From the surveillance footage last night, he realized Sophia Shaw wasn’t as clueless about rockets as he’d assumed. In fact, she knew every single component like the back of her hand.

Later, while working as Sophia Shaw’s assistant, he gained an even deeper understanding of her abilities.

’Her abilities far surpassed his!’

’There were very few people more capable than him, and they were all well-known names!’

’But Sophia Shaw...’

Elias Underwood suddenly thought of someone. "Could it be..."

Levin Sawyer smiled and patted his shoulder. "Sophia Shaw could have made your life at Zenith impossible, but she didn’t. For that reason alone, don’t say things you shouldn’t."

Realizing what a huge opportunity he had personally ruined, Elias Underwood’s eyes instantly turned red, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.

Sophia Shaw returned home. Cradling the soft, cuddly Bun in her arms, she felt as if the entire world had turned sweet.

Bun, not having seen her mother for a day and a night, nuzzled her little head into her chest.

Sophia Shaw, holding Bun, fell into a deep, long sleep.

Until June Evans called, asking her to bring Bun over for dinner.

With the ten million Sophia Shaw gave him, Yancy Shaw had expanded his business overseas.

He had finally made a breakthrough recently, landing several large overseas orders.

Yancy Shaw was happy, and a smile appeared on Grandma’s face as well.

This beleaguered family finally felt a flicker of warmth.

After dinner, June Evans quietly pulled Sophia Shaw aside. "We had to cancel the 100-day celebration we planned because of work, but your uncle hasn’t stopped thinking about it."

"He feels strongly that we need to properly celebrate the two babies’ births. He insists we make up for the 100-day celebration, no matter what."

’Chloe’s birth was a close call, and he was a precious son born to her uncle and June Evans later in life. He certainly deserved a celebration.’

Sophia Shaw looked at Bun in her arms.

"Let’s just do it," June Evans urged, giving her a gentle nudge. "Your uncle adores you. Even if you were the only one who’d had a baby, he would’ve thrown a huge party. We can’t disappoint him, can we?"

Grandma, who was sitting nearby, nodded in agreement. "A party, yes, a party! My great-granddaughter must have one! A big, lively one!"

Grandma’s face bloomed into a wide smile.

Ever since her own daughter died, she’d been deeply traumatized and wasn’t always lucid. But whenever Sophia Shaw was mentioned, she was always full of life and enthusiasm.

Sophia Shaw then looked over at her uncle in the distance, who was playing with Chloe.

With the recent upturn in business, a smile had finally returned to his face.

But even as he smiled, a heavy aura of grief clung to him.

His sister’s death and the shameless arrogance of the Shermans were like daggers lodged deep inside him.

Deep and painful.

Chloe’s birth might be the only comfort he had had in all these years.

"Alright."

They really did need a happy occasion to wash away the Shaw Family’s bad luck.

With nothing pressing to do after dinner, June Evans dragged Leah Evans and Sophia Shaw out to book a restaurant and go clothes shopping.

June Evans bought a pink, poofy dress for Bun, and for Chloe, a light-blue three-piece suit.

The sight of the two little ones in their new clothes completely melted the three women’s hearts.

They couldn’t stop taking photos with their phones. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

Just as they were finishing up, the three women turned, and who should walk into the store but Vincent Grant, holding Stella Grant, with Joanna Sherman at his side.

The moment she saw them, Sophia felt sick to her stomach, and the smile vanished from her face.

June and Leah’s expressions immediately soured, their desire to take photos completely gone.

A sales associate approached them. "How can I help you two?"

"Your baby is gorgeous! You two have amazing genes!"

"’Parents.’ Hah!"

Leah had learned from her sister over the past few days what Vincent Grant had done to Sophia and the Shaw Family, and she was utterly disgusted with him.

Intending to expose them, she sneered, "Nothing but a cheater and his mistress!"

Vincent Grant shot a dark glare at Leah Evans.

Sophia, not wanting Leah to become a target, stepped in. She picked up Bun and said, "Let’s go."

"Sophia," Vincent Grant called out. Although his expression didn’t change much, Sophia knew he was angry.

