Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Heartbreak: Rather Raise a Useless One Than a Good One

Levin Sawyer was particularly unhappy to see the visitor. "I’ll go get rid of him!"

"Don’t," Sophia Shaw said, stopping him.

If Vincent Grant wanted to see her, she could avoid him once, but not forever.

"I’ll go see him."

Levin Sawyer knew Sophia’s personality. When it came to her affairs, he did his best to stay informed without overstepping.

So he said, "Okay. If he gives you any trouble, tell me right away."

"Okay."

It wasn’t long after Leah Evans posted the video to her social media that Mira Quinn saw it.

Mira tapped on the video and passed her phone to Chad Jennings, who was sitting across from her. "Uncle, look how rich Sophia Shaw is. She’s your own daughter. Why are you trying to borrow money from us instead of asking her for it?"

After leaving the courthouse, Chad Jennings had rushed straight to the Quinn family’s home, hoping to borrow money from his younger sister, Mindy Jennings, to save his only property.

Chad took the phone. First, he saw someone giving Sophia a massive "pigeon’s egg" diamond, and then he saw people giving her bank cards.

That diamond alone was worth several million!

Watching Sophia return it to Zachary Hale without even blinking, Chad’s chest tightened with a painful ache.

Several million!

That could have paid off half his debt!

And those cards had to be worth at least tens of millions!

"Sophia... Sophia, why did she have to go and use it for some foundation!" Chad’s hands, still holding the phone, wouldn’t stop shaking. His eyes were red with agitation.

"She’s so rich, yet she won’t give me a single cent. She even forced me for money! This is outrageous, just outrageous!"

Mindy Jennings sat across from him, watching her brother’s dramatic wailing with a cold gaze.

Back then, she had been close with Brianna Shaw. After Brianna died, Mindy had spoken a few words in her defense, only to face retaliation from Yvonne Sherman.

The retaliation caused her to miscarry a child she had struggled to conceive, and it left her unable to have children ever since.

As her older brother, not only did he not criticize Yvonne Sherman, he blamed her for having a loose tongue.

Even now, Mindy fumed whenever she thought about it.

But Yvonne Sherman was in power, and Joanna Sherman was vicious, targeting their family’s business and constantly bullying Mira Quinn.

Later, the Sherman Family gained Vincent Grant’s backing and became even more formidable.

They could only swallow their broken teeth and, over the years, had focused on sucking up to Yvonne Sherman.

Mira Quinn, especially, followed Joanna Sherman around like a dog, waiting on her hand and foot.

Yet the Shermans acted like it was their due. They distributed the many properties to their name among their relatives, but never offered a single one to them!

Mindy tapped her fingers coldly on the table. She really didn’t know how her brother had the nerve to ask her for money.

She said pointedly, "Sophia Shaw was so brilliant back then. I told you so many times not to send her away, to treat her well, to raise her properly. You wouldn’t listen. Now that she’s rich, it’s only natural she won’t spend it on you."

Mira Quinn had outwardly submitted to Joanna Sherman for years, but she hated her to the bone. She also hated Chad Jennings, so she chimed in, "Isn’t that right? I really don’t know what you were thinking, Uncle. Joanna Sherman can’t compare to Sophia Shaw in any way. Why would you rather raise a good-for-nothing than keep the good one!"

"Speaking of which, your uncle really brought this on himself. If your former aunt hadn’t died, he’d still be living the high life, not worrying about money."

"He ate her food, lived in her house, and used her money, yet he still wouldn’t be a faithful husband, chasing some so-called ’love.’ No wonder he’s facing retribution!"

Chad Jennings was already in a foul mood. With Mindy and Mira ganging up on him, he felt like he could just die.

"How was I supposed to know? Sophia was so sick back then, I thought she was a lost cause."

"Who knew she’d become so successful, and... a rocket genius!"

’If I could live my life over again,’ Chad thought, ’I would definitely, absolutely cling to Sophia and never let go!’

"Sophia got gravely ill in your care, but she became a genius in her uncle’s. Shouldn’t you take a good, hard look at yourself?"

Mindy just had to twist the knife.

Chad couldn’t take it anymore and stumbled out of the Quinn family’s home.

Only after he left did Mindy let out a sigh.

"Sigh. What rotten luck. Who would have thought that Sophia wouldn’t just survive, but would climb to her current status?"

Taunting Chad had just been out of spite. Mindy also deeply regretted backing the wrong horse.

She had thought following Yvonne Sherman would lead to a good outcome, so she endured even when treated with contempt.

She had endured so much she felt like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but it was all for nothing in the end.

Mira Quinn twisted her fingers tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes.

Now that Sophia was a rocket genius, she had even more reason to be around Levin Sawyer.

Before, Mira could still cheer herself on with the fact that Sophia had been married and had a child, but now that Sophia was world-famous, who would care about that?

