"Dad is very busy today," Cedric Grant said hurriedly. "And I have a class this afternoon."

Sophia Shaw had personally arranged Cedric’s weekend classes. On Saturdays, he only had soccer in the morning.

’He must have signed up for more with Vincent after I left.’

"Let me take you to class."

Although she was in a hurry to get back to Bun, she didn’t want to seem careless with Cedric.

"No, it’s fine. Dad is sending Uncle Abbott to pick me up."

Hearing Cedric say that, Sophia didn’t insist.

Just then, June Evans called. She said she wanted to take her child to the swimming center and invited Sophia to bring Bun along.

Sophia locked the painting in the safe, sent a text to Vincent, and hurried back.

...

"See? I wasn’t lying. This place is spotless."

In a large, recently opened infant swimming center, Sophia and June sat by the edge of an adorable, pastel-pink pool, watching Bun and Chloe swim happily in the water with neck floats.

The two little ones kicked their tiny feet in the water nonstop.

Bun blew bubbles at Chloe.

Chloe swam over and took her hand.

The scene was incredibly cute and heartwarming.

Both June and Sophia couldn’t resist taking out their phones and snapping picture after picture.

"Why are they here?"

Sophia was enthusiastically taking photos when June nudged her elbow.

Down below, Vincent Grant was walking side-by-side with Joanna Sherman, holding a child. Cedric Grant, who had claimed he had class, was following close behind them.

The three of them didn’t see Sophia and went to a pool on the other side.

"Dad, Auntie Joanna, let me watch my little sister," Cedric announced loudly. "I’ll read her an English picture book!"

With that, he sat down, opened the picture book, and began to read aloud with great earnestness.

"Oh, is this your son? He’s so well-behaved, already reading to his sister at such a young age."

"His pronunciation is perfect."

Passersby gave him a thumbs-up in praise.

The corners of Cedric’s mouth turned up, and even his eyebrows rose a few degrees.

He was thrilled to be able to show off his English skills in front of Auntie Joanna and receive so much praise from others.

Only then did Sophia understand that his earlier offer to read a picture book wasn’t an attempt to get closer to her.

It was just so he could read more fluently and with better pronunciation for Joanna Sherman.

"He won’t read to his own sister, but he eagerly runs off to read to someone else’s kid! What’s with that!" June Evans was furious, her face darkening.

"You’ve wasted all your love on that child!"

Sophia, however, seemed to have come to terms with it.

"He’s going to be living with them in the future. There’s nothing wrong with building a good relationship."

"You’re... not keeping the child?"

June had always known she and Vincent were getting a divorce, but she had never asked about who would get custody of Cedric.

"Mhm."

’There’s no point in keeping a child who doesn’t have me in his heart.’

June could more or less see that the reason Sophia didn’t want Cedric was because of Cedric himself.

She couldn’t help but sigh deeply, feeling sorry for Sophia.

"What an ungrateful brat! Does he even think about how much you’ve done for him?!"

No matter how much Vincent doted on his son, he was always tied up with work, so there was a limit to what he could do.

Whenever Cedric had so much as a headache or a fever, Sophia was always the one by his side.

Eating, dressing, his first lessons—which of these things did she not teach him herself, step by step?

People say a son is his mother’s lover from a past life, reincarnated to continue cherishing her in this one.

So why did he run off to dote on some complete stranger instead?

Sophia could tolerate it, but June couldn’t.

She scooped Chloe out of the water and strode over. "Cedric, I think you’re in the wrong place. Your sister is over there."

June pointed in Sophia’s direction.

Cedric looked up and saw Sophia, and a guilty expression immediately appeared on his face.

The picture book in his hand felt hotter than a hot potato.

He mumbled softly, "Mom."

"I’m talking to you, Vincent. Cedric’s eyesight must be failing if he can’t recognize his own mother and sister. When did your eyes get so useless, too?"

June sized up Joanna Sherman from head to toe, her gaze sharp enough to strip her bare.

Her voice wasn’t quiet, and the people who had just been praising Cedric all started to look at them strangely.

’So the original wife just ran into her husband with his mistress, huh?’

’This mistress’s methods are really something else. She even managed to win over the son.’

