Chapter 5

"I won't accept it."

James stared hard at the agreement, then suddenly snapped. He grabbed the documents and tore them to shreds, flinging the pieces into the air.

As the paper scraps flew everywhere, his eyes turned bloodshot, revealing an almost obsessive possessiveness. "Sophie, I don't care what the law says. As long as I don't agree, you'll always be my wife. Want a divorce? In your next life!"

He reached out to grab me again, but Vivian grabbed his arm tightly.

Vivian was a smart woman.

Just moments ago, watching James lose control over me, go crazy over me, she finally realized that James cared about me far more than she had imagined.

"James! Calm down!" Vivian held onto him with all her strength, speaking rapidly, "Now's not the time for romance! The company's about to collapse! I just had someone look into it—the source cutting off our funding is Smith Group! That company that stole our project is also backed by Smith Group!"

Hearing "Smith Group," James's movements suddenly froze.

Seeing this, Vivian immediately pressed on: "I also heard that Smith Group's chairman, Robert Smith, is totally whipped when it comes to his daughter—does whatever she says. If we can track down that Smith heiress and get her to back off, we might still save the company!"

Standing there, watching this scene unfold, I could barely keep myself from laughing out loud.

Ask the Smith heiress for help?

"Really?" A glimmer of hope lit up in James's eyes, like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood.

"Absolutely! I have a friend in Smith Group's PR department who said the heiress just returned to the country and is at a club near here tonight!" Vivian tugged at him anxiously, "James, let's go now! If we're late, we'll miss her! If we can get in good with her, forget one project—we could land ten!"

James hesitated.

He looked at Vivian, then at me standing across from him with a cold expression.

In that moment, a man's ambition and greed ultimately triumphed over his so-called "deep feelings."

He needed power, needed money. Only by saving the company could he have the leverage to continue controlling me.

"Sophie," James took a deep breath, looking at me with a complicated expression, his tone even carrying a hint of condescending reassurance, "The company situation is urgent, I won't argue with you anymore. Just be good and don't hang around with this random guy."

He pointed at Lucas, then looked back at me, his eyes full of certainty. "Just go home. Once I meet with Ms. Smith and fix the company mess, I'll come back for you. Then I'll give you whatever you want."

"Don't worry, James, I'll definitely get you a meeting with her," Vivian promised confidently, and her tone made James relax, as if everything would soon be resolved.

"Really?" I smiled.

Vivian said confidently, "Of course!"

"Good, see you later then!" I waved, watching as James gave me one last deep look before turning to leave hurriedly with Vivian.

At the same time, I was silently cheering them on.

...

"I'll be waiting for you to go through hell and back to see me!"