CHAPTER 145: A MAN OF GREAT INFLUENCE

"The things I gave you before," Damien said quietly, "were meant only as a warning. As for why I warned you... that’s something I can’t tell you. Not yet. As for my other identity—you won’t understand it now. But one day, you will."

His words were like riddles, frustratingly vague, every sentence wrapped in layers of mystery.

Sophia frowned. "There’s a saying—’When you escort the Buddha, you carry him all the way to the temple.’ You’ve already said this much. Shouldn’t you just tell me the rest?"

"This," Damien replied calmly, "is like a game. Every game has its own rules—a beginning, and an end. Whether you win or lose, or what you gain along the way, depends entirely on the one who created it."

He glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Reminding you at all—that’s already the most I can do. If I say anything more, it won’t help you; it’ll only make things worse. But if you endure what’s coming, I believe you’ll emerge reborn—like a phoenix rising from the ashes."

"Phoenix reborn?" Sophia repeated, her tone sharp. "Then tell me—what’s so special about July 28th?"

"It’s not a special day," he said slowly. "Think of it as... a checkpoint. You’re already in the game now. The only way forward is through time itself. But remember—there’s always someone stronger, and always another sky above the sky."

Sophia wasn’t naive; she could read between the lines.

He was warning her—someone had set her up.

But because of who he was, Damien couldn’t speak openly.

The best he could do was hint at it.

"So there’s no way to avoid it?" she asked.

"There is," he said. "Don’t go. Some people only act at a specific time. If you’re not there when it happens, they’ll have to wait for another chance. And when that next chance comes... they’ll choose another day—one you can’t avoid, one you must step into."

Sophia gave a small laugh, shaking her head. "You make it sound like some kind of prophecy. If someone really wants to deal with me, they could do it in the open. Why bother with all this secrecy?"

"Your relationship with Susan has never been good," Damien said, his tone deepening. "And now that you’re moving against Morgan Group, not everyone’s happy about it. In every game, there are roles—many of them. One day, I might have to play one too."

He looked straight at her. "That means one day, I might have to move against you. But if that happens, I need you to understand—it won’t be my choice. I’ll just be following the will of the one who controls the game."

Now his meaning was unmistakable.

One day, he himself might become her enemy.

Whoever was behind this—the "game master"—was someone he knew.

This warning, then, was the last act of an old friendship.

Damien turned his head, his expression weighted with resignation.

"Do you understand now?"

Sophia met his gaze. "I don’t know what’s forcing you to stay silent, but I understand every word you’ve said—and I’ll remember it. I came here today hoping to find the truth, but if you can’t tell me everything, I won’t push you. What you’ve said is enough."

She gave him a faint smile, one corner of her lips lifting—cool, steady, unafraid.

"Good," Damien said softly. "Then you understand. Three days, Sophia. That’s all the time you have left. Are you ready?"

Sophia’s lips curved into a calm, almost defiant smile.

"When the soldiers come, I’ll face them head-on. When the flood rises, I’ll build a wall. I’m always ready."

There was nothing more she could get out of him. Staying any longer would only waste time.

She rose from her seat and said in a low voice, "If fate allows, we’ll talk again. But I have work waiting at the company. I’ll take my leave."

Without another word, she turned and walked away—no hesitation, no glance back.

Damien watched her retreating figure, the helplessness in his eyes deepening by the second.

"Mr. Brown," his assistant said quietly beside him, "why didn’t you just tell her the truth?"

Damien shot him a weary look. "You think I don’t want to? If I speak openly, how am I supposed to explain it to the people above me?"

"But you don’t want her hurt. Anyone can see that."

"She’s not someone who breaks easily," he said, his tone firm yet heavy. "Even if something really happens that day, I believe she’ll survive it—and come back stronger. I can’t stop everyone who’s after her, but I can at least do something. And just because I can’t defy the ones in control doesn’t mean I’m completely powerless."

He lifted his cup, took a slow sip of coffee, and looked toward the spot where Sophia had disappeared.

A wave of unease settled over him.

If she really left this time... would it be the last time he ever saw her?

No.

He refused to believe that. She would live—he was sure of it.

...

Back in her car, Sophia sat behind the wheel, replaying every word Damien had said.

A game.

That was how he’d described it.

Which meant—she wasn’t just playing someone else’s game.

She was also inside one herself.

But who could be powerful enough to pull her into it without her even realizing?

And then there was the other thing—Susan.

Why had he brought her up so suddenly?

As far as Sophia knew, Damien and Susan didn’t even know each other.

So why mention her—unless it was Susan’s connections that were moving behind the scenes?

Could it be that someone close to Susan was plotting against her?

Recently, Sophia had been pressing Morgan Group hard, cornering them piece by piece.

She’d driven them to desperation—yet they hadn’t made any move to reach out.

Was it possible... they had already found a way to fight back?

After hearing Damien’s warning, she couldn’t rule it out.

Maybe it was time to see for herself.

Her decision made, Sophia started the car and headed toward the Morgan estate.

...

When she arrived, only Susan and Olivia were home.

But even from a distance, Sophia noticed something strange—a long, black Rolls-Royce Phantom parked at the gate.

The Morgans didn’t own a car like that.

She killed the engine a short distance away and watched carefully.

Leaning lower in her seat, she narrowed her eyes toward the house.

She couldn’t see who was inside, but the scene was far from ordinary.

Three other cars were parked outside—each one staffed with four bodyguards.

That kind of formation... was serious.

Sophia had never seen security like that in any domestic deal.

Her expression darkened.

If these weren’t people she recognized, then they were likely reinforcements—brought in by the Morgan family.

And since only Susan was home, they had to be her contacts.

Susan’s background... was deeper than she’d ever shown.

Just as Sophia’s thoughts began to race—there was sudden movement outside the villa.