Chapter 39
Sophie and her parents had once lived a life of luxury, looking down on everyone from their high position. But now, they had lost everything overnight and could only afford to rent a run-down apartment.
Sophie listened silently as her parents kept blaming her, not saying a word in her own defense. She had called every single person in her contacts, yet no one was willing to help. She couldn’t help but wonder who was behind all this.
First came the complete split from the main Quinn family. Then the ruthless attacks came one after another. Within just twenty-four hours, their company fell apart, leaving them with nothing.
Out of options, Sophie went back to the main Quinn family’s villa. She waited outside the gates until midnight. The moment she saw Miles, she ran up and called his name.
Miles paused, his expression cold. “What are you doing here? After all his years of support, she had turned out to be a viper. He had already shown mercy by not crushing her completely.
“Miles, I know I messed up,” Sophie pleaded, voice cracking. “Please help me. I’ve got no one else to turn to.”
Miles didn’t even look at her. “Sophie, if you had any shame left, you wouldn’t be standing here. Your greed and selfishness brought you exactly what you deserved. Now get out of my sight.”
Securing the Quinn family’s partnership with SIE Corporation had cost him years of hard work, and Sophie had almost ruined everything. As far as he was concerned, that kind of betrayal didn’t deserve a second chance.
Sophie hung her head, tears streaming down her face. “Miles, I know I failed you,” she choked out. “But please, just tell me who is behind this. I swear I haven’t made enemies with anyone else.” She desperately needed to hear any name from him.
Miles narrowed his eyes. “Haven’t made enemies! You’ve burned bridges with half the city, and now you’re messing with my business. The nerve of you saying that!” As he turned to go, Sophie’s knees hit the ground with a heavy thud.
“Miles, please,” Sophie begged. “We’re family. Blood should count for something. Just tell me who’s behind all this. At least let me know why my life’s being ruined!” All she wanted was to know who had destroyed her.
Miles drew a slow breath, his voice turning razor-sharp. “Sophie, answer me straight. If you’ve never gone after anyone, how do you explain what you did to Vivian three years back?” His eyes locked onto hers. “You ruined her career completely. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
Sophie’s voice died in her throat, her pupils contracting. “Vivian? No way! Since when did she have that kind of pull!”
Miles spoke with winter in his voice. “You did this to yourself. Mason’s still sitting in a jail cell. Haven’t you even wondered why?”
Sophie would sooner blame Miles for her ruin than believe Vivian could do this. That woman was nothing, just some trash she had never bothered with before.
Three years ago, Sophie had watched with disgust as Vivian kept chasing after Mason. The Harts were nothing but worthless trash in her view, completely unfit to marry into the Quinn family. They weren’t even worth acknowledging, so Sophie took every chance to make Vivian’s life miserable.
Seeing the disbelief frozen on her face, Miles delivered the final blow. “Junior Quinn Group now belongs to the Hart family.”
Sophie’s eyes flew open wide in shock, her mind blank and body locked rigid. “No. That cannot be true. The Harts could never have done this…” She opened her mouth to demand answers, but Miles had already turned his back. The heavy gates crashed shut behind him with a sound like a death knell.
Left alone in the cold wind, Sophie’s thoughts spiraled. “The Harts had no power. Aiden was a complete failure.” She refused to believe that, of all people, Vivian was the reason for her ruin.
Then, out of nowhere, her mother’s warning came back to her. “Vivian’s sister is back. That woman isn’t someone to mess with.” Sophie mouthed the words “Vivian’s sister” silently to herself.
With trembling hands, Sophie pulled out her phone and searched. The results flooded in. “Hart Corporation under new leadership—Miss Enna signs permanent partnership with SIE Corporation, marking a new era!”
“No, this is impossible! I worked my fingers to the bone to get that SIE deal. How did the Harts just waltz in and grab it like nothing! Does Vivian’s sister know people at SIE?” Sophie clenched her fist.
Sophie stumbled home in a daze. Red-hot anger blurred her vision, her whole body trembling with rage. “Why the Harts! That trash family I always laughed at, that worthless bunch I never gave a second thought!” The shame hit her like a physical blow, stripping her bare.
Her parents couldn’t accept the news either. Mrs. Quinn stood up and said, “The Harts will owe us a marriage. Once Mason marries Vivian, we’ll get everything back.”
Mr. Quinn nodded eagerly. “Aiden is spineless. Sweet-talk him a little and he’ll fold like paper.” With this plan in mind, the couple scraped together their last remaining money to bail their son out of jail.
At the Han residence, Linda’s eyes snapped open the moment the butler and the doctor left. Her dramatic faint had been all an act. “A full day without food or water! That Sienna bitch is trying to kill me,” she seethed inwardly.
The second she got hold of a phone, she called her daughter, sobbing about how she had suffered. “Come home now,” she cried. “Make that wretch pay!”
Jocelyn Hart’s grip tightened around her phone as her mother’s sobs filled her ears. “Vivian, you bitch! How dare you lay a finger on my mother? You’re dead!”
When the scalding water hit her skin, Jocelyn jerked her feet up with a yell. “Too damn hot!” Her foot lashed out, kicking the basin so hard that Amber toppled backward onto the floor.
Tears instantly flooded Amber’s eyes, her delicate, doll-like face only fueling Jocelyn’s fury. “Jocelyn, I’m sorry. I’ll get fresh water right away,” she stammered, biting her trembling lip.