Yancy Shaw agreed and followed them out.

"Why... why are there men in uniform here?"

Although Grandma didn’t know exactly what these people did, she knew what the uniforms basically represented.

The smile on her face faded, and she looked at June Evans with a worried expression.

June Evans put down her chopsticks as well, picked up Chloe, and said, "I’ll go see what’s happening."

Sophia Shaw stopped her. "Aunt June, you stay with Grandma. I’ll go check."

"Alright."

After all, Sophia Shaw was more worldly and better at handling such situations than she was.

June Evans sat back down, suppressed her growing anxiety, and forced a smile. "Mom, don’t worry. They’re probably just from the tax bureau, here to check the books at most. We haven’t evaded any taxes, so there’s nothing to be afraid of."

Sophia Shaw strode out and found Yancy Shaw by the roadside.

The men were putting him in handcuffs!

Sophia Shaw’s heart leaped into her throat. She ran over. "What’s going on?"

The man in the lead looked at her.

Sophia Shaw explained their relationship. "He’s my uncle. Excuse me, but what exactly has he done?"

Only then did the man speak. "Someone has reported Yancy Shaw for suspected money laundering."

"Money laundering?"

"How is that possible?"

The words sounded absurd to Sophia Shaw. "My uncle has always been a law-abiding citizen. He would never do something like this!"

"We don’t wrongfully accuse people. If Yancy Shaw is innocent, he will be cleared."

"But for now, he needs to come with us to the station to cooperate with the investigation."

"Faye, go back inside for now. Help me look after your grandma and your aunt," Yancy Shaw said, giving her a small nod. "If we’re both gone, Grandma will get worried."

Sophia Shaw was also afraid Grandma would come out and see this, so she could only nod. "Okay."

Yancy Shaw was led into the car.

Sophia Shaw walked back.

Seeing her return alone, both June Evans and Grandma asked, "Where’s your uncle?"

Sophia Shaw forced a calm expression. "They said they needed to verify some data with Uncle, so he went with them to the company."

"Why did they have to come on your grandmother’s birthday of all days?"

Sophia Shaw didn’t have an answer. Her gaze shifted to her grandmother.

Before, there was only one empty seat. Now, there was another.

Grandma murmured softly, "When is he coming back? We still have to take the family photo."

Sophia’s heart ached.

Ever since Chloe and Bun’s 100-day celebration, Grandma had been looking forward to taking a big family portrait.

Her wish wasn’t fulfilled last time. Was it going to fall through again?

"Grandma, don’t worry. I’ll go make a call."

Sophia Shaw grabbed her phone and quickly walked outside.

She stood under a tree for a moment.

Her chest felt tight and heavy.

’That’s right, why did it have to be today?’

It was as if someone had arranged it all on purpose.

After a moment of thought, Sophia Shaw dialed Jack Holloway’s number.

Jack Holloway answered. "Ma’am, is there something I can help you with?"

Sophia Shaw hummed in acknowledgment. "Jack, where did Vincent Grant go?"

"I’m sorry, I’m not at liberty to disclose President Grant’s whereabouts," Jack Holloway said.

"So, he went to work?"

The other end of the line was silent.

’So that’s it.’

’He clearly promised he would come to Grandma’s birthday banquet, so why did he go to work instead?’

’If he couldn’t make it, he could have just said no!’

Sophia Shaw couldn’t describe the feeling. It was as if her chest was suddenly stuffed full, swollen to the point of bursting.

’How could Vincent Grant deceive even an old woman!’

She silently tightened her grip on her phone, but just as the call was about to disconnect, she heard a voice from the other end: "Assistant Holloway, President Grant and Director Morgan from the Bureau of Economic Security are about to return from their fishing trip. Should I arrange for a car?"

’The Bureau of Economic Security... The same department that took my uncle away!’

’How could Vincent Grant be fishing with Director Morgan at this exact time? What a coincidence.’

Sophia Shaw immediately called Jack Holloway again. "Jack, my uncle was taken away by the Bureau of Economic Security. Was this Vincent Grant’s doing?"

