Chapter 14
Sophie grew angrier as she thought about it. She swept all the files off her desk in one swift motion.
The sound of scattering papers drew attention from outside. Everyone in the office couldn’t help but glance toward Sophie’s office.
After her outburst, Sophie glared at the onlookers. She stood up and slammed the door shut with a bang.
“Who’s going to tell Miss Sophie about the design competition?”
Everyone shook their heads. No one wanted to face Sophie’s wrath.
The deputy director had no choice but to deliver the news himself.
Stepping around the scattered documents, he placed the competition guidelines on Sophie’s desk.
“The company’s holding a design competition this year. Here are the details. Mr. Victor wants you to lead the design department in creating our entry.”
Only upon hearing it was Victor’s directive did Sophie pick up the document. She glanced at it briefly before saying, “Get out.”
For the next two days, Sophie remained unusually subdued, holed up in her office sketching designs.
She’d pick up her pencil to outline an idea, only to tear the paper away moments later, crumpling it into a ball before tossing it aside.
Sophie wasn’t exceptionally talented in design. The awards she’d won in
Chapter 14
college meant little among the Scott Group’s elite designers.
With the team’s collaboration, the project would’ve been manageable.
But Sophie was determined to prove she surpassed Lily. She forbade anyone from assisting.
Victor had appointed her director against all opposition.
Since everyone believed she’d gotten the position through connections, she’d show them Sophie outshone Lily.
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Just as Sophie hit a creative block, she discovered an exquisitely drawn sketch in Victor’s office.
“Victor, whose design is this?”
Victor took the parchment, recognizing it immediately–Lily had gifted it to him years ago.
He remembered Lily eagerly presenting her work:
“Victor, I designed this ring! It’s called ‘Spring.’ The inspiration came
from-”
“Enough!
Can’t you see I’m working?”
Victor had impatiently tossed the sketch aside.
Lily’s smile froze. Silently, she placed the design back on his desk before leaving
Now Victor stared at the sketch, lost in thought. After a long pause, he answered Sophie: “It’s Lily’s ”
Chapter 14
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Jealousy flickered across Sophie’s face, though she feigned indifference as she set it down.
“Was this design ever produced?”
Victor didn’t understand her interest but answered truthfully:
“No.”
He hesitated before adding, “She designed it for me years ago.”
Days later, Sophie submitted her competition entry to Victor.
Victor studied the ring design–it looked hauntingly familiar, reminiscent of Lily’s “Spring.”
He wavered for a moment but ultimately stayed silent.
Lily, who’d once clung to him relentlessly, had finally vanished from his life. This was everything he’d longed for.
Yet lately, he kept thinking about her. This strange sensation unsettled
Victor.
So even though he noticed Sophie’s design resembled Lily’s sketches, he didn’t mention it.
“Good work. We’ll take a vacation after the design competition.”
Sophie’s head snapped up, eyes brightening.
Their relationship had stalled. Though Victor was with her, she sensed he still remembered Lily and didn’t actually dislike her.
This sparked urgency–she needed to secure Victor’s affection and deepen
their bond.
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Chapter 14
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Hearing about the vacation, Sophie saw the perfect chance to get closer.
She leaned in to kiss him, but Victor gently stopped her.
“Working hours.”
Grabbing another file, Victor said coldly: “You may leave if there’s nothing else.”
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