The next morning, Sophia woke up in Lucas’s arms.
"Up?" his low voice asked above her.
She kept her eyes closed and replied, "Weren’t you supposed to go back to your room last night? Why are you in the kids’ room?"
"I realized their beds weren’t big enough," he said.
She didn’t get it at first. When she opened her eyes, she froze. What should have been a bed for six children had been doubled in size—so massive that it took up half the room. The strangest part: she hadn’t felt herself being moved at all.
"I swapped every bedroom’s bed to this size—except ours," Lucas said.
Sophia’s drowsiness turned to shock. "How did you do that?"
"If I want sothing, there’s nothing I can’t do. Get up—it’s late," he replied, then hauled her to her feet.
Downstairs, the kids had already finished breakfast and sat quietly, waiting for Mrs. Wilson to take them to school. Before Sophia could head down, her phone buzzed.
"Hello?"
"Sophia, sothing ca up. Can you co over?" Howard’s na lit the screen. If Howard called, it ant trouble—he never bothered her with problems he could handle himself.
LT Pictures.
Howard stood frowning as he looked at the young man in front of him. "You just debuted, and you’ve already caused a major scandal?"
"I don’t think it was my fault!" Leon insisted.
"Not your fault?" Howard asked in return.
Jodi beside him looked sullen. "They were insulting —so he retaliated. That’s on them."
"Are you saying because they insulted soone, you get to start a fight?" Howard snapped. "Jodi, I took you on to be his manager, not his babysitter to watch him pick fights."
Sophia felt a headache rising. She’d invested a lot into Leon, but now he’d gone out and started a brawl after soone said sothing about Jodi—soone even fild it. The footage hadn’t gone public yet; they were waiting to see how the parties would resolve it.
"Sophia, I really didn’t do anything wrong," Leon protested. "They started it—they slandered us!"
"If you can’t stand a few insults, you don’t belong in this industry," Sophia said, anger slipping into her voice for the first ti. "Listen: I put a lot into you. Do you know how much? If this blows up, it won’t just affect you—your whole future in this business could be ruined."
She pressed her fingers to her forehead. "People are already circling. If you keep acting like this and can’t face reality, I suggest you quit now. Don’t waste the money I’ve spent."
"I—" Leon scowled. "I just wanted to stand up for Jodi. Why should they be allowed to insult soone’s family like that?"
Jodi rubbed her temple. "Sophia, you’re right. I didn’t keep him in check—this is my fault too. Bla if you must. I’ll watch him from now on."
Jodi was a top-tier agent — loved by many, envied by even more.
She’d never had anyone step up for her before, let alone start a fight on her behalf.
So even though Leon had caused a ss, she couldn’t help feeling a small flicker of warmth inside.
Sophia took a deep breath. She’d spoken too harshly earlier.
"Jodi, I’m sorry. I got carried away — I shouldn’t have snapped at you. What’s done is done. Let’s focus on minimizing the damage."
When a rising star like Leon made a mistake, the dia could spin it into a dozen ugly versions of the truth.
And since it happened because of Jodi, rumors would spread like wildfire — agent-actor scandals always sold best.
Sophia’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
"Leon, you caused this. What’s your plan?"
Leon’s expression hardened with determination.
"I... I’ll take responsibility. The damage is done, so I’ll face it head-on. Even if it goes public, as long as our PR strategy is solid, maybe we can still control the fallout."
A faint gleam of approval flashed in Sophia’s eyes.
The people who fild the fight just wanted hush money — that much was obvious.
Leon was still a rookie, but he already had the guts to stand his ground. No wonder she’d chosen him.
She turned toward Jodi. "And you? What do you think?"
Jodi didn’t hesitate. "We can’t pay them off. It’ll only feed their greed. If Leon really becos famous later, those videos will resurface at double the price. We can’t give them leverage — not once."
"Good," Sophia said, decisive again. "You’re in charge of cleanup, Jodi. Leon, co with — we need to talk privately."
Her appreciation for Leon was real — but so was her frustration with his lack of restraint.
"Sophia..." Leon muttered, lowering his head at last. He finally looked like soone who knew he’d screwed up.
"I warned you," she said, her tone calm but firm. "Think before you act. Every choice has consequences. I admit I lost my temper earlier, but this is your last chance. You won’t get another."
Leon nodded quickly. "I understand."
"Good. And don’t just say it — rember it. I don’t have ti to keep cleaning up your sses. The semifinals are in two days, and I’ll be there myself. So make sure you prove right."
"I will," he promised, clenching his fists. He couldn’t afford another mistake.
Sophia left the studio and headed straight for her car.
She slid into the driver’s seat, took a breath, and reached for the ignition—
Click.
Sothing cold and solid pressed against her waist.
Her pulse spiked.
"Who’s there?"
"Drive!"
His voice dropped low on purpose; she stole a glance in the rearview.
The man was shrouded in shadow, wearing sothing like a raincoat.
"If you keep peeking at , watch out, my knife has no eyes!" he said, voice all nace.