’Doesn’t that mean I have even less of a chance?’

—

Jacobs didn’t let Vincent Grant into Sophia’s office, arranging for him to wait in a conference room instead.

He casually dropped a paper cup of plain water on the table and couldn’t even be bothered to turn on the air conditioning.

When Jacobs followed Sophia into the small conference room, he found that Vincent had turned on the AC himself, setting the temperature to a perfect 77 degrees.

The curtains had been opened as well.

The man stood before the window, his perfect "nine-head" proportions on full display. His shirt fit his frame snugly, faintly revealing the strong, firm lines of his waist.

Even though Jacobs utterly loathed Vincent Grant, he had to admit the man was truly high-quality.

Vincent’s gaze was directed toward the entrance of Lead Aerospace.

Minutes earlier, that was where Zachary Hale had given Sophia the pigeon’s egg diamond, and others had given her bank cards.

Jacobs let out two exaggerated, fake coughs.

Only then did Vincent slowly turn his head. His gaze landed on Sophia, deep and turbulent.

Standing to the side, Jacobs could clearly feel the magnetic pull in that gaze, as if it wanted to suck Sophia right in.

’Scumbag!’ he cursed inwardly.

Not wanting to disturb the two, he went to pour Sophia a cup of the most fragrant coffee.

Steam wafted gently from the coffee, its rich aroma filling the room. The cup was exquisite.

It was a stark contrast to the shabby, cold paper cup on Vincent’s side of the table.

Vincent’s eyes finally fell on Jacobs. He chuckled softly. "Your assistant is quite protective of you."

Sophia didn’t want to waste words with him. "Vincent Grant, what is it you really want?"

"You’re not thinking of asking Joanna Sherman to come ’help’ at Lead Aerospace again, are you?"

"I really don’t have any issues here that require her presence to resolve."

Sophia wasn’t one to hold grudges, but she was utterly disgusted by how Vincent had self-righteously shoehorned Joanna into her work sphere in the name of "doing what’s best for her."

A muscle in Vincent’s jaw twitched. "My apologies. If I had known you were a rocket genius, I wouldn’t have thought of asking Joanna to help."

"Sophia..." Vincent paused for a long moment, then looked up at her seriously. "I’m here to discuss a partnership with you."

"A partnership?"

Sophia was taken aback.

Vincent nodded. "The Grant Group has three satellites. We’d like to invite Lead Aerospace to participate in the launch."

It had to be said, Vincent Grant was a very clear-headed person.

Realizing that Joanna Sherman couldn’t handle the launch of three satellites, he had proactively sought out Lead Aerospace.

For this ability to be flexible and swallow his pride, Sophia had to see Vincent in a new light.

But only just.

She said coolly, "Lead Aerospace is not interested."

"Don’t be so quick to refuse," Vincent said. "You can set the launch fee, and the overall project leader will be from Lead Aerospace."

"Sophia, these three satellites aren’t just about the Grant Group. They concern Cathan’s telecommunications industry and even whether Cathan can secure more aerospace resources in the future."

"And isn’t strengthening Cathan’s space program Old Master Sloan’s lifelong wish?"

It had to be said, Vincent was an excellent negotiator.

With just a few sentences, he had left Sophia with no room for rebuttal.

Sophia took a sip of her coffee. "This isn’t a decision I can make alone. I’ll have to consult with the others."

"I’ll wait for your answer." Vincent stood, picked up the jacket draped over the back of his chair, and hooked it over his arm.

He nodded at her and walked out.

At the doorway, he paused for a moment. "Sophia, when Cedric went to the courthouse last time, he just wanted to see you."

Sophia had already picked up her phone and busied herself with work. She only called out casually, "Jacobs, please see President Grant out!"

Jacobs walked over. "President Grant, this way, please."

Vincent didn’t move. He kept looking at Sophia.

She had quickly unlocked her phone, her long fingers pinching to zoom in and out on the screen as she replied to various messages.

Her long eyelashes fluttered faintly, her lips pressed together slightly, focused and serious.

The person who used to get nervous just hearing his name could no longer stir the slightest ripple in her.

Vincent said nothing more and turned to leave.

Jacobs, half a step behind, also looked at Sophia.

She kept her head down, busy with her affairs, truly immersed in her work. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Jacobs breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Sophia didn’t work overtime that day.

She planned to take Bun to go see his grandmother.

Just as her car reached the entrance of Lead Aerospace, she saw a large crowd gathered outside.

Lead Aerospace wasn’t located on a busy street, so this was the first time a crowd had formed at the main gate.

Sophia got out of the car and walked over.

She saw Zachary Hale standing in the middle of the circle with someone. He pointed at the other person, his face filled with indignation, and shouted, "I’m warning you, don’t you dare make false accusations!"