Despite the door muffling the sound, Sophie could still discern the familiar voice speaking calmly. "It's just a small matter, and it's been taken care of."Sophie couldn't help but think, 'A small matter?! That's right, to him, only Vivienne and the child are important. Everything else and the rest are trivial matters.'-Back in the villa, Vivienne hung up the phone, glanced at the plaster cast on her left hand hanging from her chest, and grinned. 'No one can take away what I want from me.'Tristan looked up with hopeful eyes. "Mommy, is Daddy coming back?""Of course, Tristan. Now, be good and go play upstairs for a while. Daddy will be back to accompany you soon," Vivienne replied."Okay, I'll wait for Daddy to come back upstairs," Tristan said as he toddled upstairs.After seeing her son go upstairs happily, Vivienne picked up her phone again, slid her finger across the screen, and made a call. "Hello, it's me.""Ms. Kerrigan?" An uncertain male voice sounded from the othe
Originally, Sophie intended to drop Jeanna off at her apartment first, but Jeanna insisted on checking the progress of the design assistants at the company beforehand.Reluctantly, Sophie drove to the company.Upon entering the elevator, Linda approached them with a somewhat solemn expression. "Ms. Luxford, Carlson Group is calling for an emergency shareholders meeting and requesting your presence.""Now?" Sophie was taken aback. Even in the event of an emergency shareholders meeting, shareholders should be given some time to prepare. Why was it so urgent?"Yes, it might be related to our orders. I'll accompany you," Linda suggested.Sophie's brows furrowed at Linda's response. She glanced at Jeanna beside her and shook her head. "Wait until she finishes her work at the design department. Then, take her back to the apartment."Linda attempted to advise further, "But—""No buts." Sophie immediately interrupted Jeanna, knowing exactly what she wanted to say. She had prepared herse
Sophie tightened her grip on the photos."The issues facing Carlson Group's projects have nothing to do with me," she asserted.The shareholder, who had been questioning Sophie from the beginning, slammed the table. "I knew you wouldn't admit it! Let him in!"Within minutes, the conference room door was pushed open again, and a man wearing thick glasses entered with his head lowered, too nervous to raise it."Ms. Luxford, this is Johnny, the assistant to Mr. Chase, the manager of the project department. You should know him, shouldn't you?" the shareholder introduced mockingly.Although Sophie did not recognize Johnny, she noticed his glances toward her. Her heart sank, but she managed a cold smirk. "Do you really think anyone present would believe me if I say I don't know him?"Sophie understood that the shareholders were determined to twist the truth today. She felt isolated and unsupported.Her gaze shifted toward a certain spot in the room, but she retracted it at the last mo
'Today's baseless siege, is it led by the other shareholders or by him?' Sophie could not get to the bottom of the matter."Is there a problem?" Cedric's question interrupted her silence, prompting a slight shift in his posture. The once authoritative figure now emanated a more sinister aura, his gaze scanning the room before settling on Sophie's slender frame.Although emotions flickered in his eyes, they ultimately settled on cold indifference. "If there's nothing else, you may leave now."Sophie endured his mocking and contemptuous gaze, feeling increasingly uncomfortable in her stomach. However, every single fiber of her being fought to maintain a normal expression on her face while her forbearing gaze landed on Cedric's face."How about I return all the shares I own in Carlson Group to you? So that there won't be any more hiccups in the future." Sophie pulled out the divorce papers and equity transfer agreement from her bag, which her lawyer had long prepared.Her smile carri
"That's right. You have a son with Cedric. Now, I have one in my womb, too. You might not be aware of it yet, but Grandpa has mentioned more than once that the great-grandson of the Carlsons must come out of me!" Sophie said mockingly."Speaking of which, I'm really worried about your son, too. He's such a cute kid but still doesn't understand what it means to be an illegitimate child. However, as he grows up, he'll have to endure being pointed at and badmouthed about by others. His innocence will be shattered by the idle gossip of others early on. I really pity him."As Sophie spoke, a sudden change of tone occurred, and her gaze became more domineering. "If you want the Mrs. Carlson position so badly, go ahead and try to snatch it from me if you really have the ability. But let me warn you, don't mess with anything else that's unrelated to this matter. Otherwise, I won't spare you and your son. I advise you to be more careful!"Despite Sophie's typically willful nature, she allowe
'Thank God I didn't lose at my own gamble.' Sophie thought."Ms. Luxford, is the coffee not to your liking?" Zoltan lifted his gaze, the cafe's light reflecting off his glasses' lenses. Still, Sophie could sense the warmth in his smiling eyes behind them."No, it's just that my current condition doesn't allow me to drink coffee right now." Sophie shook her head gently and rested her fingers on her abdomen. With the baby having come into her life at this time, she was determined to do everything in her power to protect him.Zoltan noticed the expression on her face, a hint of amusement flashing across his eyes. Nonetheless, he remained silent, contenting himself with sipping his coffee. 'I've already extended my goodwill. As for everything else, it's none of my business.'-The news of the split between Carlson Group and Luxford Group caused a week-long commotion before eventually settling down. Despite the fluctuations, Luxford Group's stock price remained within manageable limits
