“Daniel, it’s barely morning—why are you already fussing with your plants again?”

Yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes, Sophia stared at her eldest brother, amazed by his energy. Not only had he finished his morning run, but he was also pruning the flowers.

Daniel immediately set down his watering can and pulled out a chair for her.

“Take the day off,” he said. “Oh, and Dad mentioned a contract yesterday. You’re meeting a client about it today.”

Work again. Even with the luxurious breakfast before her, Sophia lost her appetite.

After breakfast, her new personal assistant arrived.

“This is your assistant,” Daniel said. “You can ask him about anything work-related. He’ll take good care of you.”

The young man adjusted his glasses and extended a polite hand.

“Good morning, Ms. Reed. I’ll be managing your business collaborations from now on. Here’s your schedule for today, and this is the contract you’ll need to review in advance.”

Seeing the thick stack of papers, Sophia nearly cried.

A few hours later, she arrived at the meeting location.

“Has he left yet? Call Nathan Torres and tell him I’m almost at the restaurant,” she said.

Back at the Reed Estate, Mr. Reed dropped his teacup upon hearing that Sophia had left. “Hurry and call Ethan—tell him to remind Nathan she’s on her way!”

Nathan was already drowning in work, but when the call came, his tone remained calm. “Got it. I’m on my way. Meet me at the restaurant.”

His assistant glanced over. “Strange that Mr. Reed chose a restaurant for a business meeting. That’s not like him.”

Nathan shot him a sharp look, and the assistant quickly turned forward again, silent.

When Nathan arrived, he immediately understood.

Sophia was standing there awkwardly, clutching the contract like a shield.

He stepped closer and, with one finger, lowered the papers from her face.

“Why are you hiding? Weren’t you supposed to be meeting your father’s business partner today? What are you doing here?”

Sophia glanced around, confused. “Dad said the client was an older gentleman. I didn’t expect it to be you.”

But they were already here, and the deal was crucial to both families.

She put on a professional smile. “Doesn’t matter who it is—let’s just talk about the contract.”

Before they could enter the restaurant, however, an unwelcome voice interrupted.

“Well, if it isn’t my dear sister. Haven’t seen you since your little disappearance. I thought you’d starved to death by now.”

Sophia froze. That sharp, mocking tone could belong to no one but Clara Kane.

And beside her stood Alexander Kane, his arm around Vanessa Cole.

Sophia’s irritation spiked. Before she could reply, Vanessa sneered, “So that’s why you divorced so quickly. You’d already found yourself a new man.”

Alexander’s eyes flicked to Nathan. The man’s presence was commanding—but Alexander was convinced his own wealth far outmatched him.

He pulled out a black card, tossing it at Nathan’s feet with a smirk.

“The dinner here isn’t cheap. If your boytoy wants to impress you, he can earn it. Have him kneel down and kiss my shoes, and this card’s his.”

Sophia and Nathan exchanged a glance—utterly unimpressed.

Vanessa’s voice turned shrill. “What’s taking so long? Kneel already!”

Nathan stepped forward. They thought he’d submit, and anticipation twisted their faces into grotesque grins.

But instead, Nathan’s foot shot out, catching Alexander squarely in the chest.

At the same time, Sophia slipped behind Vanessa and pressed a pressure point at the base of her neck.

“Ah! Sophia—what did you do? I can’t see! Alexander, help me, I can’t see anything!”

Alexander, winded and speechless from the kick, could only gasp in pain.

Sophia’s voice turned icy. “You two came here to humiliate us, but you’re not even good at that. Keep running your mouths, and next time I’ll make sure you can’t speak at all.”

She bent down, picked up the contract from the floor, and nodded toward the restaurant. “Let’s go, Nathan. We’ve got business to discuss.”

“They’re just biting each other like stray dogs. Why bother with them?”

Sophia Reed wanted to hurry inside with Nathan Torres to sign the contract and finally go home to rest, but that shameless couple wouldn’t let them have peace.

