Sophia Shaw, as if oblivious to the host’s intentions, leaned forward slightly to pick up her microphone. She faced the camera, her expression calm and composed. "I have nothing to say about the Five Pearls launch. Everyone will see the outcome in due time."

"However, there is one thing I must formally declare."

She paused deliberately.

Across from her, Joanna Sherman let out a barely audible snort, the corners of her mouth curling into a deeply sarcastic smile.

The audience below the stage all looked at her with disdain, murmuring amongst themselves:

"Her so-called ’formal declaration’ is just her being unhappy with the online discussion and trying to shut everyone up."

"She can’t even explain the Five Pearls launch. What’s the use of making more statements!"

"If she’s really capable, she should let her actions do the talking!"

Joanna Sherman’s earlier boasting had won the audience’s fervent admiration.

They had long since decided she was the one truly capable of successfully launching multiple satellites into orbit.

Many people were comparing Joanna Sherman and Sophia Shaw.

"Look at Chief Engineer Sherman. She’s so strict with herself and her project, and she can talk endlessly about her professional expertise. No wonder she’s attracted the favor of so many impressive figures. Then look at this Shaw woman. She’s been sitting there all this time without saying a single word. She’s a total amateur, yet so arrogant she won’t even hire a consultant."

"Coming on TV just to embarrass herself. I’ve had enough!"

"She shouldn’t have even come. What a waste of time!"

"I support people like Chief Engineer Sherman who actually get things done! Down with Lead Aerospace, down with that woman Shaw!"

Although the murmurs from the audience were inaudible, the starkly different ways they looked at Joanna Sherman and Sophia Shaw revealed what they were thinking.

Joanna Sherman elegantly lifted her swan-like neck, her lips curving as she basked in the crowd’s praise.

The host "kindly" reminded her, "Miss Shaw, perhaps you should hold off on this statement for now? You can release it after you’ve discussed it with your legal department."

Sophia Shaw smiled faintly.

"There’s no need to discuss it."

She turned to look at Joanna Sherman. "I am making this statement on behalf of Old Master Sloan. He himself never approached Miss Sherman to offer his services as a consultant for your team, nor did Miss Sherman ever contact him directly to ask his opinion. Old Master Sloan didn’t even know he had become a consultant for Grant Horizon!"

...

Her words were like a bomb, instantly sending the entire studio into an uproar.

"No way! Didn’t Joanna Sherman say all the consultants came to her on their own initiative? Why would Old Master Sloan say this?"

"What does it mean Joanna Sherman never contacted him personally? How could they not discuss something this important face-to-face? Didn’t she say she doesn’t let even the smallest flaws slide? Is she sweating the small stuff but ignoring the big picture?"

"Old Master Sloan became a consultant for Grant Horizon, but he himself didn’t know? What kind of ridiculous mix-up is this?"

Joanna Sherman never imagined that Sophia Shaw would make such a declaration at this critical juncture.

A few light words had turned all of her previous statements into sharp, heavy slaps, striking her across the face and catching her completely off guard.

A total loss of face!

Sophia Shaw took out her phone. "Old Master Sloan just happened to return home from The Vorlan Wastes today. Would you like to call the old gentleman yourself and confirm?"

Joanna Sherman glared at Sophia Shaw, but she couldn’t bring herself to reach for the phone.

She could only signal for the host to quickly change the subject.

The host pressed his earpiece, his expression turning grim. "Old Master Sloan’s assistant, Ms. Warren, has called the control room..."

A moment later, Ms. Warren’s voice echoed through the recording studio.

"To that Miss Sherman, Old Master Sloan has not received any letter of appointment for a consultant position. Please stop spouting nonsense and tarnishing his reputation."

Joanna Sherman’s hands trembled. "This matter... we discussed it with his daughter. His daughter personally..."

"That child said she needed him to ’make an appearance’!"

Ms. Warren fumbled for a moment, and then another person’s voice suddenly played.

"Ms. Warren, I need someone to make an appearance for something over here. Can you ask Dad to do me a favor?"

"Make an appearance? What kind of appearance is it?"

"Oh, don’t worry about it. Just tell him to come over."