Jack Holloway replied, "Ma’am, if Mr. Shaw’s own conduct isn’t impeccable, why blame others?"

Her heart plummeted into an abyss.

’Vincent Grant... so ruthless.’

’So ruthless!’

’He knew today was Grandma’s birthday, yet he deliberately chose today!’

’Why?’

’Is it just because I insisted on competing against Joanna Sherman, the person he cares about most?’

’He’s unhappy about it, so he’s using these kinds of tactics against me?’

Though she was standing under the bright sun, she felt an icy chill run through her entire body.

After a long moment, Sophia Shaw took a deep breath and dialed another number. "Godmother..."

When Sophia Shaw turned around, she saw June Evans helping Grandma stand by the living room doorway. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"What did they say?"

Grandma asked anxiously as soon as Sophia Shaw stepped inside.

Sophia Shaw swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and said, "Uncle said it’s nothing serious, but comparing some of the data will take time, so it’s possible... he won’t be able to make it back today."

With her uncle taken away, she had no way to contact him directly.

She could only get information through her godmother.

Her godmother’s analysis was that the Bureau of Economic Security needed to verify the authenticity of the data. If the results showed no major issues, he would be released.

The family photo Grandma had been dreaming of was now completely out of the question.

Sophia Shaw was so wracked with guilt she couldn’t even lift her head. "Grandma, I’m so sorry."

’I’ve dragged Uncle into my troubles again.’

’And Grandma, too!’

"It’s alright, it’s alright." Grandma stroked her face and shook her head.

Despite being deeply disappointed, she still did her best to comfort her granddaughter.

"Faye, don’t be sad. It’s fine, it’s fine. We won’t take the family photo... we just won’t."

"Mom, let’s take pictures with Bun and Chloe!"

June Evans coaxed her back inside.

At the photographer’s direction, Grandma took many photos with Chloe and Bun.

Chloe was calm and cute, while Bun was lively and adorable.

Only then did a smile appear on Grandma’s face.

Sophia Shaw stood to the side. The more she saw her grandmother smile, the worse she felt.

’All Grandma wanted was a single family photo.’

’I can’t even manage something so simple. I’m such an unfilial granddaughter.’

After the photoshoot was over and the photographer had left, June Evans pulled Sophia Shaw aside. "Faye, tell your aunt the truth. Did something serious happen to your uncle?"

Sophia Shaw had been forcing a smile the entire time. Of course June Evans could see through it.

"Uncle... was reported by someone."

She couldn’t hide this from June Evans.

Sophia Shaw briefly explained the situation, not hiding the fact that she had called Jack Holloway.

Saying it all out loud was tantamount to rubbing salt in her own wounds.

Sophia Shaw’s face was deathly pale.

"Aunt June, I’m sorry. I’m the one who brought this trouble upon you."

"How could it be you? It’s clearly those two bastards, Vincent Grant and Joanna Sherman, who have malicious intentions!" Although June Evans was furious, her anger was directed at Vincent Grant and Joanna Sherman.

"To torment someone like this just for a leadership position, are they even human?"

"If they’re so capable, they should compete with their skills. What’s the point of these dirty tricks?"

June Evans clapped Sophia Shaw firmly on the shoulder. "Faye, listen to your aunt. The more they try to take it, the harder we have to fight for it!"

She was stubborn, too.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed with Yancy Shaw for ten years, allowing him to remain unmarried and childless while he focused solely on getting revenge against the Shermans.

"The more the Shermans and that man named Grant try to bully us, the less we’ll give them the chance!"

"Don’t worry, your uncle would never blame you for this if he knew!"

"Let’s go now. Head straight to the competition venue, before they try to pull any more tricks on the way!"

June Evans started pushing Sophia Shaw toward the door.

"But Grandma and Bun..."

"I’m here, what’s there to be afraid of!"

Just as June Evans pushed Sophia Shaw to the car, Ms. Archer came running back in a panic, pushing the two children.

"Quick, go check on Grandma!"