Chapter 8
She tilted her head in mock pity, “I admit you’re the real Katia, but so what? You’ll just die alone in loneliness here!”
Sandra pretended to pat Katia’s hand.
“Sweetheart, what nonsense! Your father’s health is poor, and overseas medical costs are steep. We’re not abandoning Miss Williams, just sparing her the burden.”
Dad nodded cheerfully, as if every word made perfect sense.
Everyone was waiting for me to break down, to question them hysterically.
Or like before, pleading with tearful eyes for Father not to abandon me.
Yet I simply asked calmly whether they’d obtained foreign citizenship.
Father froze, then nodded. “Of course, all paperwork’s finalized.”
“Good.” I turned to Justin. “Since our country doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, please revoke these four individuals’ nationality with Immigration.”
Their smiles stiffened.
Katia reacted first, snorting with contempt.
“Sister, have you lost your mind from the shock?”
Father shook his head and sighed, as if lamenting my “willfulness.”
Just then, the conference room door swung open as Elijah strode in.
He held a thick stack of property deeds, wearing a fond yet helpless smile.
“Sophia, you really are a spoiled princess. I just asked you to apologize, and you decided to disappear on me?”
He reached to pinch my cheek, but I stepped back to avoid it.
He froze, then chuckled.
“Still mad? Come here, let me hold you. Your darling
you.”
But the next second, Larry strode over and pulled me possessively into his arms.
Announcing to everyone:
“Sophia is my fiancée.”
The boardroom fell deathly silent.
Elijah’s face darkened instantly.
“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Johnson?”
Before Larry could respond, the auctioneer struck the copper bell: “The bidding begins.”
What unfolded next left everyone stunned into silence.
Elijah bid higher like a desperate gambler.
Ignoring his assistant’s pale face and frantically gesturing hands.”
“Mr. Anderson!” The assistant blurted out, “This bid exceeds our collateral limits!”
But he wouldn’t listen.
He only saw Sophia sitting across, expressionless, refusing to meet his eyes.
He recklessly raised bids, even mortgaging three subsidiaries of the Williams Group.
Katia watched from below, green with envy, while her father and Sandra beamed.
Until the auctioneer finally slammed the gavel, announcing:
“The winning bidder for this equity auction-Mr. Larry.”
The boardroom fell into deathly silence.
Then, a loud bang exploded.
For the first time, Elijah lost his composure and violently overturned the table.
“Larry, what do you mean by stealing my wife?”
I raised my phone and played the recording of the wedding scene where he and father discussed the fake marriage
certificate.
“Your legal wife is Katia.”
Elijah’s gaze suddenly turned to Katia.
“Did you tell her?”
“No, it wasn’t me.”
Katia shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face.
Yet she failed to conceal her guilt.
