evidence, not whoever shouted loudest.
As she reached for food, a perfectly deboned fish fillet appeared on her plate. Ian winked at her. "Try this. I picked it just for you."
He shot Ethan a challenging look—nothing infuriated rivals more than stolen opportunities.
"Dr. Gallagher is quite attentive," Ethan remarked, narrowing his eyes.
He'd been too focused on business, letting this guy sneak in.
Suppressing his irritation, Ethan also served fish, meticulously removing bones. But his fork stabbed too forcefully, nearly shredding the tender flesh—each jab mirroring what he'd like to do to Ian.
"Something's always puzzled me," Ethan suddenly said. "What did you ever see in Liam Winston?"
He mused aloud, "You were close with Mr. Winston Sr., but you don't seem the type to compromise for gratitude."
Sophia ignored the first part, but her lashes flickered at the word "gratitude."
"Youthful folly," she murmured.
Memories surfaced of the boy who'd once stood by her through hardships, promising futures. Now, only bitterness remained.
Ethan didn't press further, though his frown deepened.
He recalled when Sophia had joked after he took a knife for her:
"For saving my life, should I offer myself in marriage?"
He knew it was teasing, yet the words had rippled through him like stones in a pond.
Shaking off the strange agitation, he scoffed at himself. Claiming favors would be despicable.
...
Outside the law firm, Chloe clung to Liam's arm.
"Darling, isn't this too harsh? Asset concealment is serious—she could go to jail."
Her tone feigned concern, but glee shone in her eyes. Finally having dirt on Sophia, she'd stomp her into the ground.
"Sophia may have ulterior motives, but she did contribute to the Winstons. If we push too hard, she'll just find another powerful ally."
Chloe added innocently, "Speaking of, she hooked up with someone right after the divorce—probably desperate. Playing meek for three years then suddenly single? She must need money. That ten million deficit might really be her doing..."
Liam's face darkened instantly.
No man tolerated being cuckolded, even by an ex-wife.
"This time, no one can save her!" he ground out between clenched teeth.