"Tell your friend to apologize."

Sophia Shaw looked at him coolly. "What? Did she say something wrong?"

She was usually very gentle, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a temper.

’He demands an apology because Joanna Sherman was targeted.’

’But where was he when she and her uncle’s family were being tormented?’

June Evans, who also couldn’t stand the sight of Vincent Grant and despised how he indulged the Shermans, chimed in, "Is Mr. Grant not married? Or perhaps you and this Miss Sherman are the actual married couple?"

"’You’re married, but you’re not with your wife. If that’s not cheating, should we call it soliciting a prostitute?’"

Leah Evans added, "Some people are just despicable. Ignoring their own flesh and blood while doting on another’s."

Their back-to-back insults made Joanna Sherman’s face turn a shade of livid purple.

The sales associate hadn’t expected such a complicated relationship between the two parties. Caught in the middle, she didn’t know whether to intervene or stay quiet, feeling so awkward she wished the floor would swallow her whole.

Once they felt they’d said enough, June and Leah pulled Sophia along. "Let’s go. This place reeks of a vixen. It stinks!"

After finishing their shopping, they went home. Yancy Shaw had already sent out the invitations.

The 100-day celebration was set for three days later.

Sophia Shaw had just gotten home when a call came from Vincent Grant. "Sophia, you all went too far today."

"Joanna and I don’t have that kind of relationship. You know that perfectly well."

’How absurd,’ Sophia thought.

"That’s hardly my fault. You’re the one who hasn’t been proactive."

’If he’d finalized the divorce sooner, June and Leah wouldn’t have had anything to say.’

On the other end of the line, Vincent Grant was stunned.

Sophia’s voice came over the line again. "Vincent, you get bent out of shape because June and Leah said a few words about Joanna Sherman. But where were you when the Shermans nearly drove my grandmother to her grave with their anger?"

"You’re not impartial, so why do you expect others to be gracious?"

It had been a long time since Sophia had said so much at once.

Before, Vincent Grant never gave her the chance. Later, she simply lost all desire to speak to him.

"I’m sorry, I need to rest now."

Without waiting for him to speak, she hung up.

Back in her room, Sophia scrolled through the photos of Bun from earlier that day, one by one. The more she looked, the more she adored them.

She picked out a nine-photo grid and posted it to her Moments.

That evening, Cedric Grant was back at the marital home.

But his mother wasn’t home.

His father was out buying clothes with Auntie Joanna and his little sister, and dinner was made by Uncle Abbott.

It didn’t taste nearly as good as Sophia’s cooking.

Cedric Grant only took a few bites.

His mom seemed very busy today; he had tried to video call her several times, but she hadn’t answered.

Cedric Grant scrolled through his phone, bored.

His hand froze when he saw the nine-photo grid Sophia had posted.

Every single picture in the grid was of that adopted daughter.

There was even one of his mom holding the adopted girl’s hand and kissing it.

Cedric could feel his mother’s love for the girl pouring out from the screen.

He gripped the tablet tightly, tears threatening to fall.

’Seriously, Mom.’

’Dad clearly told her I was home, but she’d rather go shopping with her adopted daughter than come back to see me!’

In a fit of pique, Cedric called Sophia.

He called several times, but Sophia didn’t answer!

Sophia Shaw only saw the missed calls from Cedric Grant after she came out of the shower.

He would sometimes call her, but usually only once.

He would never call a second time, whether she picked up or not.

Tonight, he had called about ten times in a row.

After a moment’s thought, Sophia called him back.

"Mom, why aren’t you home yet!" Cedric Grant’s indignant voice came through the phone. "Dad told me you had the afternoon off!"

Listening to Cedric Grant’s furious words, Sophia Shaw realized he had no idea she had moved out.

’All of my things in the marital home were gone. Has Cedric really been back so many times without noticing?’

"Cedric, didn’t you notice my shoes are gone from the shoe cabinet? That my cup is gone from the table?" Sophia asked quietly.

Cedric Grant looked up to check, and sure enough, of the three cups that used to sit together, only two remained.

A large section of the shoe cabinet was also empty.

And the flowers his mom had planted were also gone!