Chapter 377

"I...I can't take this anymore!" Olivia fled the office in tears.

Behind her, Julian's voice cut through the air like ice. "Security. Keep an eye on that woman with the cat-eye sunglasses. Make sure she doesn’t do anything drastic on company property."

The Montgomery men had a reputation—cold, ruthless, and utterly indifferent to women they didn’t care for.

To Julian, Olivia wasn’t just beneath his notice.

She wasn’t even human.

"Everyone, out," Julian commanded, his gaze sweeping over the stunned audience.

"Yes, Mr. Montgomery!" The room emptied in seconds.

"Sophia," he called, about to ask her to stay—when his phone rang.

He answered sharply. "Daniel. What is it?"

Daniel Whitmore, his cousin, spoke urgently on the other end.

Julian’s expression darkened. "Understood. I’ll be there."

Hanging up, he turned—only to find Sophia already gone.

He considered chasing her down to the design department, but Daniel’s matter couldn’t wait.

With a frustrated exhale, Julian strode out.

Meanwhile, Sophia stormed back into the design department.

"Director," she said coldly, "you shouldn’t have lied to me. I wasn’t planning to return. Why the deception?"

The director shifted uncomfortably. "Sophia, I know you’re upset. But Olivia has connections—powerful ones. Even if Mr. Montgomery kicked her out today, her backing rivals his. We’re just employees. We can’t fight her."

Sophia exhaled sharply. "Fine. But tell me this—does the company still want me here?"

The director hesitated.

Elizabeth, the senior designer, leaned in with a venomous whisper. "Think carefully, Director. Mr. Montgomery’s flings never last more than a day. He brought Sophia in on a whim and left her the second his phone rang. Olivia, a relative of the Kensington family, was tossed out without a second thought. What chance does she have?"

The director’s resolve wavered.

HR hadn’t officially rehired Sophia.

"Sophia, I..."

"It’s fine," Sophia cut in, her smile brittle. She shot Elizabeth a glare—met with a smug smirk.

"You’re nothing special," that look said.

"If I’m not staying, I’m leaving." Sophia turned on her heel.

She’d barely taken three steps when Elizabeth’s phone rang. A panicked voice crackled through.

Elizabeth’s face drained of color. "What? How? Is there any way to fix it?"

Sophia didn’t look back. She’d spotted the flaw in Elizabeth’s design last week.

Now, karma had arrived.

"Sophia! Stop!" Elizabeth shrieked.

Sophia kept walking.

She wasn’t an employee here anymore. Why should she?

"Sophia! Are you deaf?" Elizabeth lunged, blocking her path.

Sophia’s voice was arctic. "Move."

She had no time for this. That morning, she’d nearly secured another job. If not for the director’s call, she wouldn’t have returned.

Now, thanks to this farce, that opportunity might be gone.

"Sophia, you witch!" Elizabeth spat.

Sophia froze. "Excuse me?"

"You sabotaged me! You’re no designer—just a gold-digging tramp! Olivia was right about you. First, you failed to seduce her brother-in-law, then you set your sights on Mr. Montgomery. And now—" Elizabeth’s voice turned shrill. "—you tampered with my blueprints! The construction team followed your changes. The whole project’s ruined!"

Gasps erupted.

"Sophia, confess!"

"You caused this!"

"Director, don’t let her leave! She’s cursed our department!"

The team closed ranks, their accusations a venomous chorus.

Sophia locked eyes with the director.

He’d hired her. He knew she was qualified.

The director cleared his throat. "Elizabeth, Sophia is trained in design. I vetted her myself."

Sophia exhaled in relief.

"But," he added, "Sophia, you did handle Elizabeth’s drafts. She’s our top designer—her work never has errors. You’re involved now."

Sophia’s patience snapped. "What do you want?"

"Let’s visit the site. Compare the blueprints. The construction’s just started—it’s fixable. But we need to assign blame."

"Fine," Sophia bit out.

She’d prove her innocence.

Even if it meant facing them all again.