"Congratulations on signing the big contract!"

Cedric Grant’s eyes were sparkling, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

He was so eager to give his gift to Joanna Sherman that he didn’t even take the time to wipe his sweat.

Levin Sawyer’s anger flared as he watched Cedric Grant ignore his own mother for some insignificant woman. He took a step forward, ready to intervene.

Sophia Shaw pulled him back. "Let it go."

Levin Sawyer looked at her, his heart aching for her. "This is so unfair to you!"

"Has he forgotten? Every time he got sick, it was you who took care of him around the clock!"

"He used to have a sensitive stomach, and you were the one waking up at two in the morning to prepare his meals, nursing him back to health little by little!"

"When he wanted to see rocket manufacturing without giving up his studies, you were the one driving nearly a thousand kilometers every day, making two round trips to take him there and back!"

"And later, when Vincent Grant found him a place to live near the base, you were worried he wouldn’t be able to manage, so you kept driving back and forth day and night, even while you were pregnant!"

"He doesn’t give you the respect you deserve, yet he fawns over a woman who has sacrificed nothing for him!"

"Does he even have a conscience?!"

Levin Sawyer had only recently learned of the hardships Sophia Shaw had endured. Even he, an outsider, felt his heart ache for her.

’I really want to teach Cedric Grant a lesson!’

Sophia Shaw closed her eyes. "It doesn’t matter anymore."

’Cedric Grant’s heart wasn’t with her anymore. It would be pointless to try and force him to stay by her side.’

Only after the group of four across from them had left did Sophia Shaw ask, "Cedric said Joanna Sherman signed a big contract. What contract was it?"

"The J Family had a military contract and was looking for a private contractor. Young Master Croft made the call and gave the contract to Grant Interstellar."

"Young Master Croft?"

Sophia Shaw recalled the Young Master Croft, and his inexplicable animosity toward her.

The Croft Family was an extraordinary entity. By securing a contract with them, Joanna Sherman had gotten off to a fantastic start in the commercial sector, catapulting her several tiers above her peers.

Levin Sawyer, however, didn’t see it that way. A cold sneer curled his lips. "The Croft Family gave the contract to a chief engineer who can’t build a rocket without a consultant. They’re clearly digging their own grave!"

"Let’s just hope they don’t regret today’s decision!"

Sophia Shaw felt she must have picked the worst possible day to go out.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they unexpectedly ran into Vincent Grant and his party again.

Cedric Grant was still loudly praising Joanna Sherman, while Vincent Grant, attentive as always, was serving Joanna by peeling her shrimp. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The two of them took turns doting on her.

Fortunately, Ms. Archer brought Bun over.

Bun’s soft and adorable presence managed to dispel the unease in Sophia Shaw’s heart.

Not wanting to look at that eyesore of a group, Levin Sawyer deliberately chose a private room as far away from them as possible.

Sophia Shaw had been feeding Bun her milk. After Ms. Archer finished eating, she immediately put the child in the stroller. "I’ll take Bun for a walk to let her digest. You should get something to eat."

’High-end restaurants were secure; there was no need to worry about running into any trouble.’

Sophia Shaw agreed, letting Ms. Archer take the baby away.

She and Levin Sawyer ate while discussing work matters, and half an hour passed without them noticing.

Levin Sawyer had other matters to attend to, so he left first.

Sophia Shaw went out to look for Bun.

From a distance, she saw Cedric Grant standing in front of Ms. Archer’s stroller, head bowed as he looked down at Bun inside.

Sophia Shaw’s heart leaped.

’Has Cedric... finally had a change of heart? Is he willing to care about his sister?’

She couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

Just as she got closer, she heard Ms. Archer’s furious voice. "How could a young man like you say something so vicious! She’s your own sister!"

"What’s wrong?"

Sophia Shaw walked closer and looked at Ms. Archer.

Ms. Archer had a gentle disposition and rarely lost her temper to this extent.

’The problem was most likely Cedric Grant.’

"Cedric, can you tell me what just happened?" Sophia Shaw turned to him, asking with forced patience.

