CHAPTER 140: IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE

"You! Sophia, you’re trying to set me up!"

"You’re absolutely right," she said with a faint smile. "I am setting you up — openly and unapologetically. But what can you do about it? All you can do is stand there and watch while wondering if Andrew will believe you.

"Though if I know him at all, he won’t. Even if he pretends to on the surface, deep down he’ll keep doubting you. Face it — you’ve worked at Morgan Group for years, but your time here is over."

She stacked the last of the folders neatly, then placed them in his hands. "Everything you helped me collect is now useless. Too bad — all those supposed ’new connections’ I brought into Morgan Group were just a smokescreen. Did you really think I’d help you grow this company?"

"But we signed contracts!"

"Did you forget? Every single contract has to go through me first."

Sophia gave him a cool, mocking smile. "Looks like Secretary Smith really does trust me completely. Anyway, I’m leaving today. No need to see me off — I’m sure we’ll run into each other again someday. Goodbye."

She grabbed her bag, picked up her car keys, and walked out without a backward glance.

A few employees nearby watched her go, confusion flickering in their eyes. Sophia simply waved. "If you ever get tired of Morgan Group, there are plenty of other places that’ll take you in — especially those of you with real talent. You’ll always be welcome."

Her words sent a ripple of whispers through the office. People began speculating wildly about what she meant.

Once outside, Sophia felt lighter — as if a weight had finally lifted from her chest. She was done with Morgan Group. It was time to focus on her own world again.

Two days later, she finished the design sketch in front of her. Setting down her pen, she smiled in satisfaction.

She’d always worked in fashion design, but this was her first time creating a jewelry line — and she was proud of it.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Come in."

Eric poked his head through the door. "Mommy, Aiden’s here."

"Aiden?" she repeated, surprised. It had been a while since she’d heard from him. Why show up now? Lucas wasn’t even home.

"I’ll go see what he wants. Call your dad for me," she said, standing up.

Aiden appeared in the entryway holding a vase.

"Uncle, what brings you here? Got some free time all of a sudden?"

He grinned. "Sophia, you’ve really changed these past few days."

"Oh? You mean I’ve gotten prettier?" she teased. "That’s a fact — no need for you to say it out loud. Anyway, just tell me what you want. Lucas isn’t home."

She already knew his tricks too well — every move he made, she saw through it before he did. It left him no room to even compliment her properly.

Sophia arched a brow, calm and confident as ever. She always liked flipping the script — letting others walk into her game instead.

"I just wanted to drop by," Aiden said lightly, holding out the vase. "Brought you this. I noticed your garden’s full of flowers — figured you might like to use it for arrangements."

Sophia glanced toward the window; the flowers outside were in full bloom.

"Beautiful flowers are meant to be admired," she said softly, "not plucked."

Aiden’s smile faltered for a moment, but he pushed on.

"I heard there’s been some tension between you and the Wright Group. Is everything all right? I know their people — maybe I can ask around, smooth things over."

"I don’t know where you heard that," she replied, her tone deceptively light. "But the Wright Group and I get along just fine. If I ever lost them, I’d be heartbroken."

Aiden had come all this way just to bring up the Wright Group? That couldn’t be coincidence.

No — something was off.

Then she remembered what Ryan had told her — that they were plotting something big.

And now Aiden, an old friend of the Wrights, had shown up at her door.

He wasn’t visiting. He was testing her.

She looked at the man in front of her and smiled. "I have to say, I’m actually glad you came. It takes real guts to show up here after everything. Uncle Aiden, you’ve truly taught me something—if you want to survive in this world, you’d better grow a thick skin."

Aiden’s face darkened instantly.

"You’re not mad, are you?" Sophia asked with feigned surprise, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

As much as he wanted to strangle her right there, Aiden forced a calm expression. "Of course not. I know you’re just teasing. I really did come just to check in. If things are fine between you and the Wright Group, then I guess I worried for nothing."

He looked ready to leave—but Sophia’s gaze dropped to the vase in his hands.

That vase was easily worth tens of thousands. If he was feeling generous, maybe even hundreds of thousands.

"Aren’t you here to give me a gift?" she said sweetly. "You’re not planning to take it back, are you? It’s quite lovely. I think I’ll keep it."

Without giving him a chance to respond, she plucked the vase straight from his hands and passed it to one of her six children, warning lightly, "Careful, okay? Don’t break it."

Then she turned back to Aiden with a bright, victorious smile. "Thank you, Uncle, for the thoughtful present. I’ll be sure to let Lucas know."

Aiden’s smile was stiff—so stiff it looked painful.

He had intended to bring the gift, but he’d been prepared for her to reject it. Instead, she’d taken it the moment he turned to leave.

He hadn’t even made it through the front door, and now several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of porcelain was gone.

Sophia—ruthless as ever.

"Fine," he said through clenched teeth. "I’ll come by another time."

He stormed off to his car. Sophia’s gaze followed—and that’s when she noticed there was someone else inside.

Long hair. A woman, most likely. But before she could get a good look, the car sped off down the road.

Weird. Since when did Aiden start bringing company along?

...

Inside the car—

Olivia sat rigidly, arms crossed, glaring out the window as Aiden inched closer.

"I already told you," she said coldly, "whatever we had is over."

"I just helped you back there," he growled. "And this is how you thank me?"

Olivia arched a brow. "I only asked you to stir up trouble for her—not to hand her an expensive gift."

He sneered. "How else was I supposed to get close enough to talk to her? And now you’re trying to push me away? Don’t forget what ties us together. I’m still the one helping you. You want your comeback or not? I just got you a new drama deal—play it right, and you’ll be back on top."

Before she could react, Aiden leaned in, pressing his lips against her neck, his hands wandering where they shouldn’t.

Olivia’s face went cold. She grabbed his wrist. "I said no!"

Aiden narrowed his eyes, voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Don’t think I don’t know about you and Ethan. He was by your side the entire time you were abroad. I haven’t made you pay for that yet, and you know it.

All I want is your body. Refuse me again, and our little arrangement ends right here."

Olivia’s eyes hardened, fury and humiliation burning beneath her calm. "I’m not your tool."

He smirked. "You already are. Don’t forget—we’ve crossed that line."

Olivia bit down hard on her lip, rage trembling through her. If he stopped supporting her now... she’d lose everything.