CHAPTER 165: KEEPING MY WORD

"And then what? One of the directors of a top-ten global conglomerate... is your godfather? Mrs. Miller, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but don’t you think that sounds like a joke to anyone who hears it?"

Susan frowned. "I already told you everything. If you still don’t believe me, what more do you want from me?!"

"Fine, fine. I believe you. Go on."

"Years ago, I was traveling abroad and happened to run into Jacob while he was being hunted down. I may be timid, but he looked like someone important, so I helped him. I never expected his identity to be that powerful. Afterward, he took me in as his goddaughter. This time, the Morgan Family was cornered, so I asked him to step forward... and deal with you."

Sophia raised her brows, watching her closely. She was trying to determine how much of this story was actually believable.

Susan was terrified something would happen to her daughter, so she probably wouldn’t lie about this. And Sophia did remember that trip—before she left the Morgan Family, Susan had gone abroad once and came back unusually happy. They were all celebrating something, but no one ever told her why.

Which meant... the story could very well be true.

"Anything else you’d like to add?"

Susan scowled. "I’ve already told you everything, including that I framed you. Wanting you dead—that was all me. It has nothing to do with my daughter. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me. Don’t drag her into this. She’s innocent."

"During an avalanche, not a single snowflake is innocent."

A slow smile curved across Sophia’s lips. Her voice dropped. "I gave you all far more chances than you deserved. But you didn’t cherish a single one. You care about her because she’s your daughter. Fine. Then tell me—what about my mother? My mother never hurt you. Not once. And yet you all destroyed her. On your shoulders isn’t just my life—you carry her life as well."

By the time she said the last sentence, her entire expression had changed.

"Your mother’s death has nothing to do with me—believe it or don’t! I take responsibility for what I do, but I will never admit to something I didn’t do. She was sick. She died because she wasn’t saved in time."

"You’re lying!"

"I’m not! Sophia, I’m telling you—your mother’s death had absolutely nothing to do with me. If I wanted her dead, I had hundreds of chances. And if I really hated her that much, why would I have brought you back into the Morgan Family? Why would I feed you for all those years just so you could repay me with betrayal?!"

Susan’s eyes flickered with bitterness, as if old memories resurfaced.

"My mother never interfered with anything between you and Andrew. He lied to her from the beginning! And yet somehow, the one you hated wasn’t him—it was her! I always thought you were stupid but still capable of telling right from wrong. Turns out I gave you too much credit."

Sophia’s fingers tightened on the armrest until her knuckles turned white.

She had watched her mother die with her own eyes.

And now this woman dared to claim she had nothing to do with it.

"Sophia, listen carefully—your mother was the other woman. If anyone had the right to be angry, it was me. Why should a home-wrecker’s daughter point fingers at the real wife?!"

"Because my mother was a victim too!"

It was all Andrew.

From beginning to end, he fooled everyone.

And yet in the end, all the blame was dumped onto a woman who was already dead.

Why?!

"Susan, listen carefully. She was my mother. I don’t care whether she was right or wrong—I will always stand on her side. Anyone who wants to hurt her has to get through me first. She’s gone now, so I’ll finish everything she couldn’t. And if you all hadn’t tried to sell me to a man back then just to renew your contract, maybe—just maybe—I would’ve told you who I really was. Maybe we could’ve even lived peacefully. But unfortunately for you, life only gives one chance. You missed it. You don’t get a second."

Back then, she had almost given up, because she truly thought her mother had died naturally.

But—

She never expected someone had actually harmed her mother.

Andrew, Susan, even Olivia—years ago, at least on the surface—they had treated her well. They played their parts perfectly.

But overnight, everything changed.

Even the man she was supposed to marry... his heart belonged to her sister.

Most people would never live through something like she had.

So why should she forgive?

"My first reason for coming today was to learn what your relationship with that man really is. You’ve told me. So I won’t push you further."

Sophia stood up, ready to leave.

Susan panicked for a moment. "Stop! Olivia, she—"

Sophia didn’t even turn around. "I keep my word. I said I wouldn’t make things hard for her, and I won’t. At least... I won’t."

Susan’s heart lurched.

She said I—which only meant she wouldn’t act.

She never said she wouldn’t let someone else act.

She’d been tricked.

Sophia smirked coldly and walked out.

Lucas had been waiting outside. He stayed out of their business completely.

"How did it go?"

"I asked. And I got answers."

She gave him a brief rundown of what happened inside.

Lucas nodded and pulled her into his arms. "So... ready to continue the performance?"

"Of course. I originally planned to take over Morgan Group even though it’s a wreck, but it turns out other people want it too. If that many vultures are circling, why not hand it to them? And knowing Ethan, he’ll get Olivia out within a week. All of Andrew’s fake account records are in my hands. So I’ll ’help’ them a little more... and personally send Morgan Group to say goodbye to the world."

Sophia lifted a brow.

Lucas smiled, brushing a kiss against her hair. "Come on. Let’s go home."

He took her hand as they walked off together. After just a few steps, Sophia said, "Going home this early? You’re skipping work?"

"Is that a problem?"

"It’s not a problem for me. But if people start saying you’re slacking off and fooling around every day? What will you do if they vote you out?"

Lucas didn’t care in the slightest. Instead, he shamelessly replied, "My wife is rich. Worst case, I can go live under a bridge. I’ll survive."

"Smart mouth."

Sophia walked ahead; Lucas hurried to keep up.

She bumped her hip into him suddenly.

Lucas almost bumped her back—until he remembered her waist injury.

He instantly turned obedient, trailing her like a loyal puppy.