She'll turn the tables on us when the baby is born. And once Father gives in to her demands, all of Carlson Group's equity might end up going to her child!'Pfft! What an impeccable idea!' Melissa commented inwardly, dripping with sarcasm."Ma'am, I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn," Alfred apologized fearfully.At that moment, Melissa suddenly grabbed his arm. "You haven't done anything wrong. Sophie is the one in the wrong. Alfred, I need you to take care of something for me."A malicious thought crossed Melissa's mind. 'I mustn't let Sophie give birth to that baby, even if it's Cedric's flesh and blood.'"Ma'am? What do you want me to do?" Alfred asked cautiously, raising his head.With that inquiry, a glint of delight flickered in his eyes. 'Yes, another success. I'll soon become a truly wealthy man.'Without hesitation, Melissa named her request. "I want you to..."Melissa's gaze dimmed as she gave the orders. 'Sophie, the baby in your womb could have been allowed to stay. How
"Don't be afraid, I... I'll... I'll drive!" Jeanna tossed her cell phone into her bag, her expression faring worse than Sophie's. She gnashed her teeth and grabbed the car keys from the cabinet, silently praying for divine protection as her heart raced.Assisted into the car, Sophie looked at Jeanna, whose sweat was gushing down her cheeks as she fastened her seat belt.Seeing this, Sophie reached out and held her trembling hand. "Jean, maybe we shouldn't drive. I can wait for a cab.""What's the point in waiting? At this hour, everyone's grabbing cabs. Your unborn child is more important." Jeanna closed her eyes and took a deep breath, suppressing much of her fear. She pursed her dry lips and forced a mischievous smile. "Baby Soph, trust me for your and our child's sake!"Sophie's lips twitched, and she nodded with a pang of heartache. Since the incident five years ago, Jeanna had never dared to drive. It was really tough for her to get behind the wheel today.The car started slo
Tristan looked up in surprise. As if struck by a sudden thought, he glanced at Cherry, who was writhing in pain, and timidly asked, "Can I go to the hospital to help?""You need to stay home and help Cherry get a leave from school tomorrow. Be good and stay here. Trust Daddy. Cherry will be fine." Cedric's words seemed to soothe Tristan's anxiety.Avoiding Cedric’s gaze, Tristan obediently nodded. 'Cherry will surely be fine.'-The Bentley sped along the road and soon arrived at the hospital.Cedric held Cherry the entire time, while Sophie handled the paperwork. Their seamless cooperation made them seem like a perfectly ordinary married couple."Mr. Carlson, Mrs. Carlson, the child has gastritis and needs to be hospitalized for treatment," the emergency physician explained after examining Cherry, jotting down the diagnosis in the medical record.Sophie's face turned pale. 'Gastritis? How could it be so severe?'"Can she recover?" Cedric asked with a frown, his sudden intimida
In Imperium, hardly anyone else would dare yell at Cedric like this. Cedric's eyes narrowed dangerously, his shoulders radiating a cold aura. However, traces of helplessness and doting affection softened his expression. Despite his reluctance, he eventually turned aside cooperatively.Sophie couldn't help but smile. 'It's no wonder some people believe that daughters are their fathers' lovers from a previous life. If it were anyone else, Cedric would have likely thrown them out the window by now.'She lifted Cherry's clothes to reveal her round belly and gently massaged it in circles with her fingers. Taking the opportunity, she also gave Cherry a gentle reminder, "How many times has Mommy told you not to eat so much? But you never listen. Now you know how it feels when you overeat, huh?""Mommy, could you not rub salt in my wounds?" Cherry's face was scrunched up in pain. Her pitiful and aggrieved expression instantly silenced Sophie, who decided to save the scolding for when Cherry
Cedric kissed Sophie’s rosy cheeks, preparing to take things to the next level, when a knock on the door interrupted them at a crucial moment.His expression darkened immediately. No man liked being interrupted at such a time, and it had happened repeatedly."Who is it?" Sophie grabbed the blanket beside her to cover her exposed chest, her hoarse voice betraying her recent passion."Ms. Luxford... It's me." Tristan's low voice came from the other side of the door.'Tristan?' Sophie looked at the man beside her, surprised. She had assumed it was Cherry again, but unexpectedly...Gathering her scattered clothes from the floor, Sophie dressed quickly. Ensuring there was nothing inappropriate between her and Cedric, she got out of bed and walked toward the door.Tristan stood there, head down, fingers fidgeting, indicating urgency. As soon as the door opened, he looked up anxiously and said, "Ms. Luxford, could you go check on Cherry? She seems unwell.""Cherry is unwell?" The flush
