Chapter 4

Celia said, "As I recall, the contract you signed with Lowe Group states that during our partnership, your personal life must be spotless.

"You're not allowed to have a boyfriend, and yet you deliberately kept your relationship a secret. I could sue you for breach of contract."

The moment she finished, the color drained from Sophie's face and she turned ashen. Her shoulders wouldn't stop trembling.

Celia gave a soft laugh and motioned to Elle, who spoke up at once. "Ms. Hart, under the liquidated damages clause, you owe Lowe Group five times the fee, which is 30 million dollars, and you must issue a public clarification for Lowe Group."

Every word landed like a hammer. Sophie stood there, utterly at a loss for what to do.

30 million dollars? She couldn't pay that even if she sold everything she owned!

The people around them couldn't hold back their laughter, and a low murmur broke out. A whole range of emotions flickered across Sophie's face.

Celia's gaze remained icy. As she moved past Sophie, she said, "Ms. Hart, you're punching above your weight if you think you can take me on. You'd better figure out how you're going to pay the liquidated damages."

Sophie went livid, but she didn't have the nerve to cross Celia. There was no way she could afford the penalty. So what was she supposed to do?

Right then, the crowd stirred at the doors. Winston walked in.

Sophie's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. Celia spotted him, too, and frowned.

In a low, mocking tone, Sophie spoke with the easy confidence of someone who already had it in the bag. "Ms. Weller, do you think Win will help me? What should I do? I'm already looking forward to watching him toss you aside. That's going to be quite a show!"

Last time, Winston had dumped Celia over a single text from Sophie and gone straight to the latter. He would do it again.

Sophie's eyes brimmed with tears as she clasped Celia's hand, all meek and pitiful, and sniffled. "I'm sorry, Ms. Weller. I shouldn't have said that. Will you forgive me? My mom's been sick, and we really need the money. I can't afford to lose this job…"

Celia listened, then smiled. She recognized the move for what it was. It was a guilt trip meant to cast her as the villain in Sophie's story.

Winston came over with a frown. "What's going on?"

Just as Celia was about to speak, Sophie cut in, her eyes red-rimmed and teary. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lowe. I wasn't careful and ended up upsetting Ms. Weller. That's on me…"

She said it was her fault, but the tears wouldn't stop. She was the picture of misery.

Celia glanced at Winston beside her. She didn't expect anything from him anymore.

He looked over at Sophie, who was still dabbing at her tears, and his heart sank. "Ms. Hart, I expect a full explanation from Skylark Media on this. As for how you treated my wife, if you know you were out of line, why are you crying instead of apologizing?"

Celia's gaze flickered as a memory from high school came rushing back to her. She'd been bullied. Winston had stepped in front of her and, in that same tone, put the bullies in their place.

His cold, cutting voice made Sophie's eyes sting. After all, he'd always treated her gently.

She bit her lip and said, "I'm sorry."

Winston's expression softened. Putting a hand on Celia's shoulder, he said, "She apologized, Cece. Don't hold it against her. Come on."

The flicker of warmth that had just stirred in Celia immediately went cold. So all he wanted was for her to stop going after Sophie.

She almost laughed. She wasn't someone who could be pushed around. Sophie had picked a fight with her, and Celia would make her pay.

She brushed Winston's hand away and cut a look at Sophie, who was still sniffling.

"If you're going to apologize, be sincere about it," Celia said. "The stunt you pulled today will end up online, and once people with an agenda spin it, everyone will think I'm the bully. Here's what you're going to do—post a clarification on Twitter."

People with an agenda, huh?

Sophie took it as a jab. And Celia wanted her to post a clarification on Twitter for everyone to see. As a public figure, that was the one thing she couldn't afford!

She was seething, but all she managed was a stiff nod. "Fine. I'll do it, Ms. Weller."

Celia smiled. "Oh, and don't forget the liquidated damages."

That said, she didn't spare another glance at Sophie, who wore a spiteful look. With a faint smile, she turned and walked away.

Winston faltered, then went after her at once.

Sophie stood there, numb, watching him choose Celia over her. She muttered a curse under her breath.

Her assistant, Kelly Bamford, moved in to comfort her. "It's fine, Sophie. We'll find a way to make things right our own way."

Leaning close to Sophie's ear, she whispered, "You should…"

…

Celia wasn't in the mood for the team dinner. She didn't want to spoil anyone's fun, so she skipped it and kept to herself.

Winston stayed with her. At the buffet, he picked out grapes, her favorite, and peeled them for her one by one.

Her eyes prickled. She loved grapes but never had the patience to peel them. To make sure she got enough vitamin C, Winston had always done it for her.

She remembered a friend ribbing him for fussing over her, saying he wasn't the least bit macho.

Winston had only scoffed. "Why do I need to act macho with my wife? If she's happy, that's all that matters."

Celia's eyes clouded over.

"You got a raw deal, Cece. I'll handle everything with Sophie and make sure you get a full explanation."

Winston ran a hand through her hair, gentle in a way that didn't feel like an act. He'd just gone to bat for her, and that part felt real.

But why had he cheated? How could he wear that look of sincerity so easily?

The bitterness cut deep, and Celia slipped out of his arms. She kept quiet.

Just then, Daniel called Winston over, saying there was an important matter he had to deal with.

Winston nodded. He pulled Celia into a hug, reluctant to let go. "Wait here for me. I'll be right back."

Celia hummed, giving him the faintest smile. The second he left, her eyes went cold again.

…

Half an hour flew by. Having eaten too much fruit, Celia headed to the restroom. As she rounded the corner, jeers drifted down the hall.

"Drop the act. Sleeping around and still playing the saint? Hands off. Let me see."

"Yeah. You think you measure up to Celia? You're not even in her league."

A few drunk men grabbed Sophie, yanking at her and hurling disgusting comments. Tears streaked down her face. She sank to the floor, curling up and hugging herself tight like a wounded cub.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I won't cross Celia again. Please, let me go. I'm begging you."

Celia frowned. Still, she pulled out her phone and called for help. She couldn't just stand by and watch a bunch of guys bully a woman.

As she was making the call, a man charged in from another hallway. "Where did you get the nerve to lay your hands on her? You don't want a future in Belcaster, do you?"

That familiar voice snapped her back to her senses. She looked up and saw Winston striding in. He drove his fist into the guy's face, then followed with a hard kick that sent him sprawling on the ground.

"We're sorry, Mr. Lowe. We didn't know any better. Please let us go."

Winston drove a kick into the man's shin. "Get lost! Touch her again and you'll answer to me!"

They scattered in a panic, stumbling over each other as they ran.

Winston rushed over and scooped Sophie off the floor, worry etched across his face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they touch you?"

Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and burst into tears. "I was terrified, Win. Thank God you came…"

He rubbed her back, his touch slow and steady. "You're alright. You're alright."

"I thought you'd cut me off because I crossed Celia back there," she choked out.

"Hey, don't say that, sweetheart. I couldn't take your side in front of Celia. I'm sorry, okay? Easy now. Don't cry. It kills me to see you like this."

His voice was gentle and filled with worry as he kept comforting her.

Celia's phone hit the floor with a crack. Her face was already streaked with tears.