Chapter 104: Chapter 104: You’re Just Like Your Mother, You Only Know How to Steal Men

Sophia Shaw was prepared and took a step back.

She waved for security. "This old woman is disrupting my work. Get her out of here!"

The security guards immediately took Esther Sullivan by the arms and began to drag her away.

Esther Sullivan yelled in a panic, "Let go of me! I’m his grandmother! Let go!"

Unfortunately for her, no one here listened.

"Sophia Shaw, how can you be so cold and heartless, kicking out his grandmother like this!"

"No wonder no one likes you! Even your own son doesn’t want you, and your husband can’t stand the sight of you!"

Esther Sullivan’s voice drifted back to her, fragmented and sharp.

Sophia Shaw pressed her lips together, said nothing, and quickened her pace.

Ahead, Joanna Sherman was leading a red-eyed Cedric Grant toward her.

"Mom..." he called out timidly.

Sophia Shaw didn’t answer. Her gaze, cool and sharp, landed on Joanna Sherman.

"Miss Shaw, why must you be this way? Cedric made a small mistake, and now you want to cut him off? That’s a bit narrow-minded of you."

Joanna Sherman said, her tone dripping with self-righteousness.

’Just like when they were kids. She’d do all sorts of terrible things, then put on a show, placing herself on the moral high ground to judge everyone else.’

"Miss Sherman is certainly broad-minded, if she considers a matter of life and death to be something ’small.’"

Sophia Shaw’s usually gentle eyes now burned with intensity.

"Or perhaps, in Miss Sherman’s mind, my daughter is insignificant. You people are what’s most important, which is why you’d define my daughter’s injury as a ’small mistake.’"

"You really are as shameless as ever, Miss Sherman!"

"You... don’t you talk to Auntie Joanna like that!" Cedric Grant suddenly blurted out.

He stood in front of Joanna Sherman like a little lion cub, baring his teeth and claws at Sophia Shaw.

Behind Cedric Grant, Joanna Sherman lifted her chin, a triumphant look aimed at Sophia.

The posture of a victor.

’It suddenly dawned on Sophia. Joanna Sherman hadn’t brought Cedric over to reconcile them. She was just showing off how important she was to him.’

’See? Just a few harsh words for Joanna Sherman, and Cedric’s heart ached for her.’

’Joanna Sherman had achieved her goal.’

’And so easily.’

’The easier it was, the more it proved just how much Cedric valued Joanna Sherman.’

’The son she had given birth to, her own flesh and blood, instinctively sided with Joanna Sherman. No matter how many times she told herself she’d let go, a sharp, needle-like pain still pricked her heart.’

Sophia Shaw took a deep breath, suppressing the relentless ache in her chest.

She gestured toward Joanna Sherman, then looked at Cedric. "You see? You’ve already chosen your Auntie Joanna. Why did you even bother coming over?"

Cedric then realized that in his haste, he had forgotten why he’d come and had instinctively defended Joanna Sherman.

He hurriedly explained, "Mom, I didn’t mean it, I..."

Cedric couldn’t get the rest of the words out, his fingers curling helplessly.

’Auntie Joanna was right behind him. If he said he didn’t really mean to protect her, she would be terribly disappointed.’

’But if he didn’t, his mother would be angry.’

Cedric was trapped in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.

Sophia Shaw took in his predicament and smiled faintly.

The mole beneath her eye seemed to glint with a sad, resolute finality.

’If he couldn’t decide, she would decide for him.’

Sophia Shaw turned and walked away.

"Mom..."

Cedric called out to her but didn’t have the courage to even take a step to follow.

"Cedric, don’t worry. I’ll have a good talk with your mother," Joanna Sherman said softly.

Cedric looked at Joanna Sherman, his eyes red-rimmed with gratitude. "Auntie Joanna..."

Joanna Grant patted his shoulder and strode after Sophia Shaw. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Once out of Cedric’s sight, the malice in Joanna Sherman’s eyes finally surfaced. "Sophia Shaw, you see it now, don’t you? Both Vincent Grant’s and your son’s hearts belong to me."

"You can’t even hold on to the hearts of the people closest to you. What makes you think you can fight me?"

"I suggest you wise up. Go and beg the Grants yourself to release Vincent Grant and reopen the base. Otherwise, I’ll snatch away that backer of yours, and then we’ll see how smug you can be!"

Arrogant.

Domineering.

Utterly insufferable!

’Beneath Joanna Sherman’s high-and-mighty exterior was the most vicious, filthy heart. Only blind fools like Vincent Grant and Cedric Grant would think she was some kind of saint.’

Sophia Shaw’s fingers tightened on the car door handle. "Why don’t you save the threats for after you’ve actually managed to steal my backer?"

’Joanna Sherman thought her backer was Levin Sawyer.’

