Chapter 140

Sophia Blackwood was summoned to Kingsley Tech headquarters.

Even her phone had been taken away.

She stood there, shoulders slumped, lifting her gaze hesitantly.

"Brother, why did you call me here so suddenly?"

Nathan Blackwood's expression was glacial.

His voice cut like steel. "You know exactly why."

Sophia shivered but refused to admit anything.

"How would I know?"

"You don't?" Nathan scoffed before barking toward the door. "Bring him in!"

Harrison ushered in the lead journalist from the scandal.

The man entered with a nervous smile, bowing deeply. "Mr. Blackwood. Ms. Blackwood."

Sophia's face twisted in betrayal.

She lunged for Nathan's arm. "Brother, don't listen to him! Everything he says is a lie! I never hired anyone to smear Evelyn!"

The journalist hadn't even spoken yet.

Nathan's eyes darkened, the temperature in the room plummeting.

Sophia recoiled, fear prickling down her spine.

Her grip slackened. "I... I didn't mean for things to go this far."

"Sophia Blackwood, do you still think this is just a harmless mistake?" Nathan's voice was lethally quiet.

An oppressive silence filled the air.

Sophia stumbled back. For the first time, she realized her brother's patience had run out.

Her mother's warning echoed in her mind: Never test Nathan's limits.

Why is Evelyn his line in the sand? Why can't I touch her?

Resentment burned in her chest. She opened her mouth to play the victim—

But the journalist blurted out, "Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Blackwood still owes the final payment, but since the plan failed, I won't ask for it. Just let me go!"

Sophia whirled on him. "Shut your mouth, you idiot!"

Nathan's voice was arctic. "You have one choice. Apologize to Evelyn. Now."

"Why should I?" Sophia snapped. "It's not like it even worked!"

The online backlash had backfired spectacularly—damaging Kingsley Tech instead of Evelyn.

Nathan's gaze could have frozen hell. "Refuse, and you'll never see another cent from this family."

Sophia paled.

"Nor will anyone lend to you under the Blackwood name. I'll make sure of it."

Her breath hitched. He wasn't bluffing.

Trembling, she choked out, "Why do you protect her? You're divorced! Shouldn't you be with Vanessa Holloway? Who is Evelyn to you?"

Nathan stepped closer, his voice a blade.

"Because of your amateur scheming, Kingsley Tech's stocks crashed. We lost over a billion dollars in hours."

The room turned to ice.

Sophia's lips parted soundlessly.

A billion? I only paid that reporter six figures!

Nathan continued, cold and precise. "And Vanessa Holloway means nothing to me. She will never be part of this family."

Sophia's blood ran cold.

Had she misread everything?

Nathan turned on his heel and left.

The door clicked shut.

Harrison adjusted his glasses, addressing the journalist. "You may leave. But remember—stick to celebrity gossip. Dig into business again, and you'll disappear."

The man fled.

Then Harrison turned to Sophia.

"Ms. Blackwood, your grandfather demands your presence."

Sophia's hope flared. "Grandfather would never—"

"He gave you twenty minutes. Fail to arrive, and your name will be struck from the Blackwood registry. Permanently."

Her knees buckled.