CHAPTER 13: SHE’S THE HEART OF THEM ALL

In the night glow, the French restaurant’s lighting was warm and soft. From time to time, curious glances were cast toward the table tucked away in the back.

The six little ones were unusually well-behaved, quietly cutting their steaks. Their tiny mouths opened and closed with every bite, so adorably sweet it could melt anyone’s heart.

"Mommy, try mine," Charles said, carefully spearing a piece and holding it up respectfully for Sophia.

"Tastes good. But you should eat less, it’s hard to digest at night." She gently placed dessert plates in front of the children, her voice tender.

Watching her like that, William’s eyes brimmed with affection, as if gazing at his most precious treasure.

"Sophia, what’s your plan now?" he asked softly.

Her reply came lightly, almost as if she were talking about something trivial: "The contract I signed with Morgan Group has loopholes. There’s no way I’ll be tied to them long-term. I won’t let them off—I’ll make them pay until they’re completely ruined."

William frowned. "Morgan Group isn’t easy to take down. Their foundation runs deep—it’s no child’s play."

Sophia’s smile was faint, her eyes sharp and cold as ice. "Their loopholes aren’t something a few million can patch up. If I seize the right moment, pulling them under my control step by step isn’t impossible."

Her words were crisp, decisive—gone was the stifled girl from six years ago. Whatever mercy she might have had for them had died the moment they tried to use her as a bargaining chip for a contract.

In the design world, she was a creative goddess blessed with talent—but that was only one side of her. If she chose to strike, any side of her was enough to crush Morgan Group.

The dignity she wanted for her mother was to let them feel despair slowly—to watch everything crumble bit by bit, until nothing could be saved.

"Brother’s already agreed to help you. He’ll cut ties with Morgan Group after the initial cooperation," Harper said quietly, her eyes shining with relief and pride for her.

Sophia arched a brow, smiling faintly. "No need. I’ve got this."

"You’ve got this? Sophia, being a designer is powerful, but it has limits. Without my brother’s help, I’m afraid—"

Harper’s worry was genuine. She’d always treated Sophia like a younger sister, protective and thoughtful.

Sophia raised her wrist, revealing a faint scar usually hidden beneath bracelets and watches. It wasn’t obvious, but it was there—left by Olivia. At such a young age, Olivia had snuck into her room with a knife, slashing her wrist—almost ending her life.

She had never told her mother, afraid it would bring her even more sorrow. Aurora Turner, such a gentle, intellectual woman, shouldn’t have lost to the selfishness of men. The thought brought both tenderness and pain to Sophia’s eyes.

Just then, the heavy atmosphere shattered with a familiar, grating voice behind her.

"Ethan—what do we do now? Sophia’s back, and she’s obviously here for revenge! She even humiliated us in public today!"

Speak of the devil. Their sudden appearance cut through the calm at the table like a sharp blade.

Sophia signaled to William and Harper not to act rashly. The two newcomers hadn’t recognized them yet. Ethan’s brows were deeply furrowed; clearly, he hadn’t expected Sophia’s return.

"Don’t panic, Olivia. She can’t stir up much on her own," Ethan muttered in a low voice, trying to reassure her.

Olivia grew more and more agitated, her voice laced with anxiety. "She’s living in Silver Lake Villa! That’s not some place you can just move into with money! The only spot in City A more unattainable than that is Lucas’s Blackstone Manor. People who live there can be counted on one hand!"

Her words tumbled out faster and faster, like she was trying to hypnotize herself. Did Sophia stumble into luck, strike it rich overnight? Or... was she being kept?

"Yes! That has to be it—she’s being kept!" Olivia nodded furiously, almost breaking her neck with the motion. "You’ve seen her yourself, haven’t you? Just like her mother—nothing but a vixen who seduces men!"

Sophia’s fingers tightened around her glass, knuckles standing out as her gaze darkened.

"Ethan, my dad says it’s time we set our wedding date. The seventh of next month is auspicious. We’ll have dinner with Uncle Trump that day." Olivia’s smile was sweet, but her tone carried pressure.

After failing to win over Lucas, she clung even harder to the man in front of her. The Trump Family was on the rise, and securing Ethan meant a lifeline for the Morgans.

"Olivia, isn’t it a little early?" Ethan’s brows drew together.

"Early? Ethan, we’ve been together almost eight years! I was seventeen when we started. I’m twenty-four now!" Her voice rose, edged with hysteria.

"Olivia, don’t get worked up. My father thinks you’re still young. Let’s wait until you’re twenty-six, and then we’ll marry, alright?"

Listening to that flimsy excuse, Sophia’s lips curved in a cold sneer.

There had been a time she almost fell for this man—if she hadn’t seen the truth with her own eyes, she might never have known. Eight years together without a marriage? Ethan’s father had only been interested in the Morgan family’s influence back then, hoping to latch on. Ethan got plenty of benefits, so he tolerated the charade with Olivia.

Even married couples scatter when disaster strikes—how much weaker was a bond without vows?

Andrew’s desperation to marry into the Trump Family was nothing but a bid to weather a financial storm. He forgot that human nature itself was the greatest weakness.

"Twenty-six? What, so I can rot into some washed-up spinster? Ethan, admit it—you’re still thinking about that bitch Sophia, aren’t you?" Olivia’s voice turned shrill.

"I’m not."

"You’d better not be! That little tramp isn’t even worth one of my fingers! Dad said it himself—she’s going to pay!"

Before her words fully landed, a sharp "Ah!" pierced the air.

"Where did this brat come from? Get out of here!" Olivia snapped.

Sophia’s heart jolted—Angela was gone!

The next second, Angela stood coolly in front of Olivia, her young eyes as sharp as blades. "Say one more word against my mommy, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!"

Like mother, like daughter—even their threats matched perfectly.

Charles reacted quickly, yanking his big sister back.

But Olivia froze, staring at Angela. "What did you just say? Your mommy?"

Her white dress was already stained with juice, adding to her disheveled state.

Sophia rose slowly, twisting her wrists lightly as she spoke in a calm, cutting tone. "That would be me."

The moment she stepped into view, Olivia went rigid.

"Little sister, weren’t you just talking so happily? Tramp, vixen—you said it all so smoothly." Sophia’s cold voice cut through the air, her aura surging.

Olivia was instantly thrown back to the scene earlier that day, fear flickering in her eyes.

"You were eavesdropping!" she accused.

"Eavesdropping?" Sophia let out a soft, scornful laugh, her chill suffocating. "Please. You think you’re worth me stooping that low?"

Olivia’s eyes widened. "What did you say?!"

"It really is you..." Ethan finally stood, reaching out toward her.

Sophia’s gaze sliced over him, her voice sharp as steel. "Mr. Trump, if you so much as touch me, I’ll scream sexual assault."

His hand froze midair, then awkwardly retreated.

"Sophia, we were actually worried about you. You’ve been gone all these years—where have you been?" His words were laced with false concern.

Even now, he still wanted to act? What a joke.

Sophia’s smile curved, all her sharp edges gleaming. "Ethan, what I never expected was this—you and my dear little sister, tangled up together?"

"N-no, it’s not like that, I—" Ethan stammered, desperate to explain.

"Ethan! What are you saying?!" Olivia cut him off, shrieking.