He hadn’t thought anything was wrong when he said it, but hearing someone else repeat his words, and after witnessing how Chubby treated his own mother, Cedric Grant felt utterly humiliated.

Vincent Grant looked at Cedric Grant sternly. "So, is that why you were ostracized?"

Too ashamed to admit it, Cedric’s embarrassed tears fell, splashing onto the back of his hand.

He had always been the sensible, clever one in front of Vincent. This was the first time he had lost face so badly.

A phone was thrust under his nose.

"Apologize to your mother."

Cedric Grant slowly took the phone and dialed Sophia Shaw’s number.

No one answered.

He clutched the phone, looking at Vincent in humiliation. He had never felt so mortified and dejected.

Vincent took the phone and dialed the number for him again.

In the car, Sophia Shaw saw two missed calls from Vincent, but she was in no mood to answer.

If it hadn’t been for their recent work collaboration, she never would have taken him off her block list in the first place.

She simply silenced her phone and let it ring.

She arrived at the airport.

She didn’t have to wait long before an announcement was made about the flight.

When Sophia Shaw saw a familiar figure, she rushed over. "Professor!"

"Faye," Old Master Sloan said, happy to see her too.

The usually stern man had gradually warmed up since she returned to her career, treating her with the same affection as before.

Sophia Shaw playfully went to hug him.

Old Master Sloan sighed helplessly. "You little rascal. You’re getting more and more out of line!"

His sternness was purely for show when it came to her!

Behind a pillar at the airport, someone took out a phone and snapped a photo of the scene.

"Let’s go, Professor," Sophia said after the hug. She took Old Master Sloan’s suitcase and intimately linked her arm with his as they walked out.

「Meanwhile, at the Sherman residence.」

Joanna Sherman was biting her nails, pacing her room like a caged animal, restless and anxious.

"Mom, if Sophia... if Sophia Shaw is really Old Master Sloan’s star student, what am I going to do?"

Yvonne Sherman, dressed in an intricately patterned qipao, stood beside Joanna Sherman. Seeing her daughter in such a panic, her own expression darkened.

Joanna had always been her pride and joy.

In all of Crestfall, Joanna Sherman was the only young woman to have achieved so much at such a young age.

For the past two years, wherever they went, they heard nothing but praise for Joanna, which brought honor to her and the entire Sherman family.

But if Sophia Shaw truly was Old Master Sloan’s student—and his favorite one at that—the halo surrounding Joanna would vanish completely!

People would even start comparing her to Sophia, and from then on, she’d be crushed under Sophia’s heel, with no hope of ever rising again!

Yvonne Sherman thought for a moment. "This hasn’t been confirmed yet, has it? For all we know, that woman Shaw is just creating a smokescreen to boost her own popularity."

Joanna Sherman closed her eyes.

She hoped so too.

Yvonne Sherman walked over and hugged her. "Daughter, have you forgotten? So many people have been questioning her abilities lately. With the satellite rideshare launch getting closer and closer, this is probably just a tactic to keep her team’s morale up!"

"Besides, if she were really Old Master Sloan’s student, would she need to cling to Vincent Grant so desperately?"

What Yvonne Sherman said did make a lot of sense.

’Old Master Sloan’s star student could have any man she wanted. Even the Grant Family would be begging her to marry in.’

’Not like six years ago, when she was pathetically waiting for me to throw her a bone!’

’But after Sophia joined Lead Aerospace, the team there didn’t raise any objections.’

’Was it just because of Levin Sawyer?’

She had never considered this question before, but now that she did, it was full of holes.

Joanna Sherman’s mind was a mess.

"Don’t scare yourself, and don’t overestimate that Levin Sherman. Men are simple-minded when it comes to love. Your father was so happy with that woman back then, wasn’t he? But didn’t he change his mind the moment he saw you and me, willing to give up that marriage?"

"They’ll do any foolish thing to get the woman they like."