“So that’s it? You can’t outtalk us so you’re leaving? Look at them—walking into a high-end restaurant dressed like beggars. Can they even afford to eat here?”

Even after Sophia’s sharp retort had silenced them, Vanessa Cole still refused to back down.

Nervous but pretending to be bold, she clung to Alexander Kane’s arm like a peacock flaunting its feathers. “What’s there to be proud of? The man next to you might be dressed neatly, but he looks just as broke as you are.”

The upscale restaurant was full of wealthy couples coming and going. Hearing Vanessa’s shrill voice, several stopped to watch the commotion.

“What are they arguing about? Blocking the doorway like that—don’t they feel ashamed?”

That was exactly what Vanessa wanted—an audience. With so many people watching, she decided to humiliate Sophia even more.

“You left your husband so quickly because you already had another man lined up, didn’t you? Sister, why must you always rely on men to keep you?”

To describe Sophia Reed as someone who needed to be “kept”? That was beyond insulting.

Sophia immediately dropped Nathan’s arm and slapped Vanessa hard across the face.

“Watch your mouth. We’re here for a business meeting—this contract is in my hand. And you dare say we’re sneaking around? You’re the one playing the mistress!”

Now that she no longer pined for Alexander, Sophia stood tall. Backed by her family, she had every ounce of confidence she needed. Still, her palm stung from the force of that slap.

“Enough nonsense. If you came here to eat, no one’s stopping you. But if you came to pick a fight, take that slap as my warning to you both.”

The sound of Sophia’s hand striking Vanessa’s face echoed. With so many couples watching from outside, the embarrassment was complete.

“Who do you think was the real homewrecker here?” someone whispered.

Vanessa clutched her face, humiliated, while Sophia rubbed her slightly swollen hand and heard the murmurs around them.

She had just returned to her family; any gossip about her would reflect on all of them. So she raised her voice and said clearly, “You all know who I am—Sophia Reed of the Reed family. I come from an old New York business house. Do you think I’d waste my time on another woman’s man? I’m here for business, and this is the proof.”

Sophia lifted the contract high for everyone to see.

The onlookers gasped, and those who had been whispering insults at her turned their words toward Vanessa and Alexander instead.

“So it’s her—the other woman! And now she’s playing the victim. What a joke.”

Embarrassed beyond measure, Vanessa and Alexander quickly fled under the crowd’s scornful stares.

Watching them leave with their heads down, Sophia lifted her chin proudly. “At least they know their place. Next time they try this, they won’t just lose face in public—they’ll be viral online.”

After that, Sophia and Nathan entered the restaurant and signed the contract smoothly. Holding the finalized papers, Sophia smiled in satisfaction.

“No wonder I’m the best—signed faster than expected. I’ll head home now. Thank you for today.”

The name on the contract filled her with joy. She flipped through it a few times before tucking it carefully into her bag.

But Nathan, who had been thanked, didn’t leave right away. Opening the door, he gestured to his car outside. “You came here by cab, right? There are still a few details about the contract I want to clarify with your father. Let me drive you home.”

Sophia had hoped to keep her distance from Nathan, but since he offered a ride—and it was convenient—she got in.

As soon as she fastened her seat belt, her phone buzzed. She picked it up, intending to text her father and brothers that the deal was done, but instead saw a message from Vanessa.

“Don’t think humiliating me today means I’ll back off, Sophia. You’ve stolen from me long enough. Even with your family behind you, you’ll always be an insect beneath my feet.”

Sophia let out a low, chilling laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Nathan asked, eyes still on the road but clearly curious about that dark little smile.

Sophia switched off her phone. “Nothing. Oh, right—you mentioned some contract issues you wanted to discuss with my father. Why not tell me first?”

After all, she was the one responsible for the deal. If there were problems, she needed to know.

After Sophia Reed and Nathan Torres finalized the contract, Sophia rubbed her hands awkwardly.

