In Yvonne Sherman’s eyes, her daughter was exceptionally talented. If Old Master Sloan didn’t accept her, it certainly wasn’t a matter of skill.

"I’m not sure, but that’s not important."

"I’m sure that if I defeat Levin Sawyer, Old Master Sloan will be impressed."

"I’m going upstairs to study right now!"

...

Over dinner, Sophia Shaw discussed the proposed revisions with Old Master Sloan.

Old Master Sloan was very satisfied and signed a contract with the two of them on the spot.

Though it was a small contract, it marked the first-ever collaboration between a private Cathan rocket company and NASA, making it a truly historic event.

Sophia Shaw and Levin Sawyer were both ecstatic.

Especially Levin Sawyer.

NASA wouldn’t normally trust a company like theirs, which built rockets at a drastically reduced cost. It was all thanks to Sophia, who used her own expertise to convince her former mentor.

That afternoon, Sophia took Bun with her to meet Jenson and Lillian Forrest.

Considering Sophia had a child with her, Jenson booked a table at an exceptionally quiet private kitchen.

They were the only party on the entire floor.

When Sophia got out of her car, Jenson and Lillian were already waiting by the entrance.

Lillian, wearing a small sun hat and a white dress, nervously tugged on Jenson’s sleeve.

Jenson gently patted the back of her hand and walked over to greet Sophia.

"Miss Forrest," Sophia said, noticing her nervousness.

"Hello," Lillian responded softly.

Jenson greeted her as well. "Miss Shaw."

"My sister rarely goes out, so she might not be used to interacting with strangers."

"That’s all right."

Sophia took the initiative and shook her hand. "My name is Sophia Shaw."

Sophia’s voice was gentle and soothing, and Lillian suddenly felt less nervous.

"Sophia, can I call you Faye?"

"Of course."

Bun, who had just been napping in Sophia’s arms, was awakened by the voices.

Hearing her mommy talking to strangers, she poked her little head out.

Her big, round eyes darted about.

Her gaze landed first on Jenson Forrest.

Seeing that he was a handsome man, she broke into a little grin and blew several bubbles at him.

"So cute!"

Jenson rarely interacted with children, but Bun’s cuteness completely melted his heart.

He instinctively reached out to touch Bun’s cheek.

Bun thought he was playing with her and giggled nonstop.

"Is this Faye’s baby? She’s so adorable."

Lillian’s face lit up at the sound of the baby’s laughter.

"Let’s head upstairs,"

Jenson gestured for them to go ahead.

The three of them went upstairs together.

After they sat down, Lillian reached out tentatively to play with Bun.

Bun grabbed her thumb with both her hands and feet.

She babbled, making little "ah" and "ooh" sounds.

Lillian babbled right back at her, and the earnest expressions on both their faces made Jenson and Sophia laugh.

"Lil hasn’t been this happy in a very long time."

Jenson remarked, watching his sister.

He had invited Sophia to dinner to thank her, but it had turned into Sophia and her baby delighting his sister instead.

Sophia looked at Lillian.

Lillian was very beautiful, with fair skin and delicate features, but her eyes were vacant.

"Lillian... has she been like this since she was a child?"

She and Vincent had never been that close, so she knew even less about his friends.

Jenson shook his head. "She got sick when she was ten."

Lillian was only sixteen.

Such a tender age to spend the rest of her life in darkness.

A pang of pain shot through Sophia’s heart.

’If she’d been blind from birth, it would be one thing, but to lose her sight partway through life must have been a devastating blow.’

"Faye, may I hold the baby?"

Lillian asked cautiously.

Sophia nodded. "Of course."

She placed Bun in Lillian’s arms.

Bun seemed to sense that Lillian couldn’t see, and she nestled quietly in her arms.

Her tiny hand gripped Lillian’s thumb, a little nervously.

"This little one is so sweet." Lillian held Bun, not wanting to let go.

Jenson looked over at Sophia.

Her gaze was lowered, watching his sister and Bun with a gentle expression.

Her long lashes were slightly upturned, making her as beautiful as a painting.

Jenson cleared his throat to regain his composure and said softly, "Vincent threw out Sharon Sherman and Justin today because they were rude to you. He didn’t even let them eat."

Sophia said nothing, merely tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Her expression was so detached, as if what Jenson had said had nothing to do with her.

’Vincent only protects me because I’m Cedric’s mother, that’s all.’

’These days, I don’t let my imagination run wild, I don’t overthink things, and I certainly don’t let it affect me in the slightest.’

Jenson didn’t press the topic.

Lillian, however, was especially lively, peppering Sophia with all sorts of peculiar questions throughout the meal.

Sophia patiently answered every single one.

Jenson watched Sophia with some surprise.

Lillian’s questions were tricky and eccentric, some even touching upon highly advanced subjects.

