Some things are better left unsaid unless you’re absolutely certain.
Besides, it had nothing to do with her.
"By the way, Joanna Sherman gave an interview to reporters this morning. She said she’ll pay back every penny of Chad Jennings’ debt."
"Chad Jennings borrowed the money in the company’s name. She could have just ignored it. Is she dragging herself into such a huge mess just for some good publicity? Is it worth it?"
"If it helps her secure a bigger prize, then it’s worth it." Sophia Shaw patted her. "Alright, let’s put this aside for now. Go on, get back to work."
"A bigger prize... What bigger prize?"
Leah Evans picked up her phone and scratched her head as she walked out, still trying to figure out what Joanna Sherman was up to.
Sophia Shaw sat back down at her desk, her finger tapping lightly as she turned on her computer.
’Joanna Sherman... It seems like she has an expert guiding her lately.’
The person who released the news was quickly found. It was an unknown, small-time lawyer.
According to the lawyer’s confession, he was acting under Chad Jennings’ instructions.
Chad Jennings’ appeal had failed, and he was resentful. He wanted to smear Sophia Shaw to threaten her into helping him out of his predicament.
"I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to use this case to make a name for myself. I never thought it would backfire so badly."
The lawyer sobbed uncontrollably in front of the camera, filled with regret.
When Joel Hale strode into Vincent Grant’s office, Vincent was watching that very video.
He began, "President Sawyer found the lawyer one step ahead of us. My apologies, our line of thinking was wrong. We thought it was Sher—"
Joel Hale quickly shut his mouth and handed the documents to Vincent Grant.
Vincent Grant picked up a pen and signed them one by one. He paused slightly when he saw one particular document.
"This plan—"
"Oh, I was having dinner with a friend who works at Lead Aerospace last week and happened to hear that they were having some trouble with the venue for a charity project they’re working on. I put the problem out there for ideas, and this was the proposal someone from the team came up with."
"I thought it was quite viable, so I wanted to bring it to you for a look."
The Grant Group strongly encouraged employees to brainstorm and would often present difficult problems to solicit ideas. An idea, once adopted, came with a considerable bonus.
Vincent Grant was very satisfied with the proposal. "Give the author a double bonus."
"Yes, sir."
After signing the documents, Vincent Grant strode downstairs.
Once a week, he would eat at the Grant Group’s internal cafeteria.
Joel Hale arranged a table for him in a more secluded corner.
Screened by plants and partitions, no one noticed his presence.
The people at the next table were talking in low voices. "Did you just see Ms. Sherman? Haven’t seen her in a while, she looks so haggard. The cafeteria lady said she ate in a hurry and left, seemed like she was in a rush."
"How could she not be in a rush? She’s responsible for Zenith’s profits and losses now. Hundreds of people depend on her for their livelihood."
"It’s more than just that! She voluntarily took on her father’s debt of over 400 million! You can imagine the pressure, having to repay the principal and make monthly interest payments."
"Sigh, she’s so young, at an age where she should be enjoying life, but instead... it’s just heartbreaking to see."
"Heartbreaking? I think it shows she’s responsible and career-driven! Look, she could have ignored her dad’s debt, but she shouldered it anyway. It’s so hard to find someone that responsible these days."
"Yeah, and she’s a woman, too. Before, when you all were praising her to the skies, I wasn’t really convinced. Now, I’m convinced!"
"Me too!"
Joel Hale glanced uncomfortably at Vincent Grant, then stood up and walked over to that table. "If you’re going to eat, just eat. Don’t gossip about things that don’t concern you!"
Only then did the group notice Vincent Grant’s presence, and they immediately fell silent.
Joel Hale returned. "My apologies, President Grant. I’m sorry they disturbed your meal. I’ll book a private room for you next time."
—
「That evening, a hotel room.」
A man’s and a woman’s clothes were tangled together suggestively, trailing from the door to the edge of the bed.
A hand picked up a shirt from the floor and put it on.
Joel Hale raised his hands, buttoning his shirt in front of the mirror. The respectful caution he showed around Vincent Grant during the day was completely gone, replaced by a look of arrogance and confidence.
