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CHAPTER 120
Sophia didn’t sleep well that night.Even after leaving the living room, after placing Brandon Stone’s picture on her bedside table, after changing into her nightdress and lying beneath her sheets, sleep refused to settle into her body. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of the man in the picture resurfaced—calm gaze, well-defined features, eyes that hinted at a quiet confidence, maybe even capability.But photographs could lie.People could lie.She had learned that the hard way with Maxwell.So, instead of sleeping, she spent the night turning over possibility after possibility in her mind. Who exactly was Brandon Stone? Why had her mother dismissed him before? Why now? And could Ava be wrong about him, just as she had been wrong about Maxwell’s loyalty?By morning, Sophia had made up her mind: she would meet him, because refusing to would change nothing. But she would meet him with caution. Measured steps. Guarded expectations.Ava seemed to sense the internal shift immediat
CHAPTER 119
Ava stepped into the room, holding a photograph of a young man. The sunlight streaming through the curtains caught the edges of the frame, casting a small glow on the image. She paused, taking a deep breath, as if bracing herself for Sophia’s reaction.“Sophia,” Ava said gently, drawing her daughter’s attention. “Sit down. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”Sophia sank back into the sofa, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her eyes, however, remained wary, scanning her mother with a mix of caution and curiosity. “What is it, Mom?” she asked carefully. She had learned over recent months that whenever her mother said she had ‘something important’ to discuss, it often meant a decision—or a revelation—that could shift Sophia’s life in ways she wasn’t prepared for.Ava smiled knowingly, the kind of smile that had always unnerved Sophia when she was a child. It was gentle yet calculated, reassuring yet heavy with hidden weight. “You’ve been through quite a lot recentl
CHAPTER 118
Sophia’s pulse throbbed in her ears. She turned sharply, scanning the auditorium for Brandon. She looked left, then right. Then she stood up, ignoring the people behind her complaining that she was blocking their view. Her eyes swept across every aisle, every corner, every cluster of people.But Brandon was simply… gone.He had been standing behind her not long ago, arms folded, that annoying half-smile on his lips as if he knew something she didn’t. And now?Nothing. No sign of him. No trace.Where in the world was he?How did he know Evelyn Carmichael would win?Who exactly was Brandon?Her stomach clenched. She suddenly felt she didn’t know him at all—not even the tiniest bit.But before she could dwell more on that unsettling thought, the shame washed over her like a hot wave. It dripped down her spine, burning.Because she remembered exactly what she had said to him.She had scoffed. Rolled her eyes. Called him a fool—twice. Told him he loved to feel important when he was act
CHAPTER 117
Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Do I want to win?” she repeated, her voice dripping with incredulity. “Brandon, what are you talking about? What influence do you have here? You always like to act like you’re important, when, in reality, you’re nothing!”Brandon’s lips curved into a subtle, almost unreadable smile. He didn’t appear offended. Instead, he looked at her with the kind of calm confidence that made Sophia’s words feel small, even futile. There was something in the way he held himself, something in the ease of his posture, that unsettled her. “You think I’m joking?” he asked softly, his voice smooth but edged with an unspoken authority. “In that case, maybe I should just tell you the person who is going to emerge as the winner of this conference… since you're not interested in being the winner.”Sophia’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really? And who is that?” she demanded, her voice laced with disbelief, the kind that could shatter glass if it were physical.Brandon spok
CHAPTER 116
Sophia had been confident—far too confident—when she stepped off the stage after her presentation. Her voice had been firm, her gestures rehearsed, and her slides impeccable. She felt sure she had impressed the judges and the entire room. She walked back to her seat with her chin raised, expecting the applause in the hall to echo her triumph.But that confidence began to crumble piece by piece as the next contestants walked up to the stage.The first contestant who presented after her was a calm, soft-spoken man representing a mid-level company from Norway. He didn’t look like much—no expensive suit, no loud personality. But the moment he began speaking, the entire hall fell silent. He spoke with depth, clarity, and brilliance that pierced the room like light. His innovation was impressive, practical, and supported by strong data. He even answered the judges’ questions with such confidence that the audience murmured in approval.Sophia’s heart thumped uncomfortably.Then came a w
CHAPTER 115
For a few moments, the hall felt suspended in time, as though everyone collectively held their breath, waiting for Brandon to return. The murmurs that had filled the air fell silent, replaced by an almost tangible anticipation. People leaned slightly forward in their seats or shifted their weight nervously, eyes darting toward the entrance again and again. It was as if the entire room had become a single organism, holding its breath, waiting for resolution. Brandon had left under the watch of security, so no one could accuse him of fleeing. They had ensured he could not escape, and the knowledge only added to the tension. Every person in the hall wondered what he would uncover, how he would respond, and whether justice would finally be served. Then, briskly, Brandon returned, accompanied by the conference hall’s security officer—a tall man with a calm demeanor and attentive eyes. He moved with quiet authority, exuding the kind of presence that immediately commanded respect. As soon
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