Chapter 473

The Velvet Lounge, Harborview City

"Good heavens! Does this tramp have a child?"

"Of course she does! She’s been hiding it well, hasn’t she?"

"A shameless whore! She’s probably seduced half the men in our department. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s infected them all with something filthy. Someone should check the hospitals—God knows what diseases she’s carrying!" The cruelest words came from Elizabeth Dawson.

Apart from Olivia Kensington, Elizabeth was the woman who despised Sophia Montgomery the most in the company.

The male colleagues—Daniel Carter, Ethan Reynolds, Nathan Wilson, and Oliver Bennett—exchanged uneasy glances.

Their stomachs churned with disgust.

None of them disliked Sophia. Not in that way, at least. The girl was quiet, delicate-looking, but with an unshakable strength beneath her fragile exterior. The moment she joined the company, she had outmaneuvered Olivia Kensington effortlessly. When Elizabeth tried to undermine her, Sophia had handled the situation with such finesse that she ended up becoming Elizabeth’s superior.

Logically, a girl like her should have been the first to catch Julian Montgomery’s attention. If she had wanted to, she could have easily secured private meetings with him. Even if she didn’t become his girlfriend, she could have gained significant advantages. Yet, she had never sought him out.

Was the man blind?

It was Sophia who Julian had sought out first! Why didn’t she take the opportunity to secure her position?

Though the men thought this, none dared to voice their opinions now.

Oliver Bennett, the youngest intern, opened his mouth several times but ultimately stayed silent.

At that moment, Sophia looked at Cassandra Montgomery, who smirked lazily.

Sophia knew Cassandra was about to destroy her.

Biting her lip, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. Cassandra hadn’t expected this. She stiffened momentarily before sneering. "Sophia, you really don’t know when to quit."

The call connected.

Ethan Blackwood had just landed and was en route to Kingsbury Military Medical Center. He had avoided visiting William Thornton for months, not wanting to aggravate the old man’s condition. Now that he was recovering, Ethan had chosen this moment to visit.

The root of William’s anger was something Ethan couldn’t—and wouldn’t—explain.

When Sophia’s call came through, his voice was icy. "What is it?"

On the other end, Sophia asked softly, "If I behave, will you treat Lilly better?"

Ethan scoffed. "Since when do you get to ask questions?"

Sophia exhaled. "Understood."

She hung up.

Ethan stared at his phone for a few seconds, his lips curling in derision. You act obedient, but when have you ever truly listened?

After a silent curse, he set the phone aside and closed his eyes, mentally preparing for the confrontation with William.

Meanwhile, Sophia had made her decision. She met Cassandra’s gaze calmly. "Fine. Do whatever makes you happy."

Cassandra grinned. "Excellent!"

She clapped her hands. "Olivia, come in."

Olivia Kensington strode in, clutching two filthy, tattered shoes.

"Olivia, didn’t this bitch injure you last week? Now’s your chance for revenge. Use these to beat her face into a pulp," Cassandra ordered with a vicious smile.

Sophia’s breath hitched.

She hadn’t expected this level of humiliation.

Olivia, gripping the shoes, hesitated.

Despite her haughty demeanor, Olivia was no true aristocrat—just a pretender lording over ordinary employees. Compared to a real socialite like Cassandra, she wasn’t even fit to carry her shoes. She had only been summoned today to act as Cassandra’s attack dog.

Earlier, in Cassandra’s car, she had been ignored until Cassandra tossed her a wad of cash. "Go buy those disgusting shoes from the cobbler under the overpass."

Olivia hadn’t understood why. "Miss Montgomery, what do you need them for?"

Cassandra had smirked. "To hang around Sophia’s neck."

Olivia had been thrilled at the idea of parading Sophia with the shoes like a criminal.

But now, faced with actually striking her, Olivia froze.

She was all bark, no bite.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Pathetic. Who do you think will avenge her? No one in Harborview City dares cross me."

Her gaze swept the crowd that had gathered around the design department. This was the perfect opportunity to expose Sophia.

"You all deserve to know exactly what kind of trash she is."

Whispers erupted.

"Oh my God, what’s her real background? If Miss Montgomery is saying this, it must be worse than faking a resume or having a bastard child!"

"Maybe she was some construction site whore, selling herself to filthy old laborers. Disgusting! We’ll need to sanitize the entire office after she’s gone!" Elizabeth crowed.

Others chimed in.

"How could she hide this so well? Was she planning to ruin us all?"

"Elizabeth, she blackmailed you for a hundred grand!"

"She should be drowned in a pig cage!"

The venom in the air was suffocating.

Sophia stood motionless, her expression unreadable.

Cassandra’s grin widened. "Well, Olivia? What are you waiting for?"

Olivia’s hands trembled.

She couldn’t do it.

But Cassandra’s glare left no room for refusal.

Taking a shaky breath, Olivia raised the shoes—

And the office door burst open.