Chapter 115: Sophia’s Downfall
"Firstly, I would like to thank each one of you for being here tonight," Avery began her speech, bowing to everyone in gratitude. "The journey of AWE had its fair share of ups and downs, with my employees cursing me every day for making them work overtime."
The crowd responded warmly to Avery’s joke, many smiling, and someone from the staff even shouted, "True!" which caused the room to erupt in laughter. The atmosphere shifted into one of camaraderie, a familiar warmth that had always been AWE’s trademark.
The friendly working atmosphere was one of the many reasons people loved working at the company. Neither Avery nor Grace had ever treated the team like mere employees or bossed them around. They worked side by side, nurturing each other’s talents, and believing in the fruits of teamwork, a strength that had propelled AWE to great success in just a year.
"And here’s a small appreciation video for all my staff, filled with memories of both the joys and challenges we’ve faced together over the past year." Avery finished her short speech, and the lights in the room dimmed completely. The large screen behind her on the dais flickered to life, ready to play the video.
"And to all our guests," she added with a mischievous smile, "watch closely because you might just spot the person you’ve been so eager to see—the real reason most of you are here tonight." Avery’s final words caused a small stir among the audience, many straightening in their seats and fixing their eyes on the screen, anticipation building.
Avery remained on the dais with her staff, a subtle smile lingering on her face as the video began. The first image was of her and Evelyn in the early days, starting their firm on a tiny floor of a nondescript building. Many had initially dismissed Evelyn, assuming she was merely there to support her best friend. People saw her as the good-for-nothing, fake, and now-adopted daughter of the Wright family, believing her to be as useless as ever.
"Oh, that was our first client!" one of the staff exclaimed as the next frame rolled, showing a short clip of Avery and Evelyn signing a deal with an elderly woman. The video continued, highlighting how they’d transformed the woman’s old house, giving it a modern touch while preserving the sentimental memories of her late husband.
The clip ended with the elderly woman hugging Evelyn tightly outside her home, tears in her eyes. "You brought new life to my home, Grace. Thank you so much," she said.
Avery’s lips curled into a smirk as she heard murmurs spread through the room. The shock on most of the guests’ faces was too satisfying to ignore. Some still shook their heads in disbelief, refusing to accept what they were seeing. The video, however, left no room for doubt. Every project, every achievement of AWE, had Evelyn—Grace—involved. Clips of her working with clients, directing teams, and leading projects played out, sometimes without even Avery, the CEO in the frame.
The video made it undeniably clear: Evelyn was Grace. The whispers grew louder as the truth finally dawned on them.