Chapter 74

"Alright, I'll take on some small projects first." Sophia's fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

Theodore's hearty laughter came through the receiver. "Perfect timing. There's a Republic-era resort design project that would be great practice for you."

"Send the materials to my email. I'll try to finish the first draft before the semester starts."

"Don't rush. You have a week."

Sophia smiled faintly. "I want to prove myself sooner. I can't let your recommendation go to waste."

Theodore sighed. "That stubbornness is exactly like your mother when she was young."

The moment she hung up, an email notification chimed. Sophia opened her laptop—the materials were far more detailed than she'd expected.

Was this really just a small project? Frowning, she called Theodore back.

"It's genuinely the smallest case our firm has right now," he explained. "The overconfident kids turned it down, so I thought of you first."

The blue glow of the screen illuminated Sophia's face as she replied solemnly, "Don't worry, Professor. I'll deliver something you'll be proud of."

After hanging up, she studied the materials three times over. When she reached the third page of reference sketches, inspiration shot down her spine like lightning.

Her pencil flew across the sketchpad as the outlines of Republic-era architecture took shape. Sophia became so absorbed in her work that she didn't even notice Vivian pushing the door open.

"Soph—" Vivian froze in the doorway, towel wrapped around her.

The sweeping eaves and upturned corners on the drafting board made her hold her breath. She tiptoed out and gently closed the door.

At dawn, Vivian reached for the other side of the bed. The cold sheets made her bolt upright—Sophia, who hadn't returned all night, was still bent over her desk in the study.