Chapter 20: The Boy Who Descended From the Heavens, Hurting Her Unscrupulously Editor: Henyee Translations

"Hasn’t Swiftstream ever suppressed the Sherman Family?" Vincent Grant shot back.

"That’s because..."

Vincent Grant checked his watch again. Five minutes were up. He stood up and left. He didn’t even have the decency to hear me out!

He walked away, high-handed and cold.

Her uncle only put pressure on the Sherman Family because he wanted them to apologize to her mother. They were the ones who wronged her first.

But for Joanna Sherman’s sake, Vincent would rather enable the wicked!

Sophia Shaw, her heart filled with indignation, chased after him to grab him, but was stopped by Jack Holloway. "Miss Shaw, don’t make me call security."

Sophia Shaw’s heart plummeted, and a bitter, silent smile formed on her lips.

Vincent Grant never spared any effort when it came to protecting Joanna Sherman and the Sherman family.

Last time, even though he knew the Sherman Family stole my uncle’s proposal, he still chose to sign the contract with them.

It’s the same thing this time!

Their scale doesn’t meet the standards?

Back when the Shermans’ company didn’t meet the standards, he poured in money and effort, practically forcing it to be a qualifying company.

He’s treating her uncle this way just to get back at her!

Sophia Shaw squeezed her eyes shut, letting the merciless blades Vincent had thrown pierce her heart.

After the proposal incident, she had never thought of marrying Vincent Grant. Her mother’s unhappy marriage had taught her that a forced relationship would never be sweet.

It was the Grant family who had approached her, hoping she would marry Vincent Grant.

The Grant Family’s status was extraordinary; they couldn’t tolerate any negative press.

The company Vincent Grant had painstakingly built was also at a critical juncture; he couldn’t afford a single misstep!

At that moment, Sophia Shaw’s mind drifted back to the boy who had descended like a savior when she was being bullied.

In middle school, she was bullied by a group of people.

Her mother was already dead by then, and her father didn’t care about her either. Every time, no matter how she fought back, she would be beaten black and blue.

Those people specifically waited to beat her up at a spot she had to pass outside of school, and the school refused to get involved.

Her uncle was out of town, and she didn’t dare tell him.

Just as she was once again being held down—her hair being cut, cigarettes being pressed against her skin, her face being slapped—Vincent Grant got out of a car. With a few quick punches and kicks, he sent the bullies scattering.

Sophia Shaw still remembered how, after dealing with them, he had slung his jacket high over his shoulder and declared, "My name is Vincent Grant. This kid is under my protection now. Anyone dares to touch her, they’ll have to ask my fists for permission!"

For a long time after that, as if on purpose, he would appear on her usual route every day. And then they would walk to school, one in front of the other.

He was like a ray of light shining into her parched adolescence. How could she not have fallen for him?

So, after hearing about his difficulties, she had resolutely nodded. She was willing to give up her burgeoning career and let everyone down to marry him.

She never expected that this ray of light would eventually become the blade that killed her, that the Vincent Grant who had saved her would ally with the person she hated most.

Sophia Shaw looked down at her phone. In her inbox lay hundreds of emails from Vincent Grant. She was originally going to use them as a bargaining chip, but... forget it.

Sophia Shaw looked down and typed a few words, then dialed Levin Sawyer’s number. "Levin, help me find a buyer for that batch of important data I have."

Vincent Grant came downstairs, his expression as normal as ever. Still, Jack Holloway could see his displeasure and said, "I’m sorry, sir. Miss Shaw used her status to pressure me, so I had no choice but to contact you..."

"Miss Shaw?" Vincent Grant’s brow furrowed slightly.

Jack Holloway quickly corrected himself. "Your wife."

"If Yancy Shaw participates in the company’s bidding, review it according to the standard procedures. No need to add extra conditions."

"Yes, sir," Jack Holloway replied. He then added, "However, Yancy Shaw has been constantly suppressing the Sherman family for years. His reputation is terrible. Plus, he openly stole the Shermans’ proposal last time... He’s already disqualified."

