Vivian’s expression shifted instantly.
Wherever she went, people always addressed her respectfully as "Miss Cooper." Yet now, Harper was treating her as if she didn’t even exist.
"Miss Carter," Vivian said gently, "we may not know each other well, but my father is quite familiar with your brother. They have business dealings."
She phrased it tactfully.
Harper glanced at her sideways and replied casually, "So your dad knows my brother. That makes you half a business acquaintance, I suppose. Still—if it wasn’t your doing, I won’t make you apologize. Jenny should take responsibility for what she did. If there’s going to be an apology, she should co to personally."
Vivian forced a smile. "Of course. We’ve already reserved a private room. Let’s have a al together later."
Harper accepted.
After Vivian left, she turned to Sophia and whispered, "Sophia... was I too easy on her?"
"The recording online is still spreading," Sophia said calmly. "Right now, the one thing Jenny fears most is that the audio continues circulating."
Which ant Jenny’s next move would definitely be to beg for the recording to be deleted.
Just then, Sophia’s phone rang. It was Lucas.
"Hello?"
"Sophia, do you need to co over?"
"No, I can handle it myself. But..."
Lucas smiled helplessly. "Rember this—it’s who owes them, not you. You don’t need to carry any burden."
His words gave her strength.
Sophia had initially worried that acting on impulse might damage Lucas’s credibility in the eyes of others.
She didn’t fear much—but she feared that.
Now that he told her not to worry, it ant she could act freely. If anything went wrong, he would bear it.
Sophia curved her lips. "I understand."
She hung up and headed outside.
"Sophia, where are you going?" Harper asked.
"Didn’t soone co to apologize? Of course I’m going to take a look."
...
At the restaurant, Jenny’s face was pale and tense. Her head hung low.
"Harper... I’m sorry. I didn’t an it."
Harper glanced at her, took the glass of water Jenny handed her, and took a sip.
"I wasn’t targeting you. You were the one who tried to fra . That’s all."
She didn’t have the habit of deliberately making things difficult for others—especially seeing how cautious and frightened Jenny looked now. Her heart softened.
The anger from earlier had faded.
Sophia remained silent beside them.
Harper was the one who had been hurt. It had nothing to do with her. Since Harper chose to forgive Jenny, she had no reason to interfere.
"Harper, thank you. I know I was wrong. Could you please delete the recording online?" Jenny asked.
"Deleting it is fine," Harper replied calmly. "But you still need to speak up. Hiding silently will only disappoint the people who believed you."
Jenny nodded rapidly like a pecking chick. "I understand."
Seeing the two of them resolve the conflict directly, Sophia took a sip of her juice.
"Sophia, you’ve worked hard too—coming all the way from City A. I also want to apologize to you on behalf of my sister," Vivian said with a gracious smile, her face full of regret.
"Since it’s being treated as a misunderstanding, there’s no need to dwell on it," Sophia said lightly. "The recording will be deleted. As for your apology—you apologized to the wrong person. My Harper is the real victim."
She paused slightly, her voice still gentle—
"But let also make this clear today: Harper is my closest sister. Anyone who hurts her is hurting . And I will never go easy on them."
Her voice wasn’t loud. It was even soft.
Yet her presence dominated the entire table.
"Yes, yes—cheers," Vivian quickly said, raising her glass and urging her to drink another two rounds.
After dinner, Vivian spoke up first.
"Sophia, let give you a ride. I’m heading back to City A as well."
"No need. Soone’s coming to pick up."
Sophia curved her lips slightly and walked in another direction.
A helicopter was already waiting there in silence.
"Sophia, don’t forget to miss when you’re back!" Harper said playfully.
Sophia laughed softly and reminded her, "Be sharper when you handle things. Don’t forget—there are many good people in this world, but there are plenty of bad ones too. So people climb upward by stepping on others. Don’t beco soone’s stepping stone."
"I know, I’m smart," Harper said confidently.
"You’d better be. And one more thing—don’t completely trust Jenny. Always leave yourself a backup."
"Alright, alright, don’t worry. I know. ssage once you’re back in City A so I know you’re safe."
Sophia nodded, turned around, and boarded the helicopter.
As the helicopter rose higher and higher into the sky, it drifted farther away, until she could barely make out Harper anymore.
When she returned to City A, she hadn’t even entered her office building before soone blocked her at the company entrance.
"Wait."
Sophia turned around, her brows knitting as she stared at the person in front of her. "It’s you."
"Looks like you still recognize . Then there’s no need for introductions," he said with a mocking grin. "Sophia, I already know about my dad and your relationship. As your so-called cousin, don’t you think you should call ’big brother’?"
His teasing tone matched his reckless, unserious face.
Sophia found it absurd and looked down at him coldly. "Nathan, your skin is thicker than my company’s walls."
Nathan narrowed his eyes. "My father is your uncle. Isn’t that how it should be?"
"Your father is also the man who indirectly caused my mother’s death. Do you know that?"
Sophia fixed him with a frigid stare. "If you don’t even understand the first part of the story, don’t co lecturing about the second. There are many outsiders around YL. I don’t want to embarrass you. If you’re smart, you’ll leave on your own—now."
"Well, Sophia, aren’t you impressive," Nathan sneered. "So what if my dad married into my family? Is that really worth holding a grudge for life? Besides, you’re rich now anyway. Oh, right—my funds are tight lately. Lend so money to get by."
He said it as if it were only natural, leaving Sophia montarily stunned.
How could soone be this shaless?
"Security."
The guards nearby rushed over imdiately.
Nathan frowned. "What are you doing?"
"If you think your legs are useless," Sophia replied coolly, "then I’ll help you find the proper way to use them."
The two guards grabbed him by the arms. Nathan imdiately shook them off and glared at her viciously.
"Don’t you dare drag around! Sophia, I’m telling you—this isn’t over between us!"
"Fine," she replied calmly. "I’ll be waiting."
With that, she turned and walked straight into the building without looking back.
"Sophia—you’ll regret this!" Nathan roared from behind.
She didn’t even turn her head.
"Sir, you must leave imdiately, or we will use force," the guards warned.
Both guards were burly n—far stronger than Nathan.
Nathan gritted his teeth in rage. "Damn it—don’t touch !"
He staggered back a few steps, then pulled out his phone.
"Hello? Don’t wait anymore. Move now. Since she won’t listen to reason, there’s no need for to show any rcy."
He hung up, glanced back at the YL building with a cold sneer, his expression turning vicious.
"Sophia... just wait and see."
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