"Cedric Grant must have a screw loose. He’s insisting Bun was adopted."

"He’s even insisting that Faye came home every day and never had a baby bump, saying I... saying I lied to him!"

Leah Evans was both furious and upset.

How could Cedric Grant be so blind as to not notice the baby’s mother, whom he saw every day, was pregnant with a baby girl and had a growing belly?

June Evans and Yancy Shaw also found it hard to accept that Cedric Grant was this blind.

"Where is he?" June Evans asked in a low voice.

"He went across the street!" Leah Evans pointed to the restaurant opposite them.

"Across the street?" Yancy Shaw didn’t yet know that the Shermans were holding a banquet there.

"Let’s just ignore it and take the photo," Sophia Shaw said in a low voice, doing her best to suppress her heavy emotions.

She walked over to her spot and stood still.

June Evans looked at Yancy Shaw, her heart heavy with worry.

What should have been a wonderful day was now soured by these events, the joyous atmosphere instantly diminished.

Yancy Shaw’s friend quietly explained that the Sherman Family was holding their own 100-day celebration right across the street.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Finally, he managed to force out two words: "Take it."

Anything he said at this moment would only be twisting the knife in Sophia Shaw’s wound.

Acting as if nothing had happened, Yancy Shaw walked back.

June Evans and Leah Evans moved to fill the empty space on Sophia Shaw’s side.

But no matter how full they made the space, Sophia Shaw’s heart felt hollow. A piece of it was now permanently missing.

Before the group photo could be finished, Brian Sherman led a large crowd of people inside.

He feigned sincerity, holding a gift box. "Congratulations, old Shaw, on your son’s 100-day celebration."

"Oh? Why is your niece taking a family portrait all by herself with the child? Where’s her husband?"

Sophia Shaw instantly became the center of attention as all eyes swiveled toward her.

Looking at her.

And looking at the Bun in her arms.

Brian Sherman knew perfectly well where Vincent Grant was. He was asking deliberately to humiliate her!

To humiliate her uncle!

"A mother and child abandoned, all alone and helpless. Tsk, tsk." Bryce Sherman’s clicking tongue was especially loud and exaggerated.

The crowd’s gazes on Sophia Shaw and her daughter were a mixture of pity and ridicule.

In high society, people fawn over the powerful and trample the weak. No one would point out Vincent Grant’s infidelity or Joanna Sherman’s interference; they would only see Sophia Shaw as incompetent.

"Tsk, tsk. She had two children and still couldn’t keep her man’s heart."

"He’d rather celebrate the 100-day with the Sherman’s adopted daughter than with the child born to his so-called official wife. It’s obvious who’s valued and who’s worthless."

"It’s just a few steps away, too. How embarrassing."

"..."

Yancy Shaw’s fists were clenched tight, his face flushed red. "I never invited you! Get the hell out!"

He picked up a chair, ready to drive them out!

Sophia Shaw snapped back to reality and grabbed the chair. "Uncle, don’t!"

The people who came in with Brian Sherman were influential figures in the city. If Yancy Shaw threw them out like this, it would cause trouble later.

As painful as it was, Sophia Shaw still said in a hoarse voice, "They all brought gifts. We should treat them as guests."

Fearing she couldn’t hold Yancy Shaw back on her own, she shot a look at Leah Evans.

Leah Evans had no choice but to run over and help persuade him. "That’s right, brother-in-law. All who come are guests."

Aside from a few people close to Brian Sherman who made nasty remarks, the others were relatively civil.

They had come because they heard from Brian Sherman that Vincent Grant’s wife’s uncle was also holding a 100-day celebration, and they had genuinely come to offer gifts.

"Faye..."

Yancy Shaw looked at his niece, his heart aching for her.

Even though most of the people had come with sincere intentions, Vincent Grant, the biological father, hadn’t even shown his face. How could Sophia Shaw hold her head up?

How could Sophia Shaw not understand this?

But all she could do was force a bitter smile.

"It’s okay, Uncle."