Yet none of them stumped her.

This didn’t match his impression of Sophia at all.

By the end of the meal, Lillian had grown incredibly fond of both Sophia and Bun.

She wished she could take them both home with her.

As they were leaving, she couldn’t help but ask, "Faye, can we see each other again?"

Seeing the hopeful look on Lillian’s face, Sophia couldn’t bring herself to say no. She nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"That’s wonderful!"

Sophia drove home by herself.

It wasn’t until she got out of the car that she saw a text from Jenson:

"Thank you. Lillian was very happy today."

Sophia didn’t reply. She carried Bun into the house.

After handing the little one to Ms. Archer, she slipped back into her study to work.

「The Forrest Residence.」

"Brother."

Lillian felt her way into Jenson’s room.

Jenson, who had been looking down at his phone, saw her and hurried over to help. "What is it?"

Something small and cool fell into his palm.

Lillian said, "I was just tidying my clothes and found this caught on my zipper."

"It must be Faye’s. Could you ask her for me, Brother?"

Jenson looked down and saw a small pendant lying in his palm.

It was a green three-leaf clover, and his pupils contracted at the sight of it.

He reached for a three-leaf clover emblem sitting on his desk and compared the two.

They were identical!

Jenson closed his hand, his expression unreadable. "Okay."

...

Sophia worked until the dim light of dawn.

She was physically exhausted, but her heart felt full.

She had a missed call from Cedric Grant on her phone.

There was also a message from Vincent: Clearwater Academy’s picnic had been rescheduled for tomorrow, and could she please make some food for him.

Vincent was always like this, his tone polite yet cold, even in text messages.

Sophia let out a faint, cold laugh.

’I already rejected Cedric loud and clear the other day, but he still won’t give up.’

’He wants his real mom to do the grunt work while Joanna Sherman gets to have all the fun. Does he really not know how much that would hurt me?’

’And Vincent—what right does he have to think I’m obligated to slave away for "their family of four’s" special bonding time?’

’This time, I’ll take a page out of Vincent’s book. No response.’ She tossed her phone aside and went to sleep.

「The next day.」

Sophia was jolted awake by the insistent ringing of her phone.

Still groggy, she answered the phone and heard a voice on the other end. "Mom, today is my picnic day. Didn’t Dad remind you?"

"Why haven’t you brought the food over yet?"

It took Sophia a moment to realize it was Cedric’s voice.

"It’s already eleven o’clock. Please hurry."

Cedric’s voice was heavy with resentment.

All of his classmates had food except for him.

Standing among them empty-handed, he felt like a total outcast.

It was utterly humiliating.

"I didn’t make anything," Sophia said flatly.

Cedric was already feeling humiliated, and hearing Sophia say she hadn’t made anything made him so angry he shouted, "How could you do this! When I ask you to do something, can’t you take it a little more seriously?"

"Do you have any idea that Joann—"

He was too embarrassed to shout the words "Auntie Joanna is coming too," so he changed his tune. "Everyone else has food! I’m the only one with nothing! How am I supposed to face my classmates and teachers?!"

"They’ll think I’m deliberately ignoring the instructions!"

"Mom, how could you humiliate me in front of so many people?"

"Cedric," Sophia said, her patience wearing thin.

If he weren’t her son, she wouldn’t have wasted her breath explaining.

"I told you very clearly last time that I don’t have time."

"I didn’t answer your calls or reply to your or your father’s texts last night. That should have been your cue that you couldn’t rely on me and needed to find another solution."

"You did nothing, so how can you blame me for embarrassing you?"

Cedric was speechless.

"Dad’s message said you’d read it but hadn’t replied. I just figured you forgot to text back."

After all, every time Sophia had said no to him in the past, all he had to do was get his dad involved, and she would always give in.

Cedric’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

"Figure it out yourself." Sophia didn’t relent just because he was upset.

"Mom, did you know Auntie Joanna was coming, so you refused to make the food on purpose?" Cedric asked resentfully. "Do you have a problem with Auntie Joanna, and that’s why you’re letting me be humiliated?"

A muscle twitched near the beauty mark under Sophia’s eye. "Since you already know I don’t like Joanna Sherman, why did you ask me to make the food in the first place?"

"Besides, isn’t it a parent-child picnic? Cedric, I am your biological mother."

Since they were getting a divorce, Sophia hadn’t wanted to make a fuss.

But Cedric was her son, and she had a responsibility to teach him.

Cedric was rendered speechless by her questions.

If Sophia had been standing in front of him, he would have been so ashamed he’d have wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

Having said her piece, Sophia hung up.

"What’s wrong?"

Vincent and Joanna Sherman walked over, with Joanna holding Stella Grant.

Seeing Cedric sitting dazed on a stone bench, Vincent frowned slightly.