Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Sophie Shaw’s head was spinning from Alaric Blackwood’s explanation.

"So are Claire Sterling and Ava Sterling the same person or not?"

"Most likely."

"Why would she make herself look unattractive to work as a waitress in all those clubs and bars?"

’Was it just to make ends meet?’

’She’d already fabricated a seemingly perfect fake socialite identity for herself. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just use that to dive into the circles of the wealthy elite and snag a rich guy?’

’Why go through the extra trouble of making herself look plain to go work in the nightlife scene?’

Alaric Blackwood couldn’t quite figure out the answer to Sophie Shaw’s question either. "Maybe she wanted to use the job as a convenient way to scout for prospects."

"Couldn’t she scout for prospects in socialite circles?"

"She could, but it’s impossible to tell who’s reliable and who’s scum. Everyone wears a mask; they’re completely different people in public versus in private. Perhaps Claire Sterling chose to work in that scene specifically to filter out the unreliable ones."

"That’s possible, I suppose."

They arrived at the restaurant as they were talking.

In Alaric Blackwood’s view, Claire Sterling wasn’t much of a threat. She was just using her own little schemes to marry into a wealthy family. The real threats were Lydia Wynn and Aiden Lloyd.

Especially Aiden Lloyd. He’d been embedded in Jaden’s law firm for a long time and was an exceptional employee—a man of few words, but with a meticulous mind.

’That bug they’d found in the red supercar was professional-grade listening and tracking equipment. How did Lydia Wynn get her hands on it?’

’Most likely through Aiden Lloyd.’

Alaric Blackwood put his arm around Sophie Shaw as they walked into the restaurant. After they ordered, he changed the subject. "Where’s the shoot for the new brand endorsement this afternoon?"

Sophie Shaw looked out the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows and pointed to a building diagonally across the street. "Over there."

"What floor?"

"The twelfth floor. Why, are you coming with me?"

"I can’t. I have an important meeting this afternoon."

He’d asked what floor the shoot was on because he noticed she wasn’t wearing the bracelet he’d given her. Without it, he couldn’t pinpoint her location, which made him uneasy.

The waiter brought their food. As he ate, he asked, feigning nonchalance, "Why aren’t you wearing the bracelet I gave you?"

Sophie Shaw glanced at her bare left wrist. "I took it off to shower and forgot to put it back on."

"The bracelet is waterproof."

"?"

"It’s fine to wear in the shower. Remember to put it on when you get home tonight."

Sophie Shaw looked at him, confused. "What happens if I don’t?"

"Your husband will get angry, and the consequences will be severe."

"..."

After lunch, there was still over half an hour until her afternoon photoshoot.

Sophie Shaw ordered a coffee and sat by the window to wait.

Alaric Blackwood had to hurry back to the office for his afternoon meeting, but he was uneasy leaving her alone. "What time will you be done? I’ll come get you."

"Don’t worry about it. The staff from the planning department and Assistant Sutton will be at the studio. I’ll get a ride back to the company with Assistant Sutton."

Alaric Blackwood nodded, reassured that Sophie Shaw wouldn’t be by herself.

He got up to pay the bill at the counter, ordering a dessert for Sophie Shaw on his way. He came back to her before he left and ruffled her hair. "I’m heading out."

"Don’t pick me up tonight. I’m planning to have dinner with Nina. We have some work things to discuss."

"Alright."

Sophie Shaw watched Alaric Blackwood leave the restaurant and get into his Cullinan before looking away.

A waiter quickly brought over a tiramisu. "The gentleman you were with ordered this for you before he left."

Sophie Shaw accepted it with a smile. "Thank you."

She picked up her spoon and was enjoying the dessert when a figure suddenly appeared beside her.

A shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Damian Morgan walking past. He glanced down at her, then smiled as he walked around to sit across from her, in the very seat Alaric Blackwood had just vacated.

"Long time no see."

Damian Morgan was dressed in a dark blue suit, looking deceptively dapper. But the expensive Rolex on his wrist had been replaced by his old, cheap watch, which cost just over two hundred yuan. The suit he wore was an old one—a graduation gift from Sophie Shaw after he finished college.

Compared to the man who had married into the Kane family, transformed overnight from head to toe, and started driving luxury cars, the Damian Morgan before her now looked much more pathetic.

Sophie Shaw ignored him and continued to eat her dessert in silence, planning to leave as soon as she was done.

Damian Morgan unhurriedly called over a waiter and ordered a coffee. Afterward, his intense gaze remained fixed on Sophie Shaw’s pretty face.

"We dated for three years. How can you look at me now like I’m a complete stranger?"

Sophie Shaw shot him a cold glance. "What do you want?"

"I missed you."

"You start missing your ex the moment Vianne Kane dumps you? Aren’t you disgusted with yourself?"

Her words hit a nerve. The smile on Damian Morgan’s face stiffened slightly. "Vianne filed for divorce."

"I know."

"You won. A beautiful victory. Are you happy now, seeing me so down on my luck?"

"You brought this on yourself."

"Yes, I deserve it. But Sophie Shaw, don’t you forget—my parents have shares in Heart of the Ocean."

"So? You’ve got your eyes on those shares now?"

"They’ve already transferred the shares to my name. I’m a shareholder in Heart of the Ocean now."

"..."

"Keep up the great work, Sophie Shaw. I’m counting on you. Make the company bigger and stronger so I can collect dividends without lifting a finger. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it?"

Sophie Shaw took a deep breath, nearly losing her composure at Damian Morgan’s words.

"Don’t get cocky. I’ll buy back your shares."

"I’m not selling. Not for any price."

"Shouldn’t you be desperate for money in your current situation?"

"What if I am? I’m still not selling my shares in Heart of the Ocean. Period."

He wanted to sit back and reap the rewards.

Furious, Sophie Shaw slammed her spoon down. She shot to her feet, braced one hand on the table, leaned forward, and swung her other arm, slapping Damian Morgan hard across the face.

SLAP!

The force of the blow snapped his head to the side, a clear red handprint instantly blooming on his cheek.

He licked the corner of his mouth, a smirk replacing any sign of anger. "Is this what they call impotent rage?"

"Damian Morgan!"

"Present."

"You make me sick."

"It’s your fault for not being decisive enough. You didn’t buy back my parents’ shares when you had the chance, and now I have an opportunity to make a comeback."

Damian Morgan stood up and walked over to Sophie Shaw. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, his smile vanishing as his eyes darkened in the next instant. He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her back down onto the sofa.

"Sophie Shaw, the war between us isn’t over."

"I never realized how capable you were. You’ve really made me see you in a new light. You’re much more interesting now than when we were dating. I think I’m actually starting to like you, to admire you. What am I to do?"

"How about you think about it? We could get back together."

Sophie Shaw couldn’t breathe. Her face turned purple as she choked. Unable to break Damian Morgan’s grip on her neck, she clawed desperately at his face.

Her nails tore at his flesh, leaving several scratches, one deep enough to draw blood.

Damian Morgan’s brow furrowed viciously, and his grip on her throat tightened.

A wave of suffocation washed over her. Sophie Shaw’s eyes rolled back in her head, and just as she was about to lose consciousness, she violently kneed Damian Morgan hard in the crotch.