Samuel Goldman couldn’t get an answer out of Zeke Hughes, so he turned to tap Zachary Hale on the shoulder. "Are you guys preparing speeches for dinner?"

Zachary Hale answered truthfully, "No speeches needed. The boss is usually so busy that we don’t feel right asking her about non-work stuff. So we’re taking this chance to ask her our questions over dinner."

"You didn’t bring a notebook?" Zachary Hale stared at him like he was some kind of freak.

Samuel Goldman: "..."

’Who brings a notebook to dinner?’

’They’re insane!’

As it turned out, apart from Samuel Goldman, all of Lead Aerospace’s tech fanatics had a screw loose.

Zachary Hale added slowly, "You don’t know this, but our boss is a genius. No matter what problem we can’t wrap our heads around, even if it’s outside her field, she can clear it up for us in just a few sentences."

Samuel Goldman’s anticipation for what Sophia Shaw could do immediately skyrocketed.

"So, what are you planning to ask her?"

"How to find a girlfriend."

PUH—

Samuel Goldman nearly spit out his breakfast.

Zachary Hale paid Samuel Goldman no mind, lowering his head to resume his calculations. Samuel Goldman then realized the guy was actually calculating the probability of meeting a potential girlfriend in various scenarios!

Sophia Shaw and Levin Sawyer arrived shortly after.

The meal was both lively and enjoyable.

Sophia Shaw didn’t drink, so she toasted everyone with tea to express her gratitude.

Everyone was both respectful and doting. Surrounded by the crowd of tech fanatics, Sophia Shaw was like the moon among the stars—the undisputed center of attention.

Outside the window, a group of people walked past.

Sophia Shaw happened to glance up and saw a man gently wrap his arm around a woman’s waist, their bodies pressed close together.

Vincent Grant.

Joanna Sherman.

Their intimate posture was enough to make one’s imagination run wild.

A server walked past the couple, entering the private dining room with a dreamy expression. "What a gorgeous couple."

"They look like movie stars."

’They were indeed easy on the eyes.’

Sophia Shaw couldn’t believe she’d run into those two just by going out for a meal. She was utterly exasperated.

What was even more exasperating was how they were stuck to each other’s side at all times, as if terrified people wouldn’t know their relationship was something special.

Sophia had grown numb to their displays of affection. She calmly averted her gaze and went back to quietly answering her colleagues’ questions.

Levin Sawyer also saw the "scenery" outside and noticed Vincent Grant’s gaze fixed on Sophia Shaw.

He walked over and, with a sharp RUSTLE, drew the curtains closed.

’What a piece of work.’

’Arm in arm with his mistress, yet still giving Faye that kind of look.’

’Even a manwhore isn’t that much of a scumbag!’

"I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention."

Outside, Joanna Sherman only took a step back after seeing the curtains drawn, speaking softly.

Her expression was one of noble detachment, as if she had genuinely just bumped into Vincent Grant by accident and nearly fallen over.

"My fault." Vincent Grant quickly removed his hand from Joanna Sherman’s waist.

He had stopped in his tracks for a moment when he saw Sophia Shaw, which was why Joanna had bumped into him.

He had only steadied her to keep her from falling.

"Let’s go."

Vincent Grant started walking first.

Joanna Sherman hurried to catch up.

Jack Holloway, who was a few steps behind, glanced at the curtained window.

He curled his lip in disdain.

’The only reason Sophia Shaw is thriving at Lead Aerospace is because of her personal relationship with Levin Sawyer, right?’

’She clearly saw President Grant just now but still put on that cold, aloof act. Who does she think she’s fooling?’

’It’s a pathetic imitation. She can copy the attitude, but she’ll never have Ms. Sherman’s capabilities!’

’I have no idea why President Grant hasn’t divorced her yet.’

’Ms. Sherman is a better fit for the role of Mrs. Grant in every way.’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways.

Sophia Shaw and Levin Sawyer paid the bill and were the last to leave.

They were discussing work as they walked. When they reached the entrance, they were surprised to see a tall, slender figure standing there.

The light behind him cast a striking silhouette.

Hearing their voices, the man turned, revealing Vincent Grant’s elegant face.

"Why is President Grant still here?" Levin Sawyer’s face was a mask of open disgust. His tone was lazy, showing he had no regard for the man whatsoever.

