The only one who really wanted to set the two of them up...

...was him.

Levin Sawyer looked into Sophia Shaw’s bright, clear eyes as she listened intently, and the words he was about to say caught in his throat.

He was afraid that if he spoke his mind, they couldn’t even continue on as colleagues.

Instead, he changed the subject. "Do you know what happened today?"

Sophia Shaw had been waiting for him to finish speaking. Hearing his abrupt question, she was stunned for a moment before instinctively asking, "What happened?"

Levin Sawyer took out his phone.

"While you’ve been working yourself to the bone, the internet has been in an uproar."

Levin Sawyer pulled up several online articles, all of them discussing the conflict between Sophia Shaw and Joanna Sherman for the project lead position, which ended with Sophia canceling the project.

And they were all completely one-sided, leveling accusations at Sophia Shaw. They called her arrogant and spoiled, accused her of abusing her authority, and claimed she was sabotaging Cathan’s aerospace industry. Some even went so far as to call her a traitor.

Even mainstream media outlets were weighing in, demanding an official statement from Lead Aerospace.

With her gaze lowered, Sophia Shaw calmly read through every single article.

After reading the last word, she calmly looked up, the beauty mark near her eye shifting slightly. "I don’t need to guess. It’s the Shermans stirring up trouble again."

"Levin, don’t worry," she said. "I’ll handle this."

Levin Sawyer smiled.

"It’s already been handled."

Sophia Shaw: "..."

’This story has a lot of traction. Knowing the media, no matter what Levin says, they’ll find some so-called counter-evidence to rip him apart.’

Levin Sawyer knew what she was thinking.

He took out a statement. "Look, this is our solution."

Sophia Shaw took it and looked.

The statement read: Whatever decision Miss Sophia Shaw makes, for whatever reason she makes it, everyone at Lead Aerospace supports her! Even if she wants to turn the world upside down, we at Lead Aerospace will help her do it!

Sophia Shaw read it softly.

The statement was domineering, audacious, and utterly defiant.

In all her life, Sophia Shaw had never seen such a brazenly self-assured statement.

Levin Sawyer’s sheer audacity left her dumbfounded.

Then she noticed it: at the bottom of the statement, a long list of signatures in all shapes and sizes filled the rest of the page.

Almost all of Lead Aerospace’s upper management had signed!

Waves rippled through Sophia Shaw’s calm gaze, and her eyes began to burn.

Her fingers started to tremble slightly.

"Everyone..."

"Everyone’s message is clear. No matter what anyone on the outside says or thinks, we support you unconditionally!"

"We at Lead Aerospace decide who we want to back and who we want to protect. It’s our call!"

That was the defiant spirit of Lead Aerospace!

Sophia Shaw had only intended to prevent the project from being ruined in Joanna Sherman’s hands. But now, she couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red.

She took out her phone and sent a few words of thanks in the work group chat. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

They were simple and plain.

"Thank you all for your unconditional support. It’s too late tonight, and everyone should be getting some rest. I’ll clock out early tomorrow and treat you all to dinner."

Her message had just been sent when a flood of replies immediately popped up.

"It’s not late, not late at all! Still hours before bedtime."

"Boss, dinner! Let’s go right now!"

"Levin Sawyer, we still have money in the activity fund, right? The boss said she’s treating, but we can’t let her pay."

"Boss, I’m out of town right now, booking a flight immediately..."

"..."

For them, having one meal with the boss was like a session of divine cultivation—the benefits were endless.

The tech fanatics were surprisingly unanimous.

"What’s all this racket? You guys might not be tired, but Chief Engineer Shaw is."

"Tomorrow!"

After Levin Sawyer roared at them, the horde of fanatics finally quieted down.

Even though they usually tossed his name around casually, his words still carried a lot of weight.

After reining in the fanatics, Levin Sawyer looked up at her. "It’s getting late. You should go home. Bun must be missing you."

Sophia Shaw didn’t want to be a wet blanket, but Bun had been especially clingy recently. If she didn’t go home, the little one refused to sleep.

When Sophia Shaw got home, sure enough, Bun was still full of energy.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, she started babbling, urging Ms. Archer to carry her out of the room.

The moment Ms. Archer reached Sophia Shaw, Bun stretched out her little arms, demanding to be held.

Sophia Shaw kicked off her shoes and took the baby into her arms.

Ms. Archer quickly took the bag and coat from her hands.

Bun buried her little nose in her mother’s chest, sniffing again and again, and snuggled her face against her.

"You must be exhausted. Shall I run you a bath?" Ms. Archer asked thoughtfully.

When she was with Sophia Shaw, she often acted more like a big sister.

"Thank you, Ms. Archer."

After the bath was ready, Sophia Shaw simply took Bun into the bathroom with her.

She fastened Bun’s flotation neck ring around her neck.

After settling into the bathtub, she placed Bun in the water with her.

In the tub, Bun slapped the water and kicked her legs, having the time of her life.

The mother and daughter played in the water for a while before Sophia Shaw wrapped them both up in a large bath towel and got out.

After changing Bun into a onesie, she changed into her own pajamas.

They lay on the bed together, big hand holding little hand.

Sophia Shaw took out her phone to check some documents.

Her phone rang at that moment. It was a local landline number.

Sophia Shaw answered, and a series of sharp coughs sounded from the other end.

"Mo... Mom."

The soft call came after a long moment.

Sophia Shaw was dazed for a second before she recognized Cedric Grant’s voice.

Sophia didn’t feel she could accept that title from Cedric, so she said nothing.

Another bout of coughing came from the receiver.

Sophia Shaw remembered Vincent Grant telling her he was sick. From the sound of it, he was quite ill.

"Mom, I feel awful. Can you come and see me tomorrow?" Cedric Grant’s voice was pitiful.

Sophia Shaw pursed her lips.

"In what capacity do you want me to see you?"

"As my mom, of course."

"Then did your father give you the message I asked him to?"

"No..." Cedric Grant sounded guilty.

"But Mom, I really feel terrible."

Regardless, Cedric Grant was her son, her own flesh and blood.

When he said he felt awful, Sophia couldn’t help the pangs in her own heart.

A child’s pain is a mother’s pain.

But the ache in her heart didn’t make her soften her stance.

"Since your father didn’t tell you, I’ll repeat it..."

"Mom, I feel awful. I want you to hold me. I want you to sleep next to me," Cedric Grant interrupted, his voice breaking into sobs.

His voice was low, weak, and hoarse.

Sophia Shaw now understood.

Vincent Grant had told him.

Cedric Grant wanted her care, but he also wanted to keep chasing after his Auntie Joanna with all his heart.

"Cedric, a boy shouldn’t try to escape his problems by playing the victim. It’s me or your Auntie Joanna. You can only choose one."

Sophia Shaw’s voice was quiet, but her enunciation of every word was clear and firm.

"If you choose me, I will pour all my energy into taking care of you and being by your side, just like before."

"But if you choose your Auntie Joanna, then please try not to call me anymore."

"Mom..."

"Think about it carefully."

Sophia Shaw decisively hung up the phone.

He didn’t call back. She held her phone, staring into space for a long time.

’It’s so hard to be cold and heartless. As she spoke those cruel words, her own heart felt like it was being shattered.’

’But even if it shattered, she had to stand her ground.’

After Bun fell asleep, Sophia Shaw went to the study to work for a while.

It was close to twelve when she returned to her room.

Her phone showed an unread message.

She opened it and found it was from Cedric Grant, sent two hours ago.

Sophia was suddenly curious. What decision had Cedric made?