Sophia Shaw had no idea how she made it out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Every step felt as heavy as lead.

Her heart sank, and sank, plunging into a bottomless abyss.

Yet her chest swelled painfully, as if it were about to burst.

She looked down at the slip of paper in her hand, tears threatening to spill.

On the notice, the police station demanded an explanation for the child who had inexplicably appeared on her household registration.

Because on her and Vincent Grant’s household register, in addition to their son, Cedric Grant, another name had appeared: Stella Grant.

Sophia Shaw’s fingers trembled as she dialed Vincent Grant’s number. This time, someone answered.

"What’s going on... with Stella Grant?" Sophia Shaw asked in a low voice.

The man on the other end was silent for a few seconds. "She’s Joanna’s daughter."

Though she had already guessed, Sophia Shaw was still devastated. The words of the clerk at the registration office echoed in her ears: "Vincent came on the third day after the baby was born to register her. He picked the name himself. He treasures her beyond belief."

The speaker had some convoluted connection to Justin Hughes and thus knew Vincent as well.

’Her own daughter. She had begged Vincent to give her a name, but he had adamantly refused.’

’But for Joanna Sherman’s daughter, he couldn’t wait to name her!’

’Registering her on the third day, treasuring her so much...’

Every word, every sentence, stabbed at her, leaving her utterly broken.

Sophia Shaw let out a silent laugh, her body shaking until tears streamed down her face.

She struggled to keep her emotions in check, to stop herself from losing control. "Couldn’t Joanna Sherman’s daughter be registered under Joanna’s own name?"

"She just returned from abroad, so her registration status is complicated. Plus, she’s unmarried, so she can’t complete the adoption paperwork."

"So just because she can’t, she gets to steal my daughter’s spot on the register?"

’Vincent hadn’t registered Joanna Sherman’s daughter as an adopted child, but as his own biological daughter!’

’He was willing to claim Joanna Sherman’s daughter as his own flesh and blood!’

’So a daughter’s worth really does depend on her mother’s.’

’Because the mother was Joanna Sherman, even an adopted child was treated like priceless treasure.’

’And because the mother was her, even her own biological child was treated like dirt!’

"Sophia Shaw, don’t be unreasonable!" Vincent’s voice was laced with impatience.

’Exchanging more than three sentences with her was already his limit.’

"You know full well we can’t have another daughter!"

And with that,

BEEP—

The dial tone flooded her ears. Though not loud, it pierced her eardrums like a needle.

It felt as if a hand had suddenly plunged into her chest.

And crushed her heart to smithereens.

’So, in Vincent’s mind...’

’...fighting for her own daughter’s rightful place was just her being unreasonable!’

After a long time, she finally dialed another number. "Senior, I need you to do me a favor."

...

"This... I don’t know about this."

Levin Sawyer rushed over not even half an hour after Sophia Shaw called him.

What she hadn’t expected was that he had actually pulled some strings to register Bun under his own name.

By the time Sophia Shaw found out, it was already too late.

Clutching his household registration book, Sophia Shaw felt terribly guilty.

"Senior, we should change it back. You’re not even married. If a daughter suddenly appears on your record, it’ll be impossible to explain later."

"And it won’t be easy to explain to your parents either."

Levin Sawyer looked completely unconcerned. "What’s there to worry about? My parents are nagging me to get married every day. If a granddaughter suddenly appears out of nowhere, they’ll probably be overjoyed."

"Just relax and let Bun stay on my registration. I promise there won’t be any problems."

"But..."

"Sophia, do you want our mentor to forgive you?"

"I do!"

Levin Sawyer’s words immediately shifted Sophia Shaw’s focus.

When she had divorced Vincent Grant, she had been at the peak of her career. Her reckless decision to leave the company had not only broken Levin Sawyer’s heart but had also deeply angered their mentor.

That was the first time their mentor had ever reprimanded her so harshly.

But she had ignored everyone and done things her own way.

For years afterward, she hadn’t even had the courage to look back on that moment.

"I let our mentor down, and I let you down too, Senior."

