"Wife?" Cordelia sneered. "Are you and Graham officially married? You intervened while Graham was still engaged to someone else, and even now, you're unofficial. Using the status 'wife' might just invite ridicule!""Mrs. Hamerton—""I suddenly remembered." Cordelia's gaze gleamed. "Were you the one by Kelly's side when she fainted?""Oh, yes." Sophie smiled. "I was visiting on Graham's behalf. I didn't expect Mrs. Bayer to be so weak.""What did you tell her before she fainted?" Cordelia questioned.Sophia was taken aback and lowered her gaze slightly."Afraid to tell me, huh?" Cordelia approached her. "Kelly has always maintained her health well, so she shouldn't have fainted so easily. She wouldn't be in the emergency room if she hadn't been deeply distressed."You were the only one with her when she fainted, and it's only natural for people to suspect you when your actions seem questionable.""Aunt Cordelia, please don't..." Graham pulled Sophia behind him and shot her a loo
Graham sat in a hospital chair, his hands in his hair, looking dejected."No..." He looked up. "Uncle Zephyr, Aunt Cordelia, you haven't talked to Sophia. You don't know her! She wouldn't lie to me!"Zephyr reprimanded, "Why are you so stubborn?"Josiah grabbed Zephyr with a sense of despair in his eyes."Never mind, Z..." he said weakly. "I don't want to argue with him while Kelly is being treated... I-I'll pretend I never had this son.""Dad!""Get lost," Josiah calmly said. But beneath his calm exterior, there was disappointment.Graham hesitated for a moment but turned to leave. Just before he walked away, he turned back and said softly, "Dad, don't worry. I'll definitely bring Arya back safely. Mom will be fine, and our family... will be the same as it was before."Josiah didn't even look at him, shaking his head lightly.Shortly after, the lights in the emergency ward went out.Josiah rushed over, shouting Kelly's name.The doctor came out, took off the sweaty mask, an
Daniel clenched his jaw, his face turning a bit cold. "Make him lose all his assets.""Including the entire Bayers?" Fat Lawler inquired.After a brief pause, Daniel shook his head. "Honestly, with my old ways, I might have gone that far. But now...""Now, you can't bring yourself to do it?" Fat Lawler chuckled. "The Daniel I've known isn't usually this forgiving!"Daniel also managed a smile, but he couldn't help but think of someone with clear, innocent eyes.This trip had been at Maisie's request. When she learned about Arya's disappearance, she became deeply concerned. Even though her marriage with Graham had ended, she had remained friends with Arya and genuinely cared about her well-being.On the other hand, Daniel had his own reasons for embarking on this journey. Firstly, he did it for Maisie. Secondly, he wanted to understand why he was suddenly accused of kidnapping Arya when he had barely even met her."Fat Lawler, it's not about mercy," Daniel stated casually. "I jus
"Could it be...""Sophia!" the two of them exclaimed simultaneously.After uttering that name, they shared a knowing smile."It's really her!" Daniel took out a cigarette. With a quick nod from Fat Lawler, one of his subordinates handed him a lighter.The smell of tobacco filled the room as Daniel contemplated and then flicked off the ash."I guess... by now, both of us are blamed for kidnapping the Bayer heiress, right?""What else!" Fat Lawler snorted. "She acted all friendly with me on the surface, but then she pulled off this stunt, spreading rumors everywhere that I abducted Arya!""We're pretty tight, so naturally, others would suspect me," Daniel said with a grin. "This way, more people are implicated. My brother-in-law is Nicholas, so it affects the relationship between the Bayer and Thompson families."Fat Lawler scoffed. "She really thinks she can manipulate us like this?""What do you think?""Absurd!" When Fat Lawler said that, his tone remained steady, and his fa
"How did you know it was her?" Daniel asked.Arya took a deep breath. "My parents gave me all the company's important information. But, just a day later, I was attacked. Do you think that's a coincidence?"Daniel frowned, a shadow crossing his face. "Where are the documents now?""Most likely in Sophia's hands. I carried them with me because they're crucial. When I passed out and woke up, I found my backpack empty. But...""But what?""The company seal wasn't in the bag." Arya smiled cunningly. "The company seal can use all the headquarters' resources. When my mother gave it to me, I asked Toph to keep it safe for me. The seal is with the Hamertons right now, and it's very secure!""So, even if Sophia got those documents, they're useless?" Daniel remarked.Arya nodded confidently."You're quite smart!" Daniel chuckled. "Seems like your family has some redeeming qualities.""Mr. Quimby, um..." Arya lowered her head, looking a bit awkward. "I understand my brother was in the wro
In the early morning, Sophia woke up slowly. She gently placed her hand on the man's bare chest beside her and kissed his lips.Graham responded to her kiss with a smile. The night's pleasure had left them both a bit tired."Is James still asleep?" Sophia asked with a seductive smile, her fingers tracing his chest."He won't be awake at this time," Graham replied. He held her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. He was genuinely tired and couldn't fathom how a woman could have so much energy, wanting him endlessly every night.She was nothing like Maisie, who always remained quiet, only revealing a pure smile when he saw her.Graham froze. Why was he thinking of Maisie at that moment? He shook his head, feeling like he was going crazy."My dear, what's wrong?""Oh, nothing." Graham forced a smile."By the way, I want to discuss something with you," Sophia said, turning his face to her. "James is growing up, and I think... always having private tutors at home won't work i
The data they received was a mess. Both of them stared at it, wide-eyed, as if a lightning bolt had struck, leaving their minds blank."What's happening?" Graham asked Sophia, his voice trembling.Equally bewildered, Sophia struggled to form a coherent response."We bought those two mines for 750,000,000 dollars! 750,000,000 dollars!" Graham shouted. "Weren't they supposed to increase in value? How did they plummet to 240,000,000 dollars now?""I... I don't know." Sophia's face turned pale. "This is impossible! I've been tracking mineral prices, and these two mines in Cumulus City were on an upward trend. They were supposed to be a safe investment!""But look at it now!" Graham's lips quivered, sweat beads forming on his forehead. "Sophia, I took a 750,000,000-dollar loan from the bank for this! I owe the bank hundreds of millions now, not to mention the interest!""Graham, don't panic!" Sophia tried to reassure him. "Fat Lawler got us into this. I'll talk to him... We'll figure
"Fat Lawler, this is unacceptable," Sophia objected. "We invested a lot in these mines, hoping for significant profits. Selling them at such a low price now will lead to substantial losses. Moreover, the critical issue is... we still owe money to the bank!""What can you do about it?" Fat Lawler flicked his used cigarette butt into the ashtray, his smile carrying a hint of mockery. "By the way, wasn't this your idea from the beginning? I remember Mr. Bayer wasn't very interested in these two mines, was he?""You..."Fat Lawler's expression became a bit more serious. "Mr. Bayer, you doubt your own judgment and instead believe in a woman who climbed her way up through shameless means. You brought upon yourself the losses you're facing.""What are you saying?!" Sophia stood up suddenly, her eyes blazing with anger.Fat Lawler looked at her sharply, and his subordinates in the room moved closer. Sophia's fiery temper was quickly extinguished."Mr. Bayer, would you like to know who th