Chapter 175

Ethan Roscente's gaze darkened, his eyes boring into Sophia Lowell as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Isabella Valentine took in the scene, her nails digging deep into her palms. Forcing a smile, she feigned surprise. "What a coincidence! I didn’t expect Mr. Roscente’s client to be you, Sophia. Weren’t you teaching at the university? Since when did you take on side projects?"

She already knew about the Republic-era Resort Project collaboration between the Roscentes and the Rolands. Connecting the dots with Sophia’s background, she immediately realized she was the designer.

That bitch!

She thought kicking her out of Roscente Group would crush her. Instead, Sophia became a university lecturer and now a collaborating designer.

Like a ghost that wouldn’t leave.

"There’s plenty you don’t know, Isabella," Sophia scoffed. "If I had to report everything to you, the FBI would be out of a job."

Translation: None of your damn business.

Isabella’s smile stiffened before she recovered. "Fair point. But had I known you were the designer, I would’ve taken time off to properly host you. Maybe even shown you our wedding home for decorating advice."

She emphasized wedding home, staking her claim.

Sophia nearly laughed. If Isabella knew what her precious fiancé had just done, she’d lose her mind.

Done with the charade, Sophia packed her files briskly. "Mr. Roscente has deep pockets. If he doesn’t like the wedding home, he can always buy another. Ten or eight properties—one’s bound to suit your taste."

Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she nodded at Ethan. "Contract’s signed. I won’t interrupt your date."

Then she signaled Felix Roland and Vincent Laurent. "Let’s go."

A flicker of malice crossed Isabella’s eyes.

There was no wedding home. Just a property her father gifted her. When she excitedly told Ethan, he’d only muttered, "Do what you want."

It festered like a thorn.

"Wait!" she called out.

Sophia didn’t turn. Isabella hurried after her, reaching out to grab her arm.

Sophia dodged. Isabella stumbled forward, crashing hard onto the floor.

The thud drew stares from nearby diners.

Sophia stepped back instinctively. "I’m broke. Don’t try to scam me."

Isabella was stunned.

Her plan was to grab Sophia, fake a fall, and frame her—while cozying up to Ethan. Instead, she ate concrete before the act even started.