CHAPTER 69: IF I CAN’T HAVE IT, I’LL DESTROY IT!

With Lucas’s assignment in hand, Sophia stayed behind in City A, and business visitors came one after another.

"Mr. Wilson," she began smoothly, her tone calm but firm. "If I’m not mistaken, you run a jewelry business."

Across from her sat Mr. Wilson—the jewelry tycoon from City C.

He was wealthy, yes, but never satisfied, always chasing the next expansion.

"You’re right, Miss Morgan," he said with a polite smile. "My jewelry business has been struggling these past two years. I’ve worked with Hilton Group before, so I know what your company is capable of. I do hope to collaborate again, but Mr. Hilton has high standards... and I’m afraid I’ve fallen a little short."

Sophia tapped a finger thoughtfully against the table. "Your jewelry sells well overseas, doesn’t it? Why not shift your focus there instead?"

He frowned. "The international market? I’ve always preferred to focus on domestic sales."

"That’s exactly the issue," she said evenly. "The jewelry industry hasn’t declined—it’s just been overtaken by foreign competition. You’re a smart man, Mr. Wilson. What you need now isn’t to retreat, but to expand. Go global."

He hesitated for a long moment before nodding. "You have a point. I’ve been too focused on home turf and neglected what’s happening abroad."

Sophia’s lips curved.

Her overseas company has no shortage of investors and partners. Although the current partner is not what Lucas wants, he can cooperate with her own overseas company.

"Then I’ll be waiting for good news from you, Mr. Wilson."

He laughed, relieved. "Miss Morgan, you’re not only a talented designer but also a brilliant businesswoman. No wonder you and Mr. Hilton are such a perfect match."

"Thank you," she replied with a polite smile.

After seeing him out, Sophia barely sat down before her phone began to ring—Lucas.

"Hello?" she answered lightly. "Mr. Hilton, don’t tell me you already miss me?"

"Sophia." His voice was tight—too calm. "The kids... they’re gone."

Sophia froze. "What did you just say?" Her chair screeched back as she shot to her feet. "Lucas, what do you mean the kids are gone? You’re lying, right? You have to be lying!"

"Listen to me," Lucas said quickly. "I’ve already sent people to look for them. They were home last night, but this morning—gone. And the security footage was tampered with. I think someone planned this."

"They’re my children!" Sophia’s voice broke into a furious shout. "If anything happens to them, Lucas, I swear I’ll never forgive you!"

Shaking, she grabbed her bag and ran for the door.

Outside—

"Billy, Angela, are you sure this is the place?" Faye asked, clutching her doll tight, eyes serious.

Angela nodded. "Positive. The data trail led right here."

Eric grinned. "Then stand back—let me handle this."

He pulled out a small lock-picking kit and crouched by the door—

—and before he could start, the door swung open.

Sophia stood there, eyes red and wide, staring at her six children in disbelief.

"Hi, Mommy~" Faye chirped.

"Mommy!" the others shouted, running toward her.

Sophia froze, still clutching her phone as Lucas’s furious voice thundered through the line: "When you get back—we’re going to talk!"

She hung up instantly and dropped to her knees, wrapping all six kids in her arms.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? Lucas nearly lost his mind!"

"Mommy," Faye sniffled, "Daddy wouldn’t let us come find you... but we missed you so much. You said you’d be back soon, and you didn’t."

Her little lips quivered, eyes glossy with unshed tears, as she looked up at Sophia.

"But... how did you get here?"

"Private jet."

Sophia exhaled in relief—then asked in confusion, "Private jet?"

"Mommy, we used your money to buy one."

Sophia’s eyes went wide. "What?"

Her head felt fuzzy for a second.

"Mommy, we only used a little bit. You won’t be mad, will you?"

All six kids put on identical guilty faces and poked at their thumbs in front of them. Even if she wanted to be furious, the sight of them sapped the anger away.

"Bought it, fine—at least travel will be easier. But I don’t want to see you pull a stunt like this again." Sophia said it sternly, but there was warmth under the words.

"Okay, Mommy, we promise."

Keeping them safe was the only thing that mattered. Sophia shepherded them inside.

"How long are you staying in City Y?" one of them asked.

"Around three days."

Her plan had shifted. With Ryan in City Y, she could afford to stay a little longer. The question was how to pull the Wright family’s attention—firmly—back to City A.

"Mommy, I heard the Wrights want to work with you?"

"Some people want to. Others treat me like a walking curse." She glanced at her kids. "You know more than I thought."

"Mommy, there’s no such thing as a wall without cracks—like, uh... your ex-boyfriend." Angela held up her phone. The Ethan story had exploded online.

[City A’s Trump Family Heir: Shocking Secrets!]

[Rumor: Trump Heir Is Gay — Photos Surface!]

Sophia tapped through the headlines and felt a flash of disappointment—typical tabloid clickbait. The photos showed Ethan and some used items and another man’s clothes. Paparazzi always needed a little imagination.

Still, those images were enough. The photos in her hands could ruin Ethan.

—City A, Trump family manor—

"Goddamn it! Can’t even pull off a simple thing! Ethan, you disappoint me."

A cane rapped the polished floor in hard, angry taps.

"Grandfather, I’m sorry. I failed." Ethan knelt before Thomas, head bowed so low he wouldn’t meet his gaze.

"Look what they’ve put online about you. They say you’re—" Thomas couldn’t bring himself to say the words, so he just hammered his cane on the floor.

"Grandfather, it’s fake!" Ethan pleaded.

"It better be fake—or our family’s reputation is finished because of you."

Did Thomas not know whether his grandson was "normal"?

"Grandfather, I—"

"Useless."

Thomas inhaled, furious but in control. "First priority: contain the damage."

He looked over at Lisa, who’d been silent.

"Look at what you raised." he spat.

Lisa bristled. "Dad, Ethan was set up."

"Set up? Set up how? Do you think I can’t see it? He’s an idiot—someone played him!" Thomas’s anger at Ethan’s incompetence was volcanic.

"Grandfather, give me one more chance. I’ll bring Sophia down—" Ethan begged.

Thomas snorted. He wasn’t magnanimous. "Listen to me: if you can’t have it, destroy it."

"Yes."

Ethan bowed his head; coldness hardened his eyes. He swore to himself he would repay every ounce of humiliation.