Cedric Grant stubbornly pursed his lips, his eyes rimmed with red.

He looked as if he’d been terribly wronged.

Uncomfortable under Sophia Shaw’s stare, he finally burst out, "I wasn’t wrong!"

Then he stormed off in a huff.

Ms. Archer watched his retreating back, shaking her head. She patted Bun sympathetically, her own expression never softening.

"Ms. Archer, what exactly did Cedric say?"

Ms. Archer’s face was incredibly stiff. "You... maybe you shouldn’t ask."

’She couldn’t bring herself to repeat such hurtful words.’

"Ms. Archer!"

Sophia Shaw was usually gentle, but she was not to be trifled with when she got serious.

Ms. Archer knew her personality, so she could only sigh and say, "He came over just now, and I thought he wanted to get closer to Bun. But who would have thought he’d open his mouth and call Bun a... a bastard!"

"He even told me to pass on a message to you—that you should send her to an orphanage!"

"I mean... just..."

Ms. Archer had already felt it was an injustice to Bun, and now she was so upset her voice started to break.

Sophia Shaw’s chest felt tight, a painful, stinging sensation building inside.

She bent down, hugged Bun tightly, and began rubbing her ears relentlessly.

Even though she knew the three-month-old couldn’t understand, she did it again and again, as if she could wipe away Cedric Grant’s cold, heartless words!

While Bun couldn’t understand the words, she could already read facial expressions. She had felt the hostility in the fierce way Cedric Grant had looked at her moments ago.

Now, she was desperately trying to snuggle her little body into Sophia Shaw’s embrace, her small face pressed against her mother’s chest, her big eyes filled with hurt.

The more Sophia Shaw looked, the more her heart ached.

Across the way, Joanna Sherman was leaning over to wash her hands, her gaze as cold and distant as ever.

After washing her hands, she strode past them without a glance.

Ms. Archer watched her retreating back, her expression resentful. "I can see Cedric really listens to her, but she didn’t say a single word to stop him when he was saying those awful things!"

’Why would Joanna ever stop him?’

’Ever since they were children, she had always been one to pull strings from the shadows, just so she could look down from her high horse and enjoy Sophia’s suffering.’

’Now that Cedric was willing to cause trouble for Sophia all on his own, Joanna couldn’t be more pleased.’

Sophia Shaw was utterly baffled by the lifelong animosity Joanna Sherman held for her.

’It was that man who abandoned Joanna and her mother, yet she directed all her hatred at Sophia.’

’The man had clearly cared more for Joanna, had been more partial to her, yet Joanna still felt wronged, believing that Sophia was the one who had gotten the better deal.’

"That woman is so obviously small-minded. I just don’t see the appeal!" Nanny Archer said, utterly disgusted with Joanna Sherman.

"She has no character to speak of, and her looks are... average at best."

Ms. Archer still preferred someone like Sophia Shaw—gentle, yet incredibly resilient.

The two of them walked back.

Sophia Shaw, holding Bun, walked straight to Vincent Grant’s table.

"Cedric!" she called out.

Seeing Sophia Shaw, Cedric Grant looked extremely awkward, but still he mumbled, "Mom."

"Apologize to Cherie." Sophia Shaw gestured toward Bun in her arms.

Cedric Grant’s face instantly stiffened into an expression of disbelief.

’His mother had always been careful to protect his pride, never embarrassing him in public.’

But now, she completely ignored his expression and stated coolly, "Cherie is my daughter, not a bastard."

"Furthermore, I will be the one to raise her. Don’t you ever talk about sending her to an orphanage again!"

Vincent Grant, who was sitting to the side, had remained impassive and expressionless the entire time.

Only when he heard Sophia Shaw’s words did he finally look over at Cedric Grant, his brow furrowed.

Utterly humiliated, Cedric Grant’s composure finally shattered. "I’m not wrong! She’s not my sister anyway! She belongs in an orphanage!"

"Even Auntie Joanna..."

Cedric Grant cut himself off abruptly, not saying another word.

’But Sophia already understood.’

’So Joanna’s cold, aloof act really was just a facade!’

’Insidious—that was her true nature!’