"When’s the meeting?"

Joseph Shaw was a little surprised. "You want to meet him?"

’You were so adamant about refusing before. Why the change of heart now?’

’Is it because Damian Morgan and Vianne Kane’s engagement is public now? The elopement failed, so has she finally seen the light and decided to get married?’

"Next Saturday."

Sophie Shaw nodded, her face etched with exhaustion. "Okay, I understand. I’m going to get some rest."

"Alright, then I won’t disturb you."

As soon as Joseph Shaw left, she placed the suitcase in her hand on the floor. Before she could even open it, the door was pushed open.

Vianne Kane, wrapped in a gray and pink color-block shawl, walked in with her chin held so high it nearly touched the back of her head, a smug look on her face.

She closed the door behind her, leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, and looked down on Sophie Shaw. "Well now, back and looking all dusty and defeated?"

"You don’t knock before entering my room?"

"Oh, I forgot."

"Did you forget, or do you not have even the slightest bit of respect for me?"

Vianne Kane’s voice was syrupy sweet. "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? So fiery first thing in the morning."

"I don’t care how you and Damian Morgan shacked up, but I have to remind you, he’s only interested in your family background and money. With your status, you can find someone much more suitable. There’s no need to lower yourself like this."

Vianne Kane didn’t hear any well-intentioned advice in her words, only the dejection and bitterness of a romantic failure.

"Is this my dear sister, lashing out in anger after her failed elopement and getting dumped, deliberately trying to drive a wedge between Damian and me? Damian chose me in the end. You must be devastated, aren’t you?"

"If you like that scumbag, then you can have him. Treasure him, for all I care. He’s my cast-off, anyway. If you like picking up trash, then by all means, help yourself."

"You—"

"You’re the great miss of the Kane Family, a person of noble status. Damian Morgan targeted you because you can give him an endless supply of money. If you willingly want to marry a Social Climber like him and announce it online, I have nothing to say. But why did you have to pull a publicity stunt and send reporters to the station to catch me? Why did you even try to brand me as the other woman?"

How was that any different from kicking someone when they’re down?

"Sister, don’t get so worked up. It was just a little publicity stunt by the PR team to ride the wave of our official announcement. I’ll come forward in a few days to clarify everything—that there’s no ’other woman,’ and certainly no elopement."

Sophie Shaw gave a bitter laugh. "I’m just so lucky the reporters didn’t get a picture of me. If they had, I’m sure it would’ve been a completely different story, wouldn’t it?"

She couldn’t even bear to imagine it. If Alaric Blackwood hadn’t shown up last night, and she had been left standing foolishly in the rain, only to be photographed in that soaked and pathetic state by a swarm of reporters... to have her face plastered across the headlines of every major website with words like "other woman" and "elopement"—the damage and devastation would have been immense.

"Sister, you’re overthinking things. Why are you so into conspiracy theories at your age? I’m a huge star. What’s wrong with pulling a little stunt to get some buzz and heat?

Your name was never mentioned in the trending topics, not once. What are you getting so worked up about? Was it really necessary? I didn’t cause you any actual harm, but you have to make it sound like I’m plotting against you. Aren’t you being a little petty and malicious?"

Sophie Shaw had no more patience to listen to her affected, high-pitched voice. She yanked the door open and pushed her out.

"If you have nothing important to say, please get out."

Vianne Kane, shut outside the door, wasn’t angry. She just snorted coldly. "Just the baggage brought along by a live-in son-in-law. Who does she think she is, putting on airs like that!"

She turned to go downstairs and ran right into Damian Morgan, who was on his way up.

The man’s brow was tightly furrowed. He grabbed her hand and, without a word, dragged her back into the room.

Once the door was closed, Damian Morgan said gravely, "Vianne, my breakup with Sophie isn’t going smoothly."

"She won’t agree to it?"

"She agreed, but she wants Heart of the Ocean."