But no matter how skilled the mistress, she’s still someone everyone loves to hate.

The parents of the children who had been swimming in the same pool as Stella Grant quickly pulled them out of the water.

Vincent shot June a meaningful look, then glanced over at Sophia in the distance.

Although Sophia loathed Joanna Sherman, she didn’t want June to offend Vincent and affect the Shaw Family’s business. She walked over and said, "Auntie, let’s go."

June had come over specifically to make trouble for Joanna and Vincent.

Having caused enough, she didn’t linger and headed downstairs with Sophia.

As she walked, she said, "This place is no good. It stinks of a homewrecker. I was planning on getting a membership, but not anymore!"

That evening, after Bun fell asleep, Sophia worked for several more hours.

Cedric called several times, but she didn’t answer.

After being away from the job she loved for six years, she felt that no amount of work was enough, wishing she could make up for lost time by working day and night.

When she was more or less done, she rubbed her shoulders and headed for her room.

This time, it was Vincent calling her.

Sophia didn’t want to answer.

But then she remembered the painting their teacher had returned to him and figured she should give him an explanation, so she picked up.

She didn’t speak, waiting for the person on the other end to start.

Vincent didn’t seem to be in a hurry to speak either. The sound of their breathing passed back and forth over the line.

"What is it?" Sophia finally asked, taking the initiative.

"Mhm," Vincent replied. "Cedric was looking for you. He feels he lied to you and wants to apologize."

"There’s no need!"

She wasn’t going to be raising Cedric, so whether he lied to her or not wasn’t that important.

"Tell him I’m not mad at him, and that he should get some rest."

"Also, Old Master Sloan has returned the painting. It’s in the safe."

Old Master Sloan’s meaning was already very clear.

He would only ever value true talent and knowledge. Trying to take shortcuts when you don’t meet the requirements is useless.

Vincent was a smart man; she didn’t need to explain it to him.

"As for what my aunt said today... if it made you uncomfortable, I apologize."

She and Vincent were already in the process of divorcing, so he wasn’t technically cheating.

As for Joanna Sherman, she would never forgive her, let alone apologize to her.

Having said all that needed to be said, Sophia wasn’t sure what else there was to say.

For some reason, Vincent didn’t seem to be in a hurry to hang up tonight.

So Sophia simply hung up first herself.

Sophia was surprised to get a call from Jenson Forrest.

"Do you have time?"

"My sister has been wanting to thank you for saving her life the other day. Would you be able to have a meal with us?"

Jenson was one of Vincent’s crowd, and Sophia really didn’t want any more contact with anyone connected to Vincent.

"That’s not necessary."

"Like I said, I was just passing by."

"Lillian is very insistent. If you don’t agree, she’ll come find you herself."

Jenson’s voice paused on the phone.

"She’s blind."

Sophia froze.

Lillian Forrest’s eyes had been covered that day, so she hadn’t noticed.

"I’m only calling you because she wouldn’t stop pestering me."

"Once she sets her mind on something, she has to see it through. If she goes looking for you alone, it’s inevitable that something dangerous could happen."

"So, could you do me a favor?"

’Although Jenson hates me, he’s gentler than the others and occasionally shows me some kindness.’

Sophia’s heart suddenly softened.

Still, she said, "I’m very busy. Even if I have time, I have to take care of my child."

"Lil loves children. If you could bring your child along, she would be overjoyed."

Sophia had no more excuses to refuse, so she could only say, "Alright."

Jenson set the time for noon the next day.

The next morning, Sophia went to the company again.

After finishing the revisions for the task their teacher had assigned, she had a new idea for Lead Aerospace’s new project and was eager to discuss it with Levin Sawyer.

She had just arrived when she remembered it was Sunday, so Levin might not be there.

As she turned to leave, she saw him rushing in.

Seeing her, he said, "Quick, the master is looking for you!"

Sophia didn’t know what Old Master Sloan wanted with her, but she followed Levin into the car anyway.

Levin took her to NASA’s exhibition hall.

Old Master Sloan was standing beneath a massive new rocket. The rocket, soaring toward the heavens, did nothing to diminish the old man’s presence.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Across from him stood Joanna Sherman, a stubborn look on her face, and a silent Vincent Grant, his lips pressed together.