Sophia Sullivan stepped out of the villa.
She stood in the sunlight, squinting slightly.
After a moment of contemplation, she took out her phone.
With a light tap of her finger, she dialed a number.
The call connected quickly.
"Ryan, I need you to look into someone," Sophia said calmly. "Chu Dong, acting CEO of Winston Group's subsidiary."
She needed complete information on this man.
She had already seen through Liam Winston and Chloe Evans' schemes.
But this time, she wouldn't react passively.
These persistent nuisances needed to be dealt with permanently.
If it were just personal matters, she could handle it alone.
But company affairs...
That complicated things.
One misstep might alert Mr. Winston Sr.
The elderly man shouldn't be disturbed at his age.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"No." Ryan's voice carried obvious resentment.
He'd answered eagerly, hoping Sophia was finally returning to The Decagon.
Yet again, she just wanted him to work.
"This is the third time, boss," Ryan complained. "You keep promising to visit, then cancel."
He felt like a neglected concubine.
Sophia sighed in resignation.
"I've been swamped lately."
Since the divorce, she hadn't had a single peaceful day in A-City.
Despite his refusal, Ryan's fingers flew across the keyboard.
The information appeared on Sophia's phone instantly.
"Boss, should I send protection?" Ryan's tone darkened. "You've been investigating the Winstons and Sullivans too often."
A cold edge crept into his voice.
"Unnecessary." Sophia scanned the documents rapidly. "The Decagon's rules can't be broken."
As the world's largest intelligence network, they avoided mundane conflicts.
"Fine." Ryan sounded petulant. "I'll keep waiting in my lonely palace for your royal summons."
Sophia chuckled.
"Stop joking."
She hung up, focusing on the file.
Chu Dong, thirty-four.
Average education, mediocre abilities.
Had installed numerous relatives during his tenure.
The subsidiary was mismanaged, with many drawing salaries for no work.
Yet he remained untouched.
Clearly, he had powerful backing.
Sophia's gaze turned icy as she noted Chu Dong's address.
If she recalled correctly, Mrs. Winston visited that location three or four times monthly.
Though incompetent, Chu Dong was handsome and silver-tongued.
Mrs. Winston adored him.
"I see."
Sophia remembered three months ago.
She'd discovered financial irregularities at the subsidiary.
Just as she uncovered key evidence, Mrs. Winston intervened.
Using Liam, they expelled her from the company.
Claiming her public presence tarnished the Winston name.
That humiliation had now become their weapon against her.
Her phone rang again as she pondered.
The screen displayed "Mr. Winston Sr."
"Sophia, my eightieth birthday is tomorrow." The old man chuckled warmly. "It's been too long—you must come."
Sophia exchanged polite greetings.
Then declined gently.
"Sir, Liam and I are divorced now. It wouldn't be appropriate—"
"Divorce changes nothing!" Mr. Winston Sr. interrupted. "I've said it before—you're the only granddaughter-in-law I recognize."
His voice turned frosty.
"If not as his wife, then as my granddaughter."
Speaking of Liam, disgust filled the old man's tone.
"As for that worthless grandson? Consider him dead to me!"