Chapter 3

Sophia's fingertip lightly tapped the screen as she sent the edited message.

"Mrs. Clementson, there's been a misunderstanding. Your son and I are merely acquaintances. We're not compatible."

The moment the message showed "read," her phone began vibrating violently.

"Acquaintances? Don't play coy after going on a blind date!"

"My son is an executive at a listed company! You should feel honored he even considered you!"

"Don't think youth and beauty make you special. So what if he's divorced? Girls line up for him!"

Sophia's pupils constricted sharply.

Divorced?

Daniel had sworn he'd never been in a relationship.

A cold laugh escaped her lips. This family was beyond delusional.

Her fingers flew across the screen as she screenshot the voice-to-text transcript. She bundled it with that ridiculous "Clementson Code" and sent it all to Emily.

The phone rang almost instantly.

"Sophia... is this real?" Emily's voice trembled with disbelief.

"The chat history doesn't lie. Would you like to hear the original voice messages?"

Silence stretched across the line.

Finally, Emily spoke, guilt weighing her words. "I misjudged him. My friend said he was such a good catch, so I..."

"Aunt Emily," Sophia interrupted, "did you forget the gambling debt from two years ago?"

The mention made Emily's voice shake. "I... I understand now."

"By the way," Emily abruptly changed subjects, "you must come to dinner tonight. The Roscentes are hosting an important guest."

Sophia's finger froze mid-air. "I'd rather not."

"It's your uncle's fiancée!" Emily hissed. "The entire family is expected to attend."

CRASH—

A glass shattered across the floor.

Sophia stared at the scattered shards, her voice barely audible. "...Fiancée?"

"Yes, your uncle is finally settling down." Emily sounded relieved. "I thought we'd be celebrating your wedding first."

Sophia bit her lower lip until copper flooded her tongue. "I... have a project deadline tonight."

"What project could be more important?" Emily snapped. "The Third Branch will—"

"Fine." Sophia's reply was mechanical. "I'll be there."

The call ended. She slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor.

The setting sun stretched her shadow into something long and distorted.

Time blurred.

Then her screen lit up with a new notification.

One glance turned her face deathly pale.