Chapter 371

Sophia Evans huddled by the floor-to-ceiling window of her apartment in the Kingdom of Eudora. Her fingers absently traced the screen of her phone. Ever since Victoria Roscente's clumsy scheme had failed, she'd been as jumpy as a startled bird, terrified of angering Ethan Roscente.

Her phone vibrated suddenly.

She glanced down at the photo on the screen—Ethan and Vivian Laurent sitting across from each other in a café. His usually cold, sharp features held a softness she'd never seen before.

A second message popped up immediately: "Sophia, did you know Vivian is Ethan's ex-wife?"

Her nails dug deep into her palms.

"Who the hell are you?" Sophia's voice trembled slightly when the call connected.

"That's not important," the woman on the other end chuckled. "So you really didn't know."

Sophia tightened her grip on the phone. "What do you want?"

"To help you, of course." Sophia Sherwood swirled the red wine in her glass. "Don't you find it... ironic that the CEO is still entangled with his ex-wife after their divorce?"

"Lies!" Sophia's voice rose sharply. "Ethan's ex-wife was an ugly hag!"

A knowing laugh came through the line. "Why don't you check for yourself?"

After hanging up, Sophia immediately dialed a private investigator.

Three days later, the investigative report sat quietly in her inbox.

Vivian's plastic surgery records, hospital registration files, Vincent Valrose's public statement... Each piece of evidence cut into her like a knife.

Her hands shook as she dialed Ethan's number, only to be met with a cold automated voicemail.

"I'm going back to the country." Sophia dragged her suitcase to the door, only to be blocked by two black-suited bodyguards.

"The CEO has instructed that Miss Evans needs rest."

She bit her lip hard and turned back into the room, sending a message to the mysterious number: "How are you going to help me?"

Sophia Sherwood smirked at the message on her screen.

The fish had taken the bait. Now it was time to reel it in.