Vianne Kane scoffed. "Tch. It’s just a tiny, rundown company. If she wants it, just give it to her."

The words "tiny, rundown company" pricked Damian Morgan’s pride. Masking his displeasure, he wrapped an arm around Vianne Kane’s shoulder and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Vianne, the company may be small, but I poured my time, money, and heart and soul into building it. I can’t just give it to her for nothing."

"If you don’t give it to her, what if she makes a scene?"

"What kind of trouble can she stir up?"

’She’s not well-liked in the Kane Family, and she has no one to back her up...’

Damian Morgan’s only worry was that once he and Vianne Kane were married, Sophie Shaw would do a complete 180 and agree to marry the wealthy and powerful Alaric Blackwood.

The Blackwoods were not to be trifled with.

"Tell me, the Blackwood Family has been visiting frequently. Do you think they’re really that fond of Sophie Shaw?"

Vianne Kane scoffed. "Oh, please. Fond of her? It’s just for show. Since the childhood engagement was set, they’re just going through the motions of a formal proposal to avoid gossip. Besides, Sophie Shaw already refused. What is there to worry about?"

"What if she changes her mind..."

"And if she changes her mind, does that mean Alaric Blackwood has to take her? You think too highly of Alaric Blackwood. He’s no saint."

Damian Morgan raised an eyebrow. "You know Alaric Blackwood well?"

"Of course. We were childhood sweethearts."

At least, that’s what Vianne Kane always told people.

The Kane and Blackwood families were on good terms and had business dealings. She believed the phrase ’childhood sweethearts’ had reached Alaric Blackwood’s ears more than once.

He never came forward to deny it, which proved that he acknowledged their relationship.

Or perhaps, he just didn’t care.

"Alaric Blackwood is a total player, always surrounded by a flock of women. During his years abroad, he was in the gossip columns every day. When has he ever been short on women? A boring block of wood like Sophie Shaw would never catch his eye."

"A boring block of wood" was, in fact, an assessment Damian Morgan himself had once given Sophie Shaw.

When they were dating, he had always found Sophie Shaw to be dull and too prim and proper. If it weren’t for her "money," he never would have been able to stand her.

After hearing Vianne Kane’s speech, Damian Morgan felt somewhat relieved, but after a moment’s thought, he still wasn’t entirely at ease.

"Vianne, should we mention this to your stepfather? Have him step in and persuade Sophie Shaw, just to keep things from getting too awkward."

Damian Morgan wanted to secure his footing in the Kane Family, but he also didn’t want to just hand over the company he had painstakingly built to Sophie Shaw.

Vianne Kane gave a coy smile. "Then let’s go downstairs. I’ll have a little chat with Mr. Shaw."

...

「Breakfast time.」

Except for Sophie Shaw, the entire family was in the dining room.

Seated at the head of the table was the old master of the Kane Family, over seventy years old and still holding the title of chairman of the board.

The Kane Family was immensely wealthy. The old master had no sons, only a single daughter, Bianca Kane. Her first husband had married into the family but proved to be a disappointment. He had an affair during the marriage and was promptly kicked to the curb by Bianca Kane.

Joseph Shaw was her second husband, and they had a son together, Joel Kane, who had just turned ten.

Years ago, Bianca Kane had taken a liking to Joseph Shaw. During their courtship, she accidentally got pregnant, and the two hastily registered their marriage and held a wedding.

And so, there was another live-in son-in-law.

The Kane Family had a rule: no talking during meals, no talking before bed.

Throughout the entire meal, the only sounds were the soft clinking of utensils; not a single person spoke.

After the meal, Joseph Shaw led Joel Kane out, part of his daily routine of taking his son to school.

Vianne Kane lifted the hem of her dress and trotted after them. "Mr. Shaw, there’s something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"It’s about my sister. You see, she and Damian used to date, right? Well, our wedding has been announced, and she agreed to the breakup, but her appetite is too big. She wants Damian’s company. What do you think we should do about this..."