Chapter 4

Sophia returned home.

In her eyes, home had never been wherever Charles was.

After receiving the shares in Horizon Group, she bought her parents a luxurious villa and began treating it as her true home.

“Divorce?”

Gerald Shaw panicked when Sophia said she wanted to divorce Charles.

Sophia had brainwashed him into no longer viewing Charles as his son-in-law, but he knew that the wealth and comfort they enjoyed were closely tied to Charles.

“Sweetheart, why do you suddenly want a divorce?”

Wendy Wood shot Gerald a disdainful look. “Why are you making such a fuss? Our daughter must have her reasons. Do you doubt her abilities?”

Wendy trusted Sophia completely. If anything, Wendy believed even more strongly than Sophia that their current success was entirely Sophia’s achievement.

Sophia smiled. “Mom understands me best.”

Gerald said, “Horizon Group is facing such a serious crisis. If you divorce him at a time like this, what will you do if something goes wrong? How will you shift Horizon Group’s debts onto Charles?”

Gerald’s face was filled with worry. The three of them had discussed Horizon Group’s financial crisis before, and Sophia’s solution had been to walk away if necessary and make Charles shoulder all the debts.

He thought that plan was excellent, but wouldn’t it fall apart if Sophia divorced Charles?

Sophia said, “Dad, I already have a way to solve the problem. I want a divorce so I can sever Charles’ ties to Horizon Group. Otherwise, it will be considered marital property. Even if I own all the shares, half of it will still belong to him.”

Gerald looked shocked. “Really?”

Wendy said excitedly, “You’re amazing, sweetheart! You can finally cut ties with Charles. My new friends have been asking about my family lately, and I’ve been too embarrassed to tell them.

“Charles is just an orphan, after all. Having him around only brings shame to our family.”

Sophia said, “Dad, come here…”

The three of them huddled together and plotted for a while.

Gerald left the house first and went to Cedarcrest Estates.

When he appeared in front of Charles, he carried himself with great arrogance.

Gerald said coldly, “I can tell no one taught you manners growing up. You don’t even know how to greet your elders. Can’t you see that I’m here? Go pour me some water.”

Charles smiled calmly. Gerald had changed drastically over the past six months.

When Charles first married Sophia, Gerald acted submissively and fawned over him.

Charles said, “Are your hands and feet broken? You need someone else to pour you water? Are you disabled?”

Gerald shouted, “I’m your elder. Is that how you speak to me?”

Charles did not want to waste time talking in circles. He said directly, “Why are you here? Just say it. Spare me the nonsense.”

Gerald replied, “Horizon Group is facing such a massive crisis. You’ve lived off my daughter for long enough. It’s time you contributed something. I’m giving you three days to solve this problem.”

Charles rose and stared coldly at Gerald. “Does your whole family have no shame? I gave Horizon Group to her. How exactly am I living off her?”

Gerald slammed his palm onto the coffee table and shouted angrily, “What do you mean, you gave it to her? My daughter earned it through her own abilities!

“Charles, you useless piece of trash! If you hadn’t left behind so many problems, would Horizon Group be facing such a massive crisis?

“You’re simply incompetent. You failed to manage Horizon Group properly. If it weren’t for my daughter, would Horizon Group have lasted this long?”

Charles was so angry that he laughed.

How shameless did someone have to be to say something like that?

Gerald walked up to Charles, trying to overpower him with his presence.

“I’m warning you. You have three days. If you can’t solve this problem, I’ll make Sophia divorce you. The Shaw family does not need a useless son-in-law like you!”

The moment Charles heard the word “divorce,” he knew that was their true purpose.

However, he had not expected them to give him three days.

Could Sophia really remain this patient?

Charles said, “Everything concerning Horizon Group has nothing to do with me.”

Gerald grabbed Charles by the collar and snarled, “You really are useless. You have no value at all. In that case, divorce my daughter.”

The moment he finished speaking, Sophia entered the house with Wendy’s arm linked through hers.

Charles sneered coldly. She had clearly been waiting outside. Why had she bothered putting on this unnecessary act?

Sophia walked up to Charles and tossed the divorce agreement at him.

“Sign it. Once you do, you’ll have nothing to do with Horizon Group. Even if it goes bankrupt and is left with enormous debts, I’ll shoulder them alone.

“Charles, I gave you a chance. You were the one who proved useless, so don’t blame me.”

Charles sneered. “Sophia, why bother pretending to be a good person in front of me? Do you really think I don’t know what kind of person you are?”

Sophia smiled. “I’m an excellent person. I don’t need you to tell me that.”

Charles shook his head. “No. You’re just a slut.”

The entire family’s expressions changed at once.

Gerald was especially furious. He roared at Charles, “How dare you insult my daughter? I’ll beat you to death!”

He raised his fist and swung it at Charles’ face.

Charles reacted swiftly. He seized Gerald’s wrist and kicked him away.

Sophia’s face turned livid when she saw this.

In her eyes, Charles was beneath her—a worthless orphan whom no one wanted.

How could someone like him have the right to hit her father?

“Charles, do you have a screw loose? How dare you hit my father?”

Charles said coldly, “Keep running your mouth, and I’ll hit you too.”

Sophia instinctively took two steps back when she saw the murderous intent in Charles’ eyes.

Gerald remained curled up on the floor, his face twisted with fury. “Charles, I’ll never let you off the hook.”

Charles walked toward him.

Gerald retreated in fear. “What are you doing? Stay back! I’m warning you—if you hit me again, I’ll make you pay.”

Charles sneered. “Don’t be scared. Show me that arrogance you had earlier.”

The moment he finished speaking, Charles kicked him again.

Gerald flew into a rage. “Charles, I’ll fucking kill you!”

Charles raised his fist and slammed it into Gerald’s face again.

Gerald began begging for mercy.

“Stop hitting me. Please, stop.”

He knew that threats would not work on Charles. The man had completely lost his mind!

Charles sat back down on the sofa and picked up the divorce agreement.

Sophia’s eyes were bloodshot as she said, “Once you sign it, we’ll have nothing to do with each other from this moment on.

“No matter how much debt Horizon Group owes, I won’t make you pay a single cent.”

Charles looked up. “Sophia, you’ll regret this.”

Sophia laughed, openly mocking him.

“Charles, are you out of your mind? Why would I ever regret divorcing you?

“To tell you the truth, I stopped wanting to be with you a long time ago. Do you know how many men out there are dying to have me?”