Yvonne Sherman spoke with great conviction. "Besides, with Mrs. Sawyer backing him, even if Lead Aerospace collapses, the Sawyer Family will still be there. You could say Levin Sawyer faces no risk at all in promoting Sophia!"

’That’s right. Someone like Levin Sawyer isn’t someone who lives and dies by the rocket business.’

’If Lead Aerospace fails, he can just go back to the Sawyer Family.’

"Mom, I understand now," Joanna Sherman said.

Seeing her daughter was finally less anxious, Yvonne Sherman was gratified. She couldn’t resist taking a few more jabs at Sophia. "On the surface, Mrs. Sawyer seems to approve of Levin Sawyer and Sophia being together, but I bet deep down, she looks down on Sophia too. A housewife who’s been married before? She’s not even worthy of carrying Levin Sawyer’s shoes!"

"Mrs. Sawyer is just afraid her son will never marry, so she’s settling for second best. The moment he comes to his senses and starts noticing other girls, she’ll definitely kick Sophia out immediately!"

"Let’s see how arrogant she can be then!"

Sophia had been a constant source of frustration for Joanna Sherman lately, and Yvonne Sherman had come to despise and detest her.

Finishing her tirade, she took Joanna Sherman’s hand. "Joanna, you’re different. Once this rideshare mission is complete, your name will be known throughout the world. From then on, the Grant Family will have to rely solely on you for their rocket and satellite launches!"

"Your marriage to Vincent will be a sure thing!"

Joanna Sherman envisioned the scene as well.

’This is what I’ve always pursued. It’s going to come true so soon.’

Yvonne Sherman’s passionate voice echoed in her ears. "Then, even the highest-ranking member of the Grant Family, Old Master Grant, will have to treat you with respect! You’ll be able to do whatever you want in the Grant household! Joanna, my dear, your hard work is finally paying off."

Joanna Sherman let out a haughty scoff. "The whole reason I left Vincent was for this very day. I, Joanna Sherman, will never bow my head to anyone, not even the Grant Family!"

As they were talking, Joanna Sherman’s phone suddenly rang.

Seeing it was Sharon Sherman’s number, a flash of disgust crossed Joanna’s face.

She looked down on this cousin of hers, who seemed to do nothing all day but travel, check in on social media, and shop.

Still, she answered. "What is it?"

On the other end, Sharon Sherman’s voice was incredibly excited. "Cousin, you won’t believe what I just saw! It’s huge news!"

Joanna wasn’t interested in her cousin’s "news" and was about to hang up when Sharon suddenly blurted out, "Sophia Shaw is cheating! And with an old man!"

"Are you kidding me?!" Joanna instinctively felt that Sharon was talking nonsense.

"I’m not kidding! I saw it with my own eyes! They were hugging, and when they left, they were all over each other, practically glued together."

"Wow, I never would’ve thought that bitch Shaw had such weird taste. She even goes for old men!"

"Sis, hurry up and tell Vincent! He’ll definitely make her suffer!"

"No, wait. We can’t just tell him directly. We should post the photos online for more people to see. We have to make it so that bitch can never show her face in public again!"

"Then Vincent will be so humiliated that he’ll kick her out, even if she did give him a son! Sis, didn’t I do a great job?"

Sharon Sherman didn’t know that Sophia and Vincent were already divorced; her mind was completely preoccupied with how to use this incident to break them up for good.

Eager to claim credit, Sharon Sherman even sent the photos to Joanna Sherman.

Joanna Sherman was surprised, too.

’Sophia clearly has her hooks in Levin Sawyer, so why would she go looking for an old man?’

’Or was it that Levin Sawyer never liked her in the first place and was just using her to bait someone useful to him?’

Joanna Sherman much preferred the latter possibility.

After hanging up, she casually tapped open the photo.

Yvonne Sherman had also overheard Sharon’s words and leaned in with interest.

Sure enough, the photo showed Sophia Shaw embracing a man with silver-white hair. Due to the angle, only Sophia’s face was visible.

But based on his build and hair alone, the man had to be at least in his fifties or sixties.