"Well... he’s in The Vorlan Wastes, and I can’t reach him. He won’t be back for another ten-odd days."

"That’s enough time."

"Alright then. I’ll agree on your father’s behalf."

"Thanks, Ms. Warren!"

It was a recording.

A recording of Ms. Warren and Seraphina Vaughn!

In the recording, Seraphina Vaughn had clearly said it was just to "make an appearance," and she hadn’t specified for whom.

Joanna Sherman was utterly stunned as she listened to the recording.

’This assistant actually records even her phone calls with Old Master Sloan’s daughter!’

Sophia Shaw watched Joanna Sherman calmly, seeing the panic and confusion in her eyes with perfect clarity.

What kind of man was Old Master Sloan?

A single moment of carelessness could lead to him being used or coerced.

Ms. Warren had long ago developed the habit of recording all her calls, no matter who she was speaking to, precisely to prevent this kind of thing from happening!

The interview, originally intended as a platform to promote herself and crush Sophia Shaw, had ended in this humiliating fashion.

Joanna Sherman’s face was livid as she left. The moment she got into her car, she smashed several of her accessories!

She quickly dialed a number and yelled at the person on the other end, "Didn’t you say your father agreed? How did it turn out like this! You can’t play the violin well, and your brain is full of shit, too?"

"Useless!"

After cursing, she violently threw her phone against the windshield. Panting, she slumped against the back of her seat, her fingers digging fiercely into the leather upholstery.

Yvonne Sherman hurried down from the TV station and got into the car.

"Don’t worry, the station said they won’t air this episode."

"There were hundreds of guests in the audience! You think they don’t have mouths?" Joanna Sherman’s tone was incredibly aggressive, her frustration making her want to cry.

’I was just one step away from success!’

She had calculated everything perfectly.

Introduce Seraphina Vaughn to an orchestra to gain her trust, then suggest she get Old Master Sloan to make an appearance.

As soon as Old Master Sloan returned to the country, she would turn that "appearance" into a consultant’s letter of appointment.

Seraphina Vaughn was desperate for success, single-mindedly focused on making a name for herself at Lustra. She hadn’t even noticed the fatal loophole in the contract she signed.

Even if just for his daughter’s sake, Old Master Sloan would have no choice but to work like a dog for her!

She had anticipated that Sophia Shaw would seek confirmation from Old Master Sloan, but she never in a million years expected that Ms. Warren would have a recording of her conversation with Seraphina Vaughn!

’Originally, Old Master Sloan was supposed to come home today and arrive in Cathan tomorrow. Him becoming my consultant was a done deal!’

’Damn that Sophia Shaw!’

’Damn it!’

Joanna Sherman’s nails dug deep, long scratches into the leather upholstery as she ground her teeth in hatred.

Yvonne Sherman was furious too.

"This Sophia Shaw is such a troublemaker! If it weren’t for her pulling this stunt today, our plan would have succeeded tomorrow!"

How could they not be furious when victory had been snatched from their grasp?

An extreme hatred flared in Joanna Sherman’s eyes. "Sophia Shaw wants to thwart me? It won’t be that easy!"

"If I want Old Master Sloan as a consultant, then he *will* be my consultant!"

Yvonne Sherman’s eyes lit up. "You still have a way?" she asked urgently.

Joanna Sherman ground her teeth maliciously. "Seraphina Vaughn is in our hands. Can Old Master Sloan really get away?"

"That’s right! Why didn’t I think of that?"

Upon hearing this, Yvonne Sherman also started to laugh. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Seraphina Vaughn is stuck at Lustra, where we can mold her however we want! Even if Old Master Sloan doesn’t care about his daughter, he’ll still be afraid of being dragged down by her."

"Only we can protect them both."

Yvonne and Joanna Sherman’s moods finally improved as they drove back to the Sherman family estate.

The car pulled up to a magnificent white building.

Before they even got close, they saw a car parked brazenly in the courtyard.

The person standing outside the car had a gentle and graceful demeanor, and the work clothes she wore couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure.

She was as beautiful as fresh winter snow.

"Sophia Shaw!"

Seeing Sophia Shaw, Joanna Sherman’s hatred surged once more, her fingers digging into the car door.