’But her only true backer had always been herself.’

"As for Vincent Grant and Cedric Grant, I cast them aside long ago. You’re welcome to my leftovers."

"After all—"

Sophia Shaw glanced back at her, her starkly clear eyes filled with profound pity. "With that father and son, your family will have someone to continue sucking blood from."

With that,

she opened the car door, got in, and left.

All in one smooth motion.

"Damn it!"

’How dare she call me a Vampire!’

Caught off guard by the humiliation, Joanna Sherman was so furious she clenched her fists.

She glared at the back of Sophia Shaw’s car, wanting to smash it to pieces with Sophia still inside.

"Auntie Joanna, my mom... Why did she leave?" Cedric ran over, asking anxiously as he watched Sophia’s car drive away.

Joanna Sherman forced down her irritation and said in her usual gentle tone, "Your mother is still upset. Once she’s calmed down, I’m sure she’ll come looking for you."

"Really?"

Cedric was skeptical.

’Mom’s expression was so cold just now. So, so cold.’

’If Mom really ignores me from now on, what will I do?’

Joanna Sherman noticed his lingering attachment to Sophia, and a dark, vicious glint flashed in her eyes.

Her expression didn’t change as she put her hands on Cedric’s shoulders. "Cedric, listen to Auntie. From now on, no matter how your mother treats me, you’re not allowed to defend me, okay?"

"Your mother is just upset and needs to vent. Auntie can take it."

"Auntie Joanna..."

Cedric’s fear easily transformed into sympathy for Joanna Sherman.

’Auntie Joanna is so amazing. Even though Mom targets her like this, she doesn’t get angry. She even tries to comfort me.’

’It would be so great if I could just convince Mom to truly accept Auntie Joanna.’

’Then Auntie Joanna wouldn’t have to put up with so much and endure Mom’s bad temper.’

...

"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

Levin Sawyer said as he walked into Sophia Shaw’s office.

Sophia Shaw looked up from her computer, her gentle eyes glinting softly. "Let’s hear it."

"The good news is our rocket rideshare model received the highest possible safety rating in its overseas assessment, and it’s been approved for domestic operation!"

"That’s wonderful."

It was indeed good news.

A genuine smile touched Sophia Shaw’s lips.

"Yes. For years, foreign companies have been racing to launch satellites, constantly fighting for resources in space, while we could only watch," Levin Sawyer lamented.

"Cathan’s private aerospace sector got a late start. Launching satellites one by one, it would take who knows how long to catch up with other countries."

"But now with our rideshare service, companies of all kinds can launch their satellites at a low cost. Surpassing the rest of the world is no longer just a dream!"

Launching satellites isn’t just about signal networks on the ground; it’s intrinsically linked to military applications, technological monopolies, and hegemony in space.

One could say that the nation’s future, whether it can avoid being held hostage by others, depends entirely on its satellite capabilities.

Levin Sawyer looked at Sophia Shaw with admiration. "It’s a good thing you had the foresight to propose this rideshare business model."

Although Sophia Shaw hadn’t been involved in the day-to-day management of the company for years, she often provided Levin Sawyer with advice on their broader strategy.

She had seen through the ambitions of foreign rocket companies long ago and had urged him to start planning for this early on.

It was a level of foresight he could only admire from afar.

Sophia Shaw didn’t feign modesty, silently accepting his praise.

After a moment, she asked, "And the bad news?"

At her question, the smile on Levin Sawyer’s face faded slightly. "Vincent Grant is out. He turned the situation around in a single night. Grant Interstellar is already back in business."

"I hear he’s pulling strings, trying to land a major contract for Joanna Sherman and Zenith to get them back in the game."

Frankly, if Vincent Grant weren’t such a scumbag to Sophia Shaw, Levin Sawyer would genuinely admire his capabilities.

Sophia Shaw showed little reaction.

"Let them reopen, then."

’She had always been aware of Vincent Grant’s capabilities. When he set his mind to something, he always succeeded.’

Levin Sawyer had been worried this news would upset her.

After being locked away for so long, Vincent Grant didn’t come out to check on his wife and child, but to help Joanna Sherman advance her career.

But her expression was detached, as if she were discussing strangers.

Levin Sawyer relaxed and smiled as well. "You’re right. Let them reopen. In fact, I hope Zenith does make a comeback. Then our two companies can have some real competition."

"A company needs a strong rival to get bigger."

"It’s just a shame Vincent Grant backed the wrong horse. Someone like Joanna Sherman won’t be qualified to compete with us in a hundred years."

Levin Sawyer finished and glanced at Sophia Shaw.

She was already lost in her own world. Her lips were pressed in concentration, her eyes fixed on the screen, and the pen in her hand occasionally darted across the paper in front of her.