She started the car. Her nose twitched — she slled iron. Blood.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Drive. Take out to Eastern Mountains North Road, out in the suburbs."
So it was true — she’d run into soone with bad intentions.
"If you tell what you want right now, I might consider it. But if you don’t say, I can’t help you."
"I want money. Prepare one hundred million dollars in cash."
One hundred million in cash? Her eyes flicked to the mirror. She couldn’t see his whole face, but could make out the profile. There were bloodstains on him — who could he be?
Her phone buzzed. She reached for it, but the man behind her hissed, "Don’t try anything!"
She answered. On the other end, Lucas’s voice sounded playful. "Where are you?"
"I’m out buying a few things with my mom."
Lucas’s smile froze. Sophia’s mom was Aurora — she was buried in LA. Buying things? Impossible. Could it be—
"Sophia, where are you and Mom? Want to co get you?" Lucas asked.
"Why would you pick up? I have a car. Besides, I’m not going mountain climbing. — I can manage. Your office is south; we’re not on the way."
Sophia kept her hand steady on the wheel and didn’t speed up. The blade at her back edged closer; the man’s voice lowered, "Hang up."
She said, "Mom and I will be quick. I’ll call you later," and cut the call.
"Now are you satisfied? But if you don’t let him know, how am I supposed to get you the money?" Sophia muttered.
He’d barely reacted when he heard Lucas on the line — a clue he probably knew who Lucas was. He didn’t rush his demand; whatever he planned, he was thinking it through.
"Enough talk! Drive!" he snapped.
Sophia’s fingers drumd the steering wheel in no particular rhythm. A bold hypothesis ford in her mind.
Across town, Lucas sprang up. "Alex! Get the map!"
Alex hurried in. "Mr. Hilton, what’s wrong?"
"Sophia’s in trouble."
Lucas pressed his lips together and stared at the map. There was sothing in what Sophia had said — not going mountain climbing, not on the way to his company in the south... City A had two mountains, one north and one south. If she said she wasn’t on the way to his southern office, she must be heading north. He locked on the northern mountain on the map.
"Alex, co with !"
"Mr. Hilton — you found her?" Alex asked.
"She didn’t say she’s not going mountain climbing. She said she wasn’t on the southbound route near my company — only the north fits. Let’s move."
They hurried out of the building. Alex called after him, "If she really is in danger, why would the kidnapper let her send ssages?"
Lucas paused — Alex was right. Who’d be dumb enough to let a captive send out information under their nose?
"Mr. Hilton, there’s another road: Eastern Mountains North Road. ’Mountain’ and ’Eastern Mountains’ line up, and north fits ’not on the way to the south.’ There’s a stretch of suburbs there — it’s perfect for acting alone."
Lucas’ eyes snapped sharp. "Exactly. Call everyone. Go — get to Eastern Mountains North Road, now."
"Pull over."
The outskirts of Eastern Mountains North Road were wide open — you could see for miles. Among the empty lots stood a half-finished building.
Sophia parked and was hauled out of the car.
"Give the keys."
When she hesitated, the knife at his side pressed harder against her waist. She bent, handed them over.
"Don’t look at . Walk inside."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "You’re Samuel."
Her voice was flat with certainty — not a question. The man behind her froze for a beat; then his tone turned harsher. "I told you to behave. You better listen."
"So what — you were at the amusent park yesterday, saw take Riley to the hospital, and trailed ? Or did you find out who I am and decide to use to threaten Lucas for money so you can run away?"
She was sure now. It was Samuel. At first she hadn’t recognized him, but there had been dried blood on him in the car and a rusty tallic sll. He’d kept his head down to hide his face, probably altering his voice on purpose.
It made sense: Riley’s attack yesterday, and now this kidnapping — likely the sa man. Samuel had been doing illegal things; the net would close eventually. He needed a fortune to flee overseas and disappear for good. But Sophia had figured him out — and she had no intention of letting him escape.
"Samuel, do you even know what you did yesterday? Riley was carrying your child. You wanted to be with her, and instead you killed your own baby. You hurt Riley badly — all because of you. You were never ant for her."
"Enough! Shut up! I didn’t an to!" he snapped.
"You didn’t an to? You promised her you’d beco sobody she could be proud of, and then you betrayed and hurt her. You followed yesterday — you heard how worried her family was in the hospital. Do you really think they’ll let soone who hard their daughter walk?"
Of course not.
Samuel pulled his hood off, revealing his face. Sophia had seen him before — in the file Emma had given her. The hotel footage had caught him clearly: tall and thin, not ugly, but with heavy bags under his eyes, like soone completely worn out.
Samuel stared at her. "All I want is the money. Give the cash and I won’t hurt you."
"You sure talk big. One hundred million dollars in cash — do you know how long that would take? And you’re not letting anyone know where we are. How am I supposed to get that to you?"
Her words seed to strike a nerve. He moved faster. "Give your phone, now."
He was smart enough to know not to use his own.
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