"This birthday brings me a lot of happiness."Sophie grasped the deeper implications of his words. The blush on her cheeks faded slightly, and the initial flutter of excitement mingled with a touch of sadness. No one could predict what Jeff's condition would be like by her next birthday.Cedric shifted the topic, pouring the already decanted red wine into a tall glass and handing it to her. "Just one glass. This is for your private birthday celebration. Happy birthday."The intoxicating aroma of the wine was irresistible. She stopped resisting and held her glass up to gently clink against his, producing a clear, melodious sound that resonated beautifully in the quiet room.The rich wine slid down her throat, soothing her tense nerves. Her tightly held shoulders relaxed, and her racing heart found a semblance of peace. She had once believed she would never fall for Cedric again, but looking back, she realized that all her hatred had been rooted in love.He had transformed love into
Cedric seemed to know exactly what Sophie was nervous about. He raised his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to blush and quickly look away.What had happened between them lingered in the air, irrevocable.Jeff squinted, watching their subtle gestures with satisfaction. Smiling contentedly, he struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. These two had already reached a natural conclusion, and there was no need for him to exaggerate his illness any longer."Mommy, I still have homework to do. I'm heading to my room," Cherry announced, her bright eyes glancing at Tristan. She couldn't beat him at Taekwondo, but she was determined to outshine him in the midterm exams!"I’m going upstairs too," Tristan added, surprised by her sudden focus. He hesitated for a moment before quickly following her up the stairs.Melissa had long lost her patience. Without a word, she dragged Matthew upstairs, letting out a disdainful snort as they left.What had been a lively living room now left So
"Okay."Understanding Cherry’s impatience, Sophie smiled and gently pulled away from Cedric’s embrace. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a wish.She hoped for her family's safety, health, and happiness. She wished that her parents and sister were living comfortably in another world. And she wished that she and Cedric would have a happy ending, free from past mistakes.After silently making her wishes, she blew out the flickering candles in one breath.The room filled with the faint scent of melted wax."We can eat the cake now!" Cherry beamed with joy, eagerly carrying the cake to the dining table.Her impatience made Jeff laugh heartily, his eyes crinkling with delight as he stroked his beard. "Alright, let’s start eating before this little girl drools all over the table."Sophie took her seat, glancing at Cedric, who still held her hand tightly. Her smile widened as she playfully scolded him, "Why didn’t you tell me on the way here?""If I told you, ho
Although Sophie's mind was brimming with questions, she couldn’t help but smile at Cedric's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of his palm. Whether it was a perfect match or a union made in heaven, it all required two hearts in love. With love, even amidst turbulence, they would find the courage to move forward together.Before long, the Bentley smoothly pulled into the Carlson residence.Jeff immediately smiled and waved upon their arrival. "Soph, come over here."Sophie approached, noticing that Mrs. Carrie had prepared a table full of dishes. She couldn’t help but feel puzzled. "Grandpa, what has made you so happy? Why did you ask Mrs. Carrie to make so much delicious food?""Silly girl, did you forget what day it is today?"Jeff's loving yet mischievous smile left her momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened in surprise. With everything going on with Linda, she had completely forgotten her own birthday!"Happy birthday." Cedric had quie
Fearing that staying any longer would only worsen the situation, Linda quickly opened the door and walked out.Fenix stood there, confusion gradually replacing the determination in his eyes."What’s wrong with marrying me?" he asked Sophie, genuinely puzzled.'I’m the CEO of Cheshire Group. I’m not unattractive, and marrying me would make her legally protected as Mrs. Cheshire. Why am I being rejected?'Sophie coughed awkwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of Fenix. Sean had navigated the world of romance with ease, but Fenix seemed as naive in matters of the heart as a child."Am I really that bad?"Seeing that Fenix was still fixated on why he was rejected, Sophie shook her head. "Feelings are different from business. It’s not about racing against time or weighing benefits. You can’t apply business tactics to relationships. Spending a lifetime together requires a foundation of love.""Foundation of love? You and Cedric grew up together. You had a good foundation, but it was
Sophie's suspicion was right. Fenix was not one to easily abandon his target. After Linda ignored countless calls, he took the initiative to find her."Mr. Cheshire, Linda really isn't in the office right now," the secretary tried to block him, but it was futile against a determined man, especially one exuding an intimidating chill."Then I’ll find Sophie.""But Ms. Luxford, she—" Before the secretary could finish, Fenix's long legs had already taken him to Sophie's office door.He knocked twice before pushing it open. The secretary looked like she was about to cry. "Ms. Luxford, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop Mr. Cheshire.""It’s fine. Go make Mr. Cheshire a cup of coffee," Sophie said.Seeing Fenix barge in, she raised an eyebrow, smiled, and glanced at Linda, who was hiding in her office. "Have a seat and let's talk.""No need. I have to catch a flight soon." Fenix cut straight to the point, his determined eyes fixed on Linda as he said firmly, "I need an answer from you.""Mr.