CHAPTER 155: PLAYING ALONG WITH THEIR ACT

Harper rushed back to the Carter estate, her whole body trembling.

She had always known the Morgan family was cruel—but she never imagined they were capable of this.

Sophia, no matter what, shared blood with Andrew.

And he still tried to kill her.

Harper slipped on her headphones and replayed the recording.

With the volume turned up, every word was painfully clear.

Her gaze drifted for a moment before slowly sharpening.

She needed a plan.

Sophia leaving that necklace by the tree—that had to have been a clue, a message for them.

If the necklace was intact, then Sophia wasn’t dead.

She was hiding.

She was waiting.

She was drawing the snake out of its hole to destroy the Morgan family from the inside.

Harper forced herself to breathe.

She had to be smart—she couldn’t act rashly.

Andrew only knew about YL Group.

He had no idea what other resources Sophia still controlled.

Harper, calm down.

You need to think. Breathe.

She wasn’t strong enough alone.

She needed Lucas.

Why hadn’t he seen her recording yet?

No—she had to go find him.

But the moment she stepped toward the door, the sky cracked open.

A violent storm crashed down without warning.

Harper clenched her jaw and waited.

By early morning, the rain finally weakened.

She barely took a step outside when a figure suddenly ran toward her.

Lucas.

His shirt was buttoned wrong.

He was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, yesterday’s bruises, yesterday’s exhaustion.

"Harper!"

"I was just about to come find you."

She glanced around and whispered, "This isn’t the place to talk. Fix your buttons first."

Lucas looked down, annoyed with himself, and quickly corrected them.

They headed to a nearby café.

"You heard it yourself?" Lucas asked, voice low.

"Yes," Harper said. "I went back to look for clues. And I found this."

She placed the necklace on the table.

"The one I gave her. If there had been an explosion, it wouldn’t look brand new. So I don’t think Sophia is dead. I think she’s hiding."

Lucas picked it up, remembering exactly how it looked on her.

It was the same.

"Sophia has always been sharp," Harper murmured. "She wouldn’t have gone abroad alone years ago if she weren’t. And what the Morgans did to her and Aunt Aurora... was monstrous."

Lucas glanced at her. "I don’t understand."

Harper gave him a pointed look. "You really don’t understand? You’re one of the main characters, how could you not know? Six years ago, the Morgan family pretended to host her engagement to Ethan. But in reality, some greasy bald old man wanted her. He told the Morgans that if they gave him just one night with her, he’d sign the contract they wanted."

Lucas’s expression darkened—cold, unreadable.

"No wonder six years later, when Sophia wanted to play a slow game, they jumped straight to murder," Harper continued.

"I didn’t tell anyone last night. Only you. My brother would panic if he knew."

Just thinking of her brother made her sigh.

Back then he hesitated to act, and now that Lucas and she were finally close, he suddenly wished he had.

"As for the recording," Lucas whispered, "only you and I can know about it. If Andrew wants everything, he’ll go after Sophia’s company next—and he’ll do it publicly. He’s impatient. He’ll make his move within a week."

"Then what do we do?"

Lucas’s lips curled into a slow, calculating smile.

"If he wants to act...then we’ll put on a show."

"A show?" Harper echoed.

"A performance so convincing...even we believe it."

Andrew sat stiffly in his chair at Morgan Group, his fingertips tapping a steady rhythm against the armrest, as if waiting for something.

Finally, the news broadcast on the TV shifted, and a grin slowly crept across his face.

"According to early reports, after this morning’s heavy rain, investigators searching near the crash site discovered what appears to be Sophia’s clothing..."

Paul, standing beside him, let out a satisfied smile.

"President Morgan, looks like a weight has finally been lifted from your mind. Next step—you’ll need to handle the public relations side properly."

Andrew nodded.

"Of course. Since Sophia is truly gone, I’ll show some generosity and have her buried with her mother."

The moment he finished speaking—

A sudden commotion erupted outside the office.

"What’s going on?"

The secretary pushed the door open, pale and frantic.

"President Morgan—Mr. Turner insisted on coming in. I couldn’t stop him!"

"Mr. Turner? Which—"

Before she could finish, Frank Turner shoved his way inside.

"Andrew! Was it you?! Did you hurt my niece?!"

Frank’s eyes were blazing. He pushed the secretary aside, lunged forward, grabbed Andrew by the collar, and drew his fist back—ready to strike.

"Frank! What the hell are you doing?!"

Paul yanked his arm back with all his strength.

Andrew stared at Frank, fear flickering in his eyes.

"What are you doing?! Frank, this is my company—are you insane?!"

"It was you, Andrew! YOU killed Sophia!"

"Frank, you have no evidence. What you’re saying is slander, and I could sue you. If you want to hit me—go ahead!"

Andrew suddenly straightened, his voice rising, anger masking his panic.

Frank clenched his teeth and shoved him hard.

"Answer me! Was it you?!"

"Have you lost your mind?" Andrew barked. "No matter what, she was still my daughter. Why would I harm her?!"

Andrew began coughing violently.

Paul immediately pulled Frank aside and helped Andrew sit down.

"Please sit down. Have some water."

Then Paul lifted his head, eyes cold.

"Miss Morgan is gone. President Morgan is grieving—he’s even fallen ill. And yet Mr. Turner storms in here to point fingers without a shred of proof?"

Frank eyed Andrew’s trembling state, uncertain.

He did look unwell.

"How do I know he’s not faking it?" Frank muttered.

Andrew coughed twice more, then spoke hoarsely: "Frank, you’re being ridiculous. Sophia didn’t just target me—she targeted you, too. So maybe I should be asking... what did you do to her?"

"Andrew! Watch your mouth!"

"Oh, am I wrong?" Andrew sneered. "You know exactly what I’m talking about. Sophia went after you so hard that your Wright family even relocated to City A to keep an eye on her. You expect me to believe you never wanted to retaliate? Now she’s gone—and I’m supposed to think it wasn’t you?"

"Bullshit! No matter how much she went after me, I would never hurt her! I owed Aurora. I would never harm her daughter!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Andrew leaned forward, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then tell me—what was the Wright family doing in City A? Planning how to destroy Sophia before she destroyed you. Because you were terrified she’d retaliate. You brought every asset from the Turner family to marry into the Wrights, cornering Aurora until she had nowhere left to go. Her death is tied to you whether you admit it or not."

Frank’s face went sheet-white.

"Andrew, you’re making things up!"

"Am I?" Andrew hissed. "You know the truth. I’m surprised you even showed your face here. You’d better pray you had nothing to do with Sophia’s disappearance—because if you did, you know exactly what kind of end awaits you."

Andrew rose sharply, glaring at him.

"Paul. Show him out."