"President Grant really liked your idea and the proposal. Your reputation at the company is also very positive. Keep it up, but don’t draw too much attention to yourself."
He tilted his head, looking at Joanna Sherman, who was on the bed, her chest partially exposed.
Joanna Sherman held a glass, the red wine swirling inside. Her face was half-turned, and her eyes, though flushed red from the afterglow of passion, were not intoxicated.
They were purely physical partners, without a hint of romance.
Joel Hale walked over and took the glass from her hand. "Playing hard to get, guilt-tripping... the tricks you used before were too low-level. The truly brilliant method is to subtly make him unable to leave you, drawn in by your most dazzling qualities."
"Making proposals that speak directly to his heart to help him chase the woman he likes, taking on responsibilities others can’t even imagine—like my dad’s debt of several hundred million. Always staying neutral, saying the right things, like helping Sophia Shaw..." Joanna Sherman looked deeply at Joel Hale through her wine glass. "How come I never knew you were this brilliant?"
Joel Hale scoffed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he downed the wine in the glass.
He set the glass on the table and straightened up.
"In the past, you were too arrogant to even notice me."
Joel Hale put his hands in his pockets. "I can’t beat you on a technical level, but I’m better with people. So remember what I’ve taught you: put away your arrogance, and always, always keep a low profile."
With that, he turned and left.
Joanna Sherman climbed out of bed and walked, naked, to the mirror to look at herself.
Her fingers curled into a fist, one by one.
’It’s Sophia Shaw’s fault I’ve been reduced to consorting with a mere assistant. Sooner or later, I’ll make her pay for this!’
Today was the school’s open house.
Sophia Shaw stood at the school gate, hesitating for a moment before heading inside.
The day before, Ms. Archer had casually mentioned that Clearwater Academy was holding its parent open house today.
Vincent Grant was out of town and couldn’t make it back, so he was just going to send the driver.
Cedric Grant was her son, after all. So, Sophia Shaw had come.
Sophia Shaw had only been to the school once before, and that was with Lillian Forrest to see a student she sponsored.
She vaguely remembered that Cedric Grant was in Class 8.
Sophia Shaw walked along the school’s long corridor, looking for him.
She searched for a long time but couldn’t find him.
Just as she was wondering whether she should ask a teacher, she looked down and saw Cedric Grant in the small garden below. He was carefully packing soil around a small seedling he was planting.
After planting it, he hung a small sign on it, making sure it was straight.
"Hey, look! He’s so pitiful!"
A few boys walked over, pointing at him.
"Everyone else is planting little trees with their moms and dads, but he’s all alone!"
"So he’s a kid nobody wants."
"Didn’t you know? His own mom came once, but she didn’t even look at him. She’d rather be a mom to some other kid than pay attention to him."
"Wild child, HAHAHA!"
"Shut up!" Cedric Grant shouted. "I’m not a wild child! And my mom didn’t go be a mom to someone else!"
"You still have the nerve to say that! If she wasn’t being a mom to someone else, why didn’t she come to your event and go to another classroom instead?"
Cedric Grant got good grades in class, was quick-witted, and was often praised by the teachers as a model student.
These boys were the worst-performing students in the class. Resentful of how popular he always was, they had been looking for trouble for a while.
One of them kicked the seedling Cedric had just planted, sending it flying.
Furious, Cedric lunged to push him, but he was grabbed by the other two boys.
"Say it! Say you’re a wild child!"
"We won’t let you go until you say it!"
Cedric struggled stubbornly.
The other boys were bigger and taller than him; he couldn’t break free no matter how hard he tried.
Sophia Shaw’s heart clenched, and she rushed downstairs.
"Stop!"
Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, a figure dashed past her.
The person shoved aside the two boys holding Cedric. "What are you doing!"
Cedric was pulled into an embrace with great force. The person gently held his shoulders. "Cedric, are you okay?"
A warm hand rested on the top of his head.
He felt a surge of joy and looked up, but when he saw the person’s face, the delight in his eyes vanished.
As he turned his head, he happened to see Sophia Shaw.
She was standing motionless on the stairs. From his perspective, it looked as if she didn’t care about him at all—she was just watching a show.