Chapter 211: Chapter 211: 20 Billion for a Fool’s Fireworks Show

"Let’s see who dares to judge you now!"

As for being judged, she had stopped caring long ago.

Sophia Shaw handed a card to Timothy Morgan. "I heard you mention before that your son wants to apply to Aethelred University. This professor has been on the faculty there for years. You can give him your son’s application materials and ask him to take a look."

"Don’t worry, I’ve already mentioned your son to him. If he’s a good fit, the professor can even write him a letter of recommendation."

Having a good recommendation significantly increases the chances of getting into a prestigious university.

"This... This is wonderful." Timothy Morgan was ecstatic.

She had been worrying sick about it, frustrated by her lack of connections. She’d been so stressed lately she felt like her hair was turning gray.

She felt she hadn’t done much for Sophia Shaw, yet here Sophia was, giving her such an incredible gift. Timothy Morgan was so grateful she almost fell to her knees.

"Faye, what have I ever done to deserve such a huge favor from you?"

Sophia Shaw didn’t want to offer platitudes. She spoke with sincere gravity. "When everyone on the executive floor was against me, you stood up to the pressure and helped me anyway. I’ve never forgotten that."

"Manager Morgan, you were the only light I had at the Grant Group."

"Faye..." Hearing this, Timothy Morgan’s eyes reddened even more.

’Her heart ached for Sophia Shaw, ached so much it felt like it would shatter.’

’Vincent Grant was the ultimate decision-maker at this company; she should have been able to do whatever she wanted.’

’But Vincent Grant let his subordinates bully and frame her. The CEO’s wife was treated worse than a regular employee.’

’All I did was what was right, and I became her ’only light’...’

Afraid her emotional state would hold Sophia Shaw up, Timothy Morgan swallowed the lump in her throat and asked, "Faye, was there something else you came for?"

"I’m looking for Vincent Grant," Sophia Shaw said plainly. She nodded at Timothy and started toward the reception desk.

Timothy Morgan stopped her. "You don’t need to go through reception. I’ll take you up."

"Alright."

Timothy Morgan led Sophia Shaw to the top floor. She sighed softly as she watched Sophia walk toward Vincent Grant’s office.

’She remembered the look on Vincent Grant’s face the day she told him Sophia Shaw had submitted nine applications to Zenith.’

’Utterly clueless.’

’What kind of bizarre husband was this?’

Timothy Morgan suddenly felt that the failure of Vincent Grant’s Zenith satellite launch was karmic retribution!

Sophia Shaw reached the door to Vincent Grant’s office and paused, wondering if she should have someone announce her.

Just then, a thunderous roar erupted from within. "Twenty billion! Is that how you treat the Grant Group’s money—like it’s nothing? Do you think the Grant Group is your personal piggy bank?"

"We always thought you were a smart man! That’s why we invested in your company, giving you our complete trust and never questioning your decisions. But look at the stupid mess you’ve made!"

"You took our money and funded a fireworks show for some idiot! Vincent Grant, your stupidity is boundless!"

Through the slightly ajar door, several board members could be seen surrounding Vincent Grant, their faces dark with fury.

’In the past, they wouldn’t have dared to breathe a word out of line in front of Vincent Grant. Now, they were slamming the table and calling him a fool.’

’Sophia Shaw recalled that even during the company’s most difficult periods, no one had ever spoken to him this way.’

’To put himself in such a humiliating position for Joanna Sherman... it was clear how much he must love her.’

Sophia Shaw stepped aside to wait for the board members to finish their tirade.

About twenty minutes later, the board members finally emerged.

As they walked, one said, "I used to think he was more capable than Jenson Forrest, but it seems Jenson has the better judgment. He commissioned Lead Aerospace to launch a satellite this time, and that one move alone has made him a fortune."

"I hear investors are now lining up to throw money at him. His communications company has only been around for three months, but its business volume has already caught up to several established firms, ranking in the top three."