The crowd had come because of Vincent Grant, hoping to curry some favor. Only now did they realize their attempt at flattery might have backfired, and they felt awkward and regretful.

"Um... didn’t President Grant just leave from over there? I thought he was coming here," someone whispered.

Brian Sherman patted his stomach and said loudly, "President Jacobs, you may not know this, but our Joanna wants to take the children abroad for a trip. President Grant can’t bear to be away from them for a second, so didn’t he go with them, taking his son along?"

The phrase "can’t bear to be away from them for a second" was another precise jab at Sophia Shaw.

Vincent Grant hadn’t just trampled his cast-off wife and biological daughter into the mud; he was grinding them under his heel.

"He even took his son..."

The crowd’s eyes held nothing but pity.

Those gazes were like a death by a thousand cuts for Sophia Shaw!

Sophia Shaw clutched tightly to the corner of Bun’s clothing, her eyes filled with desolation. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’I was too greedy.’

’I knew Vincent Grant and Cedric Grant didn’t care, but I still deluded myself into thinking I could create some kind of happy illusion for Bun.’

’This is my retribution!’

Today’s humiliation was set in stone; she might as well wallow in the mud.

Sophia Shaw took a deep breath and said, "Uncle, don’t just let the guests stand there. Please, invite them to take their seats."

Yancy Shaw’s heart was just as desolate.

But he couldn’t show weakness in front of the Shermans. More importantly, he had to support his niece.

"Yes, take your seats!"

Yancy Shaw straightened his back until it was ramrod straight. His gaze was like a torch as he cupped his fists. "Thank you, everyone, for attending my Shaw family’s 100-day celebration. The Shaws are a small family, so to have two new additions is a rare and joyous occasion!"

"A Shaw child will be cherished by the Shaws. We don’t need outsiders to interfere!"

"That’s right!" June Evans quickly took the two children, holding one on her left and one on her right. "Charles Shaw and Cheryl Shaw are the precious treasures of our Shaw family. We can’t get enough of them ourselves!"

"That’s right. We love our two babies." Their grandmother also came up and caressed the children’s faces.

Sophia Shaw watched her family supporting her like this, her eyes welling up with tears.

Yancy Shaw guided the guests to their seats. Soon, the sounds of clinking glasses and plates filled the air, and no one paid any more attention to Brian Sherman.

Leah Evans looked at Brian Sherman with contempt. "What era are we living in? It’s not like we can’t afford to raise a child. As long as a kid is loved, is having a father or not that important?"

"Of course, those who can’t afford to raise children are the exception."

"Especially certain people. If they didn’t use their tricks to trap another child’s father, how would they live so well? Such a large family, all of them needing to suck blood."

"You..." Brian Sherman’s original intention was to come and humiliate Yancy Shaw and Sophia Shaw. He didn’t expect to be mocked as a Vampire in return, and his face twisted with anger.

"Who are you calling a Vampire! My Joanna is Cathan’s most renowned pioneer in rocket launches!"

"Vincent Grant admires Joanna’s talent and clings to her. It has nothing to do with Joanna!"

"You Shaws are just incompetent. You can’t even hold on to a man’s heart, yet you have the nerve to curse at others!"

The fact that Vincent Grant didn’t love Sophia Shaw was their fatal weakness.

Brian Sherman knew exactly where Sophia Shaw’s and the Shaw Family’s weaknesses and sore spots were.

"If you’re so capable, then find a father to love your child!"

"If you don’t have what it takes, then stop putting on a brave face!"

"Who says she can’t?"

Just as his voice fell, a lazy voice drifted over.

Levin Sawyer strode over, his hands in his pockets, and shot a half-smirk at Brian Sherman.

Then he walked to June Evans and took Bun from her arms.

"This is my precious daughter. I won’t allow anyone to say a single bad word about her."

He then smoothly pulled Sophia Shaw into his embrace. "And her mother, too. These two are my treasures. Anyone who bullies them becomes my enemy!"