Sophia was informed immediately about what happened at the site.“What the hell happened?” Sophia asked Jessa sharply.Jessa faltered for a moment. “We’re already contacting the legal team, Ms. Carson.”Sophia shook her head, clearly irritated. She stood up and strode out of her office, Jessa quickly following behind her.“Call Carl. We’ll need to go to the site.”“Yes, ma’am.”Jessa immediately pulled out her phone and called Carl, but there was no answer. She tried again—still nothing—before ending the call.“He’s not answering, ma’am.”Sophia stopped walking.“He hasn’t come back yet?” she asked.Jessa shook her head. “I’m not sure yet.”Sophia rolled her eyes and took out her own phone, dialing Carl herself. No answer again. Irritated, she shoved the phone back into her bag.“Where the hell is that man?!” she muttered under her breath.“Come on. I need to see what’s going on there myself,” Sophia said, about to move again.But before she could take another step, the nearby elevato

Sophia swallowed hard as she watched the man approach her.“What do you think you’re doing?” the man said calmly—but there was danger in every syllable. “Let her go.”The two bodyguards hesitated.Then, slowly, they released Sophia.Everyone in the room knew it instinctively—the man who had just entered was no ordinary figure.Even Governor Norman Green froze. His face drained of color as recognition hit him. He couldn’t believe this man was standing in his office.“C–Cousin?” Norman stammered, his tone shifting instantly, shrinking into something almost submissive. “What are you doing here?”Sophia straightened at once. Jessa rushed to her side, steadying her arm.The man turned his gaze toward Norman. His expression was blank, unreadable—but the air itself felt heavier, charged with tension.Veronica’s lips twitched. She didn’t know whether to smile or panic. This was not how she imagined today would go.“M–Mr. Light,” she said quickly, forcing a sweet tone. “Please, have a seat.”H

It was already night when Carl arrived in front of Sophia’s house.He parked the car, stepped out, and quietly entered. The house was dark and eerily silent. He was exhausted—bone-deep tired—so he didn’t notice Sophia sitting in the living room, waiting for him in the shadows.The lights suddenly flicked on.“Where have you been?” Sophia asked, her voice calm—but dangerously serious.Carl flinched.He nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned toward the source of the voice. There stood Sophia by the doorway, arms crossed, brows drawn together.“S-Sophia… I didn’t know you were still awake.”Sophia rolled her eyes. “Of course you didn’t know. You didn’t even bother to call me. Where have you been?” she asked again—like an angry wife confronting a husband who hadn’t come home for days.Carl straightened. “I just… I just went to a friend.”Sophia’s eyebrow arched sharply. “A friend? You’ve been gone for almost two days, and you’re telling me you were just with a friend?”“Sophia—”“No,

“What is the meaning of this, Mom? Why are you shocked that Carl is alive?” Sophia asked.Celeste swallowed hard and straightened her posture, forcing herself to look composed.“O–Of course,” she said stiffly. “Mr. Blane is dead. And…” She gestured toward the men sprawled on the floor. “He was already our best security, and now he’s gone. I was just surprised that Carl managed to survive.”Sophia’s mouth fell open.She couldn’t believe the excuse her mother had just given—so flimsy, so painfully unbelievable it almost hurt to hear.She crossed her arms and stared at Celeste, her gaze sharp and unyielding.“You ordered him, didn’t you?” Sophia said quietly. “You told him to come here and kill me, right?”Celeste’s eyes widened in shock. “Sophia! What do you think of me? A murderer? And why would I ever do that to you? You’re my daughter!”Sophia shook her head slowly. “I don’t know anymore. You looked more worried about him than about what happened here. And I remember—Daniel mostly an

Carl immediately noticed the sadness in Sophia’s eyes the moment she stepped out of the Carson mansion.Her face was blank, unreadable—but the spark she usually carried was gone. No smile. No sharp remarks. Just a heaviness that clung to her like a shadow.He opened the car door for her.She got in without a word. No thank you. No glance.Carl said nothing. He simply closed the door and took the driver’s seat, allowing the silence to settle between them as the car pulled away, heading toward the company.Sophia stared out the window, unmoving.She still couldn’t fully accept what she had learned.It felt like her own father had sold her—traded her future just to save the company. She understood the logic. She truly did. But understanding didn’t erase the sting.He could’ve told me, she thought bitterly.Now, breaking free from the agreement would be nearly impossible.Richard Light wouldn’t just sit back and accept defeat. He wouldn’t allow the wedding to fall apart—not after everythi