Vincent Grant’s gaze fell directly on Sophia Shaw. "I want to talk to you."

"Is this about the project?" Levin Sawyer deliberately cut in. "I’d advise President Grant not to waste his breath. As long as Zenith is involved, Lead Aerospace will not touch this project."

Vincent Grant’s brow furrowed in displeasure.

Levin Sawyer gave him a lazy, provocative tilt of his head. ’If he’s unhappy, that just makes me happy!’

’The stunt Vincent Grant and Joanna Sherman pulled was disgusting. Now I wouldn’t even give Zenith a supporting role on a project.’

Vincent Grant didn’t answer Levin Sawyer, his eyes fixed solely on Sophia Shaw.

Sophia Shaw was shorter than Vincent Grant; she would have to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.

Finding it too much effort, Sophia simply stared straight ahead.

"Stop staring at Faye. It won’t change anything, no matter how much you look," Levin Sawyer said coolly.

’I’m the one who calls the shots at Lead Aerospace.’

’I’m not backing down on this.’

"President Sawyer, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not waiting for Faye to discuss work. I’m here to discuss a family matter."

Vincent Grant said calmly, seeming to deliberately emphasize the words "family matter."

Levin Sawyer scoffed. With his hands shoved casually in his pockets, he retorted, "Do you two even have any family matters left to discuss?"

"The child and assets are clearly divided, and your mistress is ready to be promoted at a moment’s notice. The only thing left for you two to discuss is the divorce certificate."

Levin Sawyer’s words made a vein throb in Vincent Grant’s temple.

"Sophia Shaw, are you sure you want to discuss the divorce certificate with me right here at the entrance, where people are coming and going?"

Since he was the one who brought up the divorce certificate, Sophia Shaw was more than willing to oblige.

She nodded to Levin Sawyer. "I’ll talk to him."

With that, she was the first to walk outside.

She stopped under a large tree across the street from the hotel.

The soft light of a streetlamp beneath the tree illuminated her slender, well-proportioned figure.

The cool light cast a chill over her gentle, graceful features.

Vincent Grant arrived a moment later. Seeing her there in the interplay of light and shadow, he found himself momentarily captivated.

Sophia Shaw had no time to waste. "The divorce certificate—"

Vincent Grant cut her off. "Cedric is having surgery tomorrow."

The word "surgery" made Sophia Shaw whip her head around to face him.

’Is Cedric’s condition so serious that he needs surgery?’

Vincent Grant clenched his fist and gave a light cough.

The dim light hid the dark circles under his eyes, but his paler-than-usual skin betrayed his exhaustion.

"Cedric inhaled a foreign object. It’s in his lungs, and he needs surgery right away."

"The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but he’s refusing to go through with it unless he sees you first."

Hearing this so unexpectedly, Sophia felt a sympathetic, sharp pang in her own lungs.

"What kind of object?"

"A piece of bone."

When Cedric had lived with her, she had always reminded him to chew slowly and thoroughly, precisely to prevent him from choking or inhaling a bone.

And he had always been so good about it.

Nothing like this had ever happened.

"What could possibly make him rush through a meal so frantically that he’d inhale a bone?"

Vincent Grant said nothing.

Sophia already understood.

She let out a soft, humorless laugh.

"Was it for his ’Auntie Joanna’ again?"

"He’s a child. He wanted to finish eating quickly so he could help Joanna with her baby," Vincent Grant added.

"Can’t Joanna Sherman afford a nanny? She needs a child to help her babysit?"

Vincent Grant’s brows furrowed.

"Cedric wanted to."

"Sophia, as the adults, we shouldn’t be interfering in things like this."

’He’d rather go look after his own mother’s enemy’s child than be with me, and I’m supposed to be magnanimous and not care?’

Sophia was left speechless by Vincent’s logic.

"In that case, don’t come to me."

"Go ask Joanna Sherman to be there for his surgery."

After snapping at him, Sophia turned on her heel and started to walk away.

Vincent was stunned by her sharp, decisive action.

In his memory, Sophia had always cherished Cedric. Back when he’d only had a weak stomach, she had taken care of everything herself, meticulously planning and researching every single meal she made for him.

Sophia had only taken a few steps when a hand abruptly seized her by the elbow.