’Perhaps Vincent’s coldness and Cedric’s betrayal were the punishment for her willfulness.’

’It was her karma.’

Levin Sawyer gently patted her shoulder. "It’s not too late. You know what our mentor wants to see most is Cathan’s rocket program soar."

"I’ll do my best!"

...

"You guys didn’t see the look on her face when she found out her adopted daughter couldn’t be registered. It was foul."

In the private dining room, Justin Hughes toyed with his phone, a disdainful sneer on his lips.

"If Dominic Lawson hadn’t sent me that video, I never would’ve known she was so shameless!"

"Trying to tie down Vincent with an adopted daughter... How ridiculous!"

Jenson Forrest’s hand tightened on his wine glass. He spoke up, "This is a private matter between Sophia and Vincent. We should stay out of it."

"What’s wrong with talking about it? She had the nerve to scheme against Vincent and Joanna back then, so she should be prepared to face the consequences!"

"Besides, all Vincent did was stop her adopted daughter from being registered! She adopted a kid without even talking to him about it. What right does she have to demand that?!"

"She’s only doing this because she’s bitter that Joanna got to register her child under Vincent’s name. She should take a good look at herself and know her place!"

Jenson Forrest didn’t listen any further and stood up to leave.

Just then, Vincent Grant and Joanna Sherman walked in.

Justin Hughes’s voice was loud, so the two of them naturally heard him.

Joanna Sherman gave Justin Hughes a deep, lingering look before walking over and taking the seat Jenson Forrest had just vacated.

Vincent Grant sat down next to her.

They made a stunning couple.

Justin Hughes leaned over. "Vincent, why don’t you just divorce that woman already?"

"Once you’re divorced, let’s see what tricks she has left!"

"Justin Hughes!" Vincent snapped, his voice low and full of warning.

Even though Justin Hughes had grown up with Vincent, he knew from that tone that he had crossed a line.

He usually wouldn’t dare defy Vincent, but tonight he couldn’t help himself. "She was the one who stole Joanna’s place to begin with! It was shameless enough for her to take what wasn’t hers; now we’re just making her give it back."

"Justin Hughes, do you think I’m that desperate to get married?" Joanna Sherman asked, her long, curly hair draped over her shoulders. Her eyes flashed with anger, her expression one of indescribable, icy hauteur.

Seeing that neither of them seemed interested in getting back together, Justin Hughes gave an awkward pout.

"So now I’m the meddling one! Fine, I’ll shut my mouth!"

Vincent closed his eyes, his handsome face exuding an unshakeable, noble air. "What happened with that situation afterward?"

"I don’t know. Dominic Lawson didn’t ask," Justin Hughes mumbled, sulking.

Vincent didn’t press the issue. Just then, his phone rang. It was Cedric.

"Dad, Mom’s so annoying. She found out Auntie Joanna adopted a little sister, so she went and adopted one too!"

"Dad, do I have to accept that kid?"

’She wasn’t his real sister, and he didn’t want to accept her.’

’But he didn’t want to make things even more tense with his mom.’

"Don’t worry, I’ll make it clear to your mother," Vincent said, his voice cool as he endorsed his son’s feelings.

"That’s great!"

Cedric Grant had been worrying about what he would do the next time his mother tried to force the issue.

"Thanks, Dad."

"Are you home alone?" Vincent asked.

"Yeah," Cedric nodded. "I don’t know what Mom is so busy with. She just dropped me off and left."

Cedric sounded a little hurt as he said this.

’His mom was never like this before.’

’No matter how busy she was, she would always personally help him with his studies and come up with all sorts of new things to cook for him.’

’There were no servants at their home, so it was always cold and empty. In the past, no matter how busy she was, his mom would never have left him alone like this.’

’But today, she had left without a single glance back.’

’The sudden change was too much for him to handle, leaving him with an empty feeling inside.’

Hearing that Sophia was out, Vincent was also taken aback for a moment.

’Sophia had always been completely devoted to their son, Cedric. She doted on him endlessly.’