Sophia Shaw quietly watched Joanna Sherman’s smug, gloating expression.

’The base was just unsealed, and she’s already trying to snatch credit before her seat is even warm?’

’How shameless!’

’The more Joanna Sherman wants it, the more I’ll refuse to let her have it!’

Levin Sawyer was about to say more, but Sophia Shaw tugged the corner of his sleeve to stop him.

She spoke unhurriedly, "If I explain the entire process clearly, will that prove I’m qualified to be the chief project director?"

The crowd was already riled up. Not wanting to further offend Levin Sawyer, Joanna Sherman said no more.

But someone else spoke up for her.

"Of course."

"The chief project director must know the project they’re responsible for like the back of their hand. That’s the bare minimum."

"Miss Shaw, if you can’t explain it, please withdraw from this project voluntarily."

Sophia Shaw replied, "Fine."

"Let’s put a pin in this for now. I will have a meeting with President Sawyer to discuss and resolve it."

The moment she finished speaking, Vincent Grant, who had been standing at the door for quite a while, walked over and cut her off.

’He’s seemingly helping me, but in reality, he’s just like everyone else here—he doesn’t believe I have the ability.’

Sophia Shaw lowered her gaze, a faint, cold smile gracing her lips, accentuating the beauty mark beneath her eye.

’Vincent Grant is only speaking up because he feels guilty about what happened at the Grant family’s home last time.’

’He just wants to compensate me a little, that’s all.’

’I don’t need his hypocritical compensation.’

Levin Sawyer also understood Vincent Grant’s intention and deliberately went against it. "What meeting? Didn’t you hear Faye say she wants to speak?"

He looked as if he would hold up the sky if it fell, as long as Sophia Shaw wanted to have her fun.

Joanna Sherman’s gaze tightened viciously.

’Levin Sawyer would actually protect Sophia Shaw to this extent!’

’She’s just a housewife! What’s so special about her that he’s this protective?!’

Vincent Grant’s eyes also grew profoundly dark.

His heavy gaze bore down on Levin Sawyer.

Levin Sawyer ignored him. "This is all up to Faye. If she wants to speak, no one can stop her! If she doesn’t want to, no one can force her!"

His protectiveness was almost scandalously improper.

Vincent Grant reminded him, "My wif—"

"Let’s start now!"

Sophia Shaw’s loud voice drowned him out.

A crack seemed to appear in Vincent Grant’s pupils.

’She doesn’t want outsiders to know we’re married!’

Of course Sophia Shaw was unwilling.

’We’re about to get a divorce. Should I reveal our relationship just so everyone knows what a failure I was in it?’

Ignoring him, Sophia Shaw walked to the large blackboard, picked up a marker, and began to draw and explain...

「Half an hour later.」

The room was dead silent.

Everyone who had previously opposed Sophia Shaw was now completely convinced.

Her presentation had been brilliant and professional, leaving no room for criticism.

Across from her, Joanna Sherman’s pupils seemed to shatter in shock.

’Is this Sophia Shaw?’

’How could she present so well?’

Vincent Grant’s gaze had grown even darker than before.

Only Levin Sawyer casually strolled to Sophia Shaw’s side, his hands in his pockets. "Everyone, any other opinions?"

"None."

"Absolutely not!"

"We previously thought Miss Shaw was unprofessional, but now we see she’s extremely professional!"

"Lead Aerospace truly is Cathan’s leading rocket company. Your professional skills are superb."

"Lead Aerospace has earned its place as the lead. And of course, Zenith has earned its place as support."

The two uses of "earned its place" had entirely different connotations. Joanna Sherman’s face turned green with anger.

’What are these people implying?’

’That I’m only fit to be Sophia Shaw’s assistant?’

’Who do they think they are!’

Unable to lash out publicly, Joanna Sherman turned on her heel to leave.

"Miss Sherman, am I still a parasite?" Sophia Shaw called her out by name, a light, placid smile on her face.

Levin Sawyer scoffed.

’Trying to run away after losing?’

’It’s not that easy.’

’If Sophia hadn’t called her out, I would have.’

Her words drew everyone’s attention, and all eyes turned to Joanna Sherman.

Joanna Sherman spun around, her gaze colliding with Sophia Shaw’s in midair.

Sophia’s gaze remained calm and quiet, but the light in her eyes was incredibly resolute.

’She’s determined to make me eat my own words!’

’Damn Sophia Shaw!’

Joanna Sherman’s fingers, hidden beneath her sleeves, dug into her palms again and again. She wished she could rip Sophia Shaw’s face to shreds.

Sophia Shaw quietly savored her anger.

’It’s a good look on her.’

’And hilarious.’

’Vicious people truly are unreasonable.’

’Getting just a small taste of retribution makes them this hateful.’

’In their world, kind people are supposed to be stepped on for a lifetime.’

’To be bullied by them forever.’

’Who spoiled them like this?!’

"Miss Sherman, Faye is asking you a question," Levin Sawyer prompted deliberately. "What’s wrong? Do you have a problem with it? Why don’t you voice it, and we can debate?"

