Chapter 7
777words
Dad materialized beside us, his expression thunderous.
"What's happening here?"
I kept quiet while Mrs. Lee efficiently summarized the situation.
Dad barely glanced at Sophia, his eyes cold as winter.
"Apologize."
Everyone knew Dad was holding Sophia's biggest project hostage.
Her face cycled from white to ashen as she forced out two words through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry."
Realizing she'd burned her last bridge with my father…
She suddenly lifted her chin, eyes flashing with the reckless desperation of someone with nothing left to lose.
"Chairman Sullivan, this woman you're defending is nothing but damaged goods. If Mrs. Sullivan knew how you were slumming it, I wonder what she'd—"
Dad cut her off with a snort, his tone almost amused:
"Shall I call my wife right now? Would you like to speak with her directly?"
Muffled laughter rippled through the onlookers.
The crowd, sensing the bloodbath was over, slowly drifted away.
I stuck close to Dad after that, actually starting to enjoy the evening.
The vultures kept their distance.
After Dad's brutal shutdown, Sophia plastered on a fake smile and tried working the room.
But the executives seemed to have formed a united front, cutting her off before she could even speak.
Her business cards ended up discarded on passing waiters' trays.
It had to be the most humiliating night of Sophia's professional life…
Until Adrian Mitchell walked in.
She rushed to him, eyes strategically red-rimmed, soft sobs perfectly timed.
Adrian patted her back soothingly, murmured something in her ear, then headed straight for me.
Dad caught my eye, silently offering to run interference.
I shook my head.
"Go ahead, Dad. I've got this."
Dad nodded, shot Adrian a look that could freeze hell, and moved away.
Adrian slid into the seat opposite me.
Exhaustion lined his face, dark circles prominent beneath his eyes, though his gaze remained razor-sharp.
"Victoria, we need to talk."
"About what?"
I swirled my wine, refusing to meet his eyes.
"So this is your solution?" He dropped his voice. "Finding a sugar daddy?"
I arched an eyebrow.
"Mmhmm."
His lips curled into a sneer.
"You'd rather be someone's side piece than Mrs. Mitchell? How's that working out for you?"
I played along.
"It's great, actually. Quite refreshing."
His voice hardened.
"Enough games. I'll tear up those divorce papers. Come back and be Mrs. Mitchell again."
I nearly choked on my wine.
"What alternate reality are you living in?"
He inhaled deeply, centering himself.
"I get that you want revenge, but these childish tactics are beneath you."
"Sullivan would never tank a deal just for you. You'll end up with nothing."
I stared at him, saying nothing.
"I've given you space to cool off, but I never expected you'd go this far."
"Look, I screwed up, but Sophia's brought in ninety percent of our business. I need her. You have to understand that."
"Instead of whatever you're doing now—getting Sullivan to crush us. That's petty and immature."
In three sentences, he'd managed to admit fault while simultaneously absolving himself of all responsibility.
My lips curved into a smile.
"You've misunderstood a few key points."
"What?"
I set down my glass and smoothed my skirt with deliberate care.
"Most of those projects Sophia landed? They came from Sullivan Group. And Chairman Sullivan happens to be my father."
Adrian's brows crashed together.
"That's impossible. You don't even have the same last name."
"I use my mother's surname."
"What, need Dad to come over and confirm? I can wave him over."
He froze. "So all those contracts…"
"Yes, Dad only threw business your way because of me."
"Now that we're divorced, why would he keep supporting his ex-son-in-law?"
I laughed softly.
"Truth is, you've made a killing these past few years, but you've put my father's people through hell."
His face darkened like a thundercloud.
I pressed on.
"Reckless expansion, cutting corners on quality, demanding higher margins while riding on Sullivan's discounts… if we hadn't divorced, I'd never have discovered how you've been bleeding my father's company dry."
Adrian's lips compressed into a thin line.
"Sophia handled all the coordination. I had no idea—"
I cut off his excuses by opening a video on my phone.
The footage showed Sophia arm-in-arm with a jowly man in his fifties, entering a pay-by-the-hour hotel. They were practically fused together, his hand roaming possessively around her waist.
Adrian's face went completely blank—that dangerous stillness I'd seen only once before.
I spoke softly.
"That's the procurement director for Fushun Group… Sophia really loves you, Adrian. I could never show my devotion quite like she does."
"Treasure her. You two deserve each other."