Jack Holloway held both Yancy Shaw and Sophia Shaw in contempt. The whole family is shiftless. It’s really too much.

"Yancy Shaw stole the Shermans’ proposal—is the evidence conclusive?"

"Well..." Jack Holloway faltered.

Vincent Grant had told him to investigate it thoroughly and produce evidence.

The only reason was to prevent Joanna Sherman and Yvonne Sherman from being the subject of speculation.

In Jack Holloway’s opinion, Joanna Sherman’s current status in the rocket program and Yvonne Sherman’s reputation in the city were enough to explain everything.

Anyone could see with their eyes closed that Yancy Shaw was the one who did something wrong.

Just as Vincent Grant was about to ask another question, his phone rang.

Seeing it was Joanna Sherman’s number, Vincent Grant cut off the conversation and answered immediately. "Joanna..."

"Vincent, what do we do? The mysterious expert we’ve been in contact with just replied, saying they won’t work with us anymore."

Joanna Sherman’s voice was tinged with tears.

"She’s been the consultant for our project for so long. If she’s not involved in the upcoming orders, we just can’t..."

Joanna Sherman knew that her own abilities weren’t enough to handle the entire rocket launch project.

"They’ve always been so willing to help. Why the sudden refusal?" Vincent Grant frowned as well. A while ago, the consultant had suddenly become unreachable. He had mobilized many people to find them, including the NASA tech lead he had met with today.

He had even personally sent hundreds of emails.

"Did they give a reason?"

"No."

Vincent Grant opened his phone to check the email. The screen was blank save for four words: All cooperation is terminated!

Simple, yet absolute.

For some reason, it made him feel that the other party harbored a great deal of resentment. But they had never even met.

"If they’re refusing for money, they know we’re willing to pay a very high price," Joanna Sherman said, unable to figure it out.

All this time, the other party had only symbolically charged a small consulting fee, totaling less than a million.

Vincent Grant had offered to pay them a higher price, but they hadn’t accepted.

The consultant bailing was indeed a thorny problem. Even Vincent Grant’s brow was tightly furrowed. He ordered the driver, "To the Sherman residence!"

...

When Sophia Shaw arrived at Levin Sawyer’s office, he was already waiting for her. Jasmine tea emanated a faint fragrance, its temperature just right.

Her favorite.

"Thank you, Levin." Sophia Shaw picked up the cup and took a sip.

Levin Sawyer always knew what she liked best. He smiled faintly and pushed a check toward her. "I’ve found the buyer you wanted. This is ten million."

Sophia Shaw looked down at the check. "It’s impossible to get ten million in such a short time, Levin..."

Levin Sawyer gave a helpless smile. "Five million of it is from me, Sophia. Just consider it an advance on your salary."

Sophia Shaw didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it. "Thank you, Levin."

"You ended your cooperation with Grant Interstellar. Vincent..."

Sophia Shaw couldn’t help but open her email. Indeed, there was a reply in her inbox, but the sender was Joanna Sherman.

The corners of Sophia Shaw’s mouth turned down involuntarily.

Vincent’s email account is so confidential that not even Jack Holloway has access, yet he lets Joanna Sherman use it with him? Vincent truly spoils Joanna Sherman with no limits.

Without replying to Joanna Sherman’s message, Sophia Shaw logged out.

"They have nothing to do with me anymore."

...

After dinner, Sophia Shaw took Bun to her uncle’s house.

Cedric Grant happened to call just then. "Mom, where are you?"

Only then did Sophia Shaw remember that it had been a long time since she had contacted Cedric Grant.

"On the way to your grand-uncle’s house," Sophia Shaw answered truthfully.

"Grand-uncle? I want to visit him and Grand-aunt, and Great-grandma too."

Sophia Shaw thought about how her grandmother doted on Cedric Grant, asking about him every time she visited. So she said, "If your father is willing to bring you over, I can take you with me."

"Is that so?" Cedric Grant pouted slightly.

Before, whenever he said he wanted to go somewhere, Sophia Shaw would personally come pick him up, no matter how far.

The difference made him a little unhappy.