Levin Sawyer wasn’t worried at all that Sophia Shaw might lose.

Because it was impossible for her to lose!

Joanna Sherman’s face alternated between flushed and pale, the malice hidden beneath her cold exterior ready to explode.

Vincent Grant stepped forward. "This matter..." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"No!" Joanna Sherman interjected extremely quickly.

’If I let Vincent Grant help me, wouldn’t that mean I’m the real parasite living off a man?’

Though seething with hatred, she could only force out the words, "I’m sorry. I misjudged you. You’re not a parasite."

"Now that’s more like it."

Levin Sawyer clapped his hands in satisfaction. "I’d also advise Miss Sherman not to be a parasite."

"Of course, if the shoe doesn’t fit, then I take it back."

Joanna Sherman: "..."

"President Sawyer, you’ve gone too far," Vincent Grant said, his handsome face dark and extremely displeased.

Levin Sawyer shrugged.

’Joanna Sherman burns through tens of billions a year on rockets. With that kind of money, Sophia Shaw could launch several Lead Aerospaces.’

’She’s not a parasite; she’s a bona fide money pit.’

Sophia Shaw quietly watched Vincent Grant’s thunderous expression.

’This is Vincent Grant for you, always putting his goddess on a pedestal, never allowing anyone to speak the truth about her.’

’In the past, his attitude toward Joanna Sherman had left me constantly tormented, anxious, and self-reflecting.’

’I’d lie awake all night, asking myself over and over: what did I do wrong?’

’I was trapped in extreme self-negation, feeling like I was useless.’

Now that she had completely detached herself emotionally, she no longer wasted energy on internal turmoil.

Seeing Vincent Grant protect Joanna Sherman, she suddenly found it all rather boring.

’If you like her, then just marry her. Why play this game of a married man protecting his mistress?’

’Does he have to be so pathetic?’

"Let’s go," she said.

Levin Sawyer, also sick of watching Vincent Grant treat a piece of trash like a treasure, walked out with Sophia Shaw.

Behind them, the man’s gaze, deep and turbulent, remained fixed on Sophia Shaw.

...

The expansion of the company’s business was the result of the entire staff’s collective effort.

After discussing it, Sophia Shaw and Levin Sawyer decided to reward everyone.

They would have a team dinner that evening.

Lead Aerospace’s senior executives were all eccentric geniuses who never wanted to attend gatherings, but when they heard Sophia Shaw was organizing it, they all responded enthusiastically.

Everyone was in complete awe of Sophia Shaw and only regretted that she was usually too busy for them to spend much time with her.

Who wouldn’t be excited for a chance to get to know the big boss up close?

The group walked out, surrounding Sophia Shaw.

Outside the main entrance, Vincent Grant stood by his car.

A cigarette was pinched between his fingers, unsmoked, hanging by his side with a wisp of smoke curling up.

In her memory, Vincent Grant hated smoking.

Sophia Shaw spared him only a single glance before turning her face away, intending to walk past him.

But Vincent Grant extinguished the cigarette and strode toward her.

"Sophia Shaw, can we talk?"

Sophia Shaw looked at him.

Her gentle eyes were now filled with coldness at his interruption.

The others had been busy asking Sophia Shaw questions. When Vincent Grant suddenly blocked their path, they all looked over.

Unsure if he wanted to discuss business or personal matters, and not wanting others to know about their relationship, Sophia Shaw turned and instructed the group, "You all go on ahead. I’ll catch up."

The group left.

Not wanting to waste time, Sophia Shaw asked, "What did you want to talk about, President Grant?"

’President Grant?’

Sophia Shaw’s detached tone made Vincent Grant extremely uncomfortable.

But he didn’t dwell on it, only saying, "Cedric wants to have a meal with you. When are you free?"

"I’m never free," Sophia Shaw replied, her tone cold and crisp.

A hint of helplessness crossed Vincent Grant’s expression. "His mistake was my failure to teach him properly. I’ll discipline him."

"You have no manners yourself. How can you talk about teaching anyone?"

Sophia Shaw’s words were blunt and merciless, leaving Vincent Grant choking.

"I’m sorry. That night..."

"That night you crushed my self-respect in your family’s home over Joanna Sherman’s daughter’s pneumonia. Do you really want to bring that up?"

Vincent Grant: "..."

The Sophia Shaw of tonight was so fierce she seemed like a different person.

Sharp-tongued and impossible to counter.

In Vincent Grant’s memory, Sophia Shaw had always been quiet and reserved, a woman of few words who acted with extreme caution.

But he also knew she had been deeply hurt that night. He said in a low voice, "Something like that will never happen again."

’Still thinking about the future?’

Sophia Shaw found Vincent Grant utterly ridiculous.

In fact, the moment she saw Vincent Grant holding Bun, and saw how much the little girl relied on him, her heart had softened for a few seconds.

Unfortunately, that feeling was ultimately torn to shreds by him and his son.

’Not even a speck was left!’

"Vincent Grant, let’s get the necessary procedures done as soon as possible."

’I don’t want to be on the same marriage certificate with him for a second longer.’