The General's Ex-Wife's Regret

Chapter 4

The guards’ eyes widened the moment they recognized Sophia. At once, they bowed deeply.

“Ms. Carson! We didn’t know you’d be here!” the head guard stammered.

Sophia’s glare could have cut steel. “And this is how you run things at Grandsaint? Allowing such chaos to happen under my nose?!”

The head guard swallowed hard, unable to meet her eyes. Fear was etched across his face. Yet confusion lingered, too—why was their boss’s daughter defending a man in a plain shirt and worn-out jeans?

“But, Ms. Carson… this man was trying to harass our guest,” the guard argued weakly.

Sophia raised a brow, her voice like ice.

“That’s not what I saw.”

Her gaze snapped to Ophelia and James.

“What I did hear is that you two have something that belongs to this gentleman.”

Ophelia’s lips trembled. She lowered her head, biting down on her lip nervously. She didn’t know Sophia, but seeing that the guards were answering to her was not good for them.

If only her daughter were here, those guards would side with them for sure!

What baffled Ophelia most was how her ex-son-in-law even knew such a woman.

Forcing a nervous smile, she bowed slightly.

“M-Ms. Carson, this is just a misunderstanding,” she said quickly. Then, in desperation, she unclasped the necklace from her neck and held it out. “Here. I’ll return it. I only borrowed this from my son-in-law.”

Carl’s brow furrowed. His mother-in-law’s sudden change of tone was laughable. But he didn’t care about her act—what mattered was the necklace.

Before he could reach it, James snatched it from Ophelia’s hand.

“No! Why are you just handing this back to him, Mom?! This is ours now!” James snapped, glaring at Sophia. “And you—who do you think you are to meddle in our family’s business?!”

Ophelia panicked and grabbed her son’s arm. “Stop it, James! You don’t know what you’re doing!”

Carl stepped forward, voice firm. “Give it back, James.”

Sophia smirked, her tone laced with warning. “I suggest you listen to your mother. Unless you’d like to regret it.”

But instead of fear, James only grew more agitated. His pride boiled over. “Regret? Do you even know who my sister is?! She’s the CEO of Garcia Corporation! And my future brother-in-law? He’s the son of Montez Corporation’s CEO! They can crush you anytime!”

Carl froze. His fists clenched. So that’s the reason Jasmine left…

Sophia’s eyes darkened. “Last chance, boy. Hand me the necklace before I lose my temper.”

James scoffed, gripping it tighter. “Why should I?! If this necklace won’t be ours, then no one should have it!”

Before anyone could react, he hurled the necklace to the floor and stomped on it. Metal cracked, the pendant shattering under his heel.

Carl’s eyes widened in fury. He surged forward—but Sophia was faster. In a blink, she spun and launched a flying kick, sending James sprawling to the ground.

“You fool!” she spat. “I don’t care about your so-called backers. They’re not even worth polishing my shoes! Even if I break you here and now, they wouldn’t dare raise a finger against me!”

Ophelia went pale, rushing between Sophia and her son.

“Please, Ms. Carson! Carl! We were family, weren’t we? James is still young—he doesn’t know what he’s saying! Forgive him!”

But James, humiliated, shoved his mother aside and stood, face burning with rage.

“I do know what I’m saying! Just wait! My brother-in-law and sister will make you both pay!”

Sophia chuckled coldly, shaking her head.

“Then I dare them.”

James’s anger flared hotter, but before he could retort, the world spun.

SMACK!

Carl’s hand connected with his cheek, sending him crashing to his knees.

Ophelia shrieked and crouched by her son. “Carl! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Carl’s voice was calm but heavy.

“That’s for your sister—for failing to discipline you. You’re young, but already a liar and a bully. What will you become as a man? Tsk.” He shook his head. “I’ll let you off this time. But if I see you again, I won’t hold back!”

James glared up at him, clutching his cheek. “You’re dead! Both of you! I’ll make sure you pay for this!”

Carl ignored him. He bent down and picked up the broken necklace, sorrow flashing in his eyes. His mother’s heirloom—her only keepsake—was destroyed.

Without another glance back, he turned and walked away.

Sophia snapped her fingers at the guards, signaling them to handle the mess, then hurried after him.

Behind them, James shouted one last insult.

“Stop right there! Don’t you dare walk away! What’s a lowlife ex-con pretending for? If you’ve got the guts, fight me like a man!”

Carl halted for a second, his fists tightening at his sides. James flinched, already regretting his words. He had felt the weight of Carl’s slap—if that had been a real strike, he wouldn’t even be standing.

But Carl didn’t turn back. He simply exhaled and kept walking.

A soldier knows when to fight—and when not to.

Not out of weakness, but because some battles aren’t worth the blood.