Sophia Shaw froze.

’Jenson Forrest had a satellite in this launch?’

’Of the five satellites, two were military. The other two were from well-known, state-owned communications companies, the ’established firms’ they just mentioned. That meant the one they said belonged to Jenson Forrest could only be SwiftShift Corporation’s.’

’SwiftShift belongs to Jenson Forrest?’

Sophia Shaw now realized that William Forrest and Jenson Forrest did look somewhat alike.

She’d heard a while back that Jenson Forrest had an aunt who married and moved abroad, but her son had kept her family name, Forrest. Clearly, William Forrest was that aunt’s son.

Though surprised, Sophia Shaw didn’t read too much into it. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

’Jenson Forrest must have had more faith in Lead Aerospace, but he didn’t want to offend Joanna Sherman and Vincent Grant, so he had William Forrest represent the company for the launch.’

Sophia Shaw had always been a little puzzled as to why Jenson Forrest had gone out of his way to help her find a doctor.

Now it all made sense.

He was one of the beneficiaries of the successful launch; it made sense for him to offer his help.

Sophia Shaw was standing to the side, unnoticed by the departing board members. But Joel Hale, who was seeing them out, spotted her. "Miss Shaw?"

The call alerted the person inside the office.

Vincent Grant looked over, and their eyes met.

Sophia Shaw gave Joel Hale a slight nod and walked into Vincent Grant’s office.

Joel Hale hesitated for a second before hurrying to make coffee for them.

"What brings you here?" Vincent Grant asked.

His face showed no sign of distress; he seemed completely unaffected by the board’s tirade.

That was Vincent Grant for you. Even after burning through tens of billions, he could still appear completely unruffled.

Sophia Shaw just grunted in acknowledgment and ignored the coffee in front of her. "I came to thank you for getting Elder Drake to treat my teacher."

Vincent Grant picked up his coffee and took a sip. "There’s no need for thanks between a husband and wife."

The words "husband and wife" drew a cold sneer from Sophia Shaw.

Standing to one side, Joel Hale shot a panicked look at Vincent Grant. "President Grant..."

With Sophia Shaw present, he didn’t dare to interrupt, and simply mouthed his words before swallowing them back down.

Sophia Shaw felt a sudden urge to dump the coffee on his head.

"Vincent Grant, you are you, and I am me. Don’t lump us together like that again."

Vincent Grant shot Joel Hale a cold glare.

Joel Hale quickly backed out and shut the door.

Vincent Grant turned back to Sophia Shaw, his gaze on her complex and unreadable.

"Sophia Shaw, why did you hide the fact that you’re Old Master Sloan’s student from me?"

"Hide it?"

Sophia Shaw tilted her head slightly, meeting his eyes. "Did you ever ask?"

Vincent Grant was speechless.

He had never imagined she could have any connection to Old Master Sloan.

"When you married me..."

"In your mind, didn’t I just marry you to get revenge on Joanna Sherman? Let’s just leave it at that."

Sophia Shaw had no desire to dwell on these things anymore.

It didn’t matter.

She placed a card on the table. "This is to cover the costs of hiring Elder Drake, plus a fee for your trouble. Thank you."

With that, she stood up.

She gave a polite nod and turned to leave.

As if he were a total stranger.

A pang of anxiety hit Vincent Grant, and he grabbed her hand. "Sophia Shaw, do you really have to draw such a clear line between us?"

Sophia Shaw glanced down at the hand gripping her arm. ’In the past, a simple touch from this hand would have made my heart race for ages.’

’Now, there was nothing.’

’No, that wasn’t true. There was something.’

’Disgust.’

Sophia Shaw grunted. "Didn’t you, President Grant, draw the lines quite clearly with me in the past? We weren’t to act like husband and wife at the company, I wasn’t allowed to work near you, and I couldn’t even approach you during interviews."

"You’re the one who set those rules, President Grant. Why are you questioning me about them now?"