“Sorry you had to see that mess today.”

Nathan, being an outsider, had unintentionally witnessed far too much of her personal drama with her ex-husband. The embarrassment still lingered.

But Nathan didn’t seem the least bit interested in her gossip. He simply draped his suit jacket over his arm and said calmly,

“I’ll drive you home. Your ex-husband might still be outside, and I’d rather make sure you get back safely.”

Sophia sighed. “God, today was such a disaster.”

When Nathan folded his chair and started to leave, Sophia followed behind, head down. Just as she raised the contract in her hand, Nathan stopped suddenly—and she crashed right into him.

“Ow!”

She winced, clutching her forehead, glancing around to see what she’d hit—but there was nothing there.

“Why’d you stop so suddenly? That’s gonna leave a bruise for days.”

Nathan turned back; Sophia was still rubbing her forehead, where a red bump had already appeared.

He stayed cool as ever. “Wait in the car. I forgot something inside.”

He returned to the restaurant, while Sophia muttered under her breath and slipped into his car. It was immaculate—just like the man himself.

She glanced around, studying the neat interior. “Of course his car’s cold and lifeless too. No wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend,” she mumbled.

Before she could snoop any further, Nathan came back. Sophia froze, instantly transforming from snarky commentator to obedient passenger, buckling her seatbelt like a chastised schoolgirl.

“Why aren’t you starting the car? Did you forget something else?”

Ten minutes passed. Nathan still didn’t drive off. The silence inside was suffocating, and Sophia could practically hear her own heartbeat echoing.

Then her phone buzzed sharply, shattering the tension.

She expected it to be from her brother, but the nickname flashing on the screen made her stomach twist. It was her.

The message dripped with malice:

“Pathetic. You think you can play the victim when you’re just the mistress who got caught? Didn’t that slap earlier hurt enough?”

Sophia muttered curses under her breath. Nathan glanced over briefly, then started the car without a word.

When they reached the Reed Estate, Sophia bolted from the car clutching her folder, not even bothering to say goodbye.

Nathan watched her sprint off. “What, is there a man-eating lion waiting inside?”

No lion—but plenty of cunning foxes. Nathan was no ordinary man; she’d learned that much today.

Inside, Sophia tossed the folder and her phone onto the couch. “I’ve already signed everything. Nathan said he’ll come by to see Dad later—he’s probably parking now. I’m heading upstairs.”

Without waiting for a reply, she hurried up the staircase, phone in hand, calling someone she hadn’t spoken to in years.

“Hey, my little princess! I thought you’d forgotten about me—it’s been ages.”

The familiar warmth in his voice calmed her nerves, though she stayed cautious. “I ran into Vanessa Cole at the restaurant today. Things got ugly, but it’s over. Now she’s texting me threats—calling me shameless, saying she’ll make me pay. Can you find out what’s going on?”

There was no way Sophia had sent anyone after Vanessa; she’d left the restaurant immediately after the deal. It could only be investigated by her trusted friend.

A while later, Ethan Reed showed up with a basket of fruit.

“Dad wants you to start getting familiar with the company. Most of the shares will be under your name, so he’s pushing hard. Don’t take it personally—he just wants you prepared.”

Inside her room, Sophia was nibbling an apple, her brow furrowed. Ethan looked at her worriedly but still reminded her, “Don’t overwork yourself.”

“I know Dad means well,” she said softly. “But honestly, shouldn’t you be the one running the family business?”

Ethan didn’t answer—he had his own plans. He handed her a glass of milk. “I know you were up late last night. Drink this and get some rest. Oh, and Dad wants Nathan to stay for dinner tonight—so be ready.”

They both knew what that meant. Mr. Reed clearly wanted Sophia and Nathan to grow closer—maybe even spark something. Anything to make her forget Alexander Kane, that worthless man.

Sophia groaned inwardly. Marry Nathan? That cunning fox? He’d peel my skin before kissing me.

“I know, Ethan. You can go.”