CHAPTER 27: RELENTLESS PURSUIT

"Well, well. My dear daughter actually came to question me? Shouldn’t it be the other way around—me questioning you?"

"Daughter?" Sophia’s voice was cool. "Mr. Morgan, I think your memory must be failing. There is no relationship between us."

Andrew chuckled and stepped up behind her. "You resent your father, and I suppose that’s understandable. But disappearing for six years without a word—that’s on you. No matter what mistakes I made, I still raised you all those years. Don’t you think it’s time you did something to repay that debt of gratitude?"

Harper couldn’t hold back her disgust. "Wow. I’ve seen shameless people before, but never this shameless."

Andrew’s expression hardened. "Miss Carter, you’re the Carter family’s precious daughter. This is my family business. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate for you to meddle?"

"Sophia’s business is my business," Harper shot back coldly. "Yes, you’re older, and yes, you’re part of the Morgan family. But Sophia cut ties with you long ago. Anyone who dares bully her will have to go through me first."

Her hand rested protectively on Sophia’s head as she added, "Uncle Morgan, I’ve shown you respect as an elder. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be."

Andrew’s lips curved into a mocking smile. "Miss Carter, you’re right about one thing—I am the elder here. Yet you’re standing in my office, acting high and mighty. Shouldn’t you be the one bowing your head?"

Harper was about to argue back when Sophia calmly stopped her.

"The design drafts you want are all here."

She tossed the folder onto his desk.

"I knew it. You still fear me. Otherwise, you’d have had the backbone not to come at all. But since you’re handing the drafts over, Sophia, I’ll give you another chance. Come back home. When the time comes to divide the family assets, I’ll even leave you a share."

Sophia’s lips curved into a sly smile, her gaze flicking toward the papers in front of him. "Mr. Morgan, aren’t you going to take a closer look?"

Andrew picked up the folder—only to find a termination contract tucked in with the designs.

"You want to terminate our contract? Do you realize you’ll owe me double in penalties?"

"Mr. Morgan, always so arrogant," Sophia said sweetly. "Why don’t you actually read the fine print? You’ll see the one paying damages isn’t me—it’s you. Forty million may not seem like much to you, but I’m sure if you sold off a few of Susan’s handbags, shoes, or even her car, you could scrape it together for a while."

Andrew’s brows furrowed deeply. He hadn’t bothered reading the terms closely—too desperate at the time—and now he realized he’d walked straight into her trap. The contract had been written so that if anyone broke it, the Morgans would be at fault.

"Mr. Morgan," Sophia went on smoothly, "first you slandered me, then you tried a series of dirty tricks against me. I could sue you, easily. But I’m not that cruel. I’ll give you some time. Still, we’re terminating the contract. As for the forty million, I expect it in my account within three days. If not..." Her smile sharpened. "I’ll have no choice but to sue."

She stood, patted his shoulder as if he were an old man past his prime, and added lightly, "Take your time reading it, Mr. Morgan. I imagine it’ll take you half a day to process every word. And when you’re done, don’t forget to check your phone. My wedding to Lucas is in just a couple of days. I do hope you’ll attend."

Then she turned, her voice laced with venomous sweetness.

"Oh—and that useless younger daughter of yours is probably still sobbing at home. Should I send her all the trinkets Ethan ever gave me? Consider it a little gift... out of sisterly kindness."

"Sophia, don’t go too far!" Andrew snapped.

"I actually like your little scoop, Mr. Morgan," Sophia replied coolly. "You sure helped blow my name up."

Just then her phone rang — Ethan. Of all moments, someone always seemed willing to back her up when she needed to humiliate Andrew. She answered with him in the room.

"Ethan?"

"Where are you, Sophia?"

"What’s up?"

Her tone was icy, but Ethan was eager. "Can we meet and clear this up?"

"Meet? Sorry, Olivia’s here."

"That’s even better — I can explain everything to her in person."

Sophia hung up and turned to stare at the furious Andrew.

"Mr. Morgan," she said, pulling an invitation from her bag and setting it on his desk, "you might want to tell your daughter—Ethan is not hers to have."

"Ridiculous. A mom of six? You really think you can marry Lucas? I saw everything clearly on my phone."

Saw everything clearly on his phone? So Andrew hadn’t leaked the kids — maybe Ethan did. If Ethan and Andrew were in cahoots, they would share intel. Who else could it be?

Sophia slung her bag over her shoulder and smiled slowly. "I won’t play your game any longer, Mr. Morgan. Goodbye." She departed with a proud, unhurried walk.

"Damn it!" Andrew threw the contract across the desk in a rage.

"Boss, what do we do now?" Paul asked, stepping in with a grim face.

Morgan Group might still be salvageable — except the two-hundred-million cushion was gone. Without it, they were in real trouble. And with Sophia poking at them, Morgan Group’s crisis wouldn’t blow over quickly. Mishandle this and the company could collapse.

"Call Lucas now," Andrew barked. "The money delivered yesterday is gone today. If he’s playing me, I’ll get revenge!"

Outside Morgan Group, Sophia was just getting into her car when a voice called, "Sophia."

She turned to see Ethan standing there, holding flowers, his haircut making him look like the awkward young man from six years ago.

"What does he want?" Harper asked.

"Go home, Harper," Sophia said, lips twitching.

"Sophia, he—"

"It’s fine."

Ethan offered the bouquet, smiling. "Sophia, you like roses, so I got ninety-nine."

"You changed your hair," she pointed out.

He brightened. "You noticed? You remember me from six years ago..."

"You had a different haircut yesterday; today it’s changed. Am I blind?" she said, taking the flowers and casually tossing them into the trash can.

"Sorry—I’m allergic to pollen," she said as she climbed into the car and drove off.

Ethan’s smile froze, then faded. Sophia gave him no opening. With the wedding only days away, he had to figure out a plan.

Could he really go as low as Grandpa suggested? Use dirty tricks to make her stay?

"Sophia — just wait. You’ll be mine," Ethan vowed to himself.