"What exactly do you require from me, Ms. Stuart?"

Sophia didn't waste time with pleasantries. Victoria responded with a calculated smile. "While your actions contributed to our recent setback, Sophia, you're not entirely without intelligence. I'm still willing to collaborate with you. Keep the shares I'm transferring to you. I'll inform you of your specific duties when I determine what I need."

"What if you demand I commit murder or arson?" Sophia challenged.

"Do you believe our current activities are morally superior to those crimes?" Victoria countered bluntly.

Their actions already crossed legal boundaries.

Did Sophia still not comprehend this reality? Sophia clenched her teeth. She understood perfectly what Victoria would demand from her the moment she accepted these shares. Yet human nature is inherently greedy.

Staring at the contract before her, Sophia recognized that accepting these shares meant she would wield ultimate authority within Scott Enterprises from this day forward.

Her grandmother and mother presented a facade of affection, but their true intentions were transparent. They favored Daniel despite his incompetence. What right did he have to assume he would inherit the entire Scott fortune? Simply because he was the male heir? The injustice infuriated her. Sophia snatched the contract aggressively. Victoria's lips curved in cold satisfaction.

There was never any possibility Sophia would refuse her offer.

"Currently, I haven't formulated a new strategy against Elise. She's proven more cunning than I anticipated, and I underestimated her significance to William."

Victoria was certain William's intervention had prevented Elise from facing imprisonment.

"Elise is indeed formidable," Sophia conceded.

"I'll contact you once I devise a new approach," Victoria stated dismissively.

Her tone clearly indicated the meeting had concluded.

"Understood. I'll perform diligently, having learned from this experience," Sophia declared with renewed determination.

Sophia departed from Victoria's café.

A subtle unease lingered in her heart, though it was overwhelmed by triumphant excitement.

She was now the principal shareholder of Scott Enterprises.

This was an achievement she hadn't dared imagine, yet it had materialized with astonishing ease.

From this moment forward, she would no longer submit to her family's predetermined destiny!

After Elise brought Samantha home, she returned to her own residence. She had initially struggled to adjust to Elizabeth's presence in her home, having lived independently for so long.

Yet now, with one less person inhabiting the space, she found the emptiness even more difficult to bear. She wondered how Elizabeth was managing. She retrieved her phone, hesitated momentarily, then resolved to make the call.

Elizabeth had consistently demonstrated genuine concern for her.

The connection established, Elise's heartbeat accelerated unexpectedly. She hadn't experienced such nervous anticipation even with romantic partners.

William's image flashed through her consciousness...

"Elise."

A voice answered from the other end.

Elise refocused and announced, "Elizabeth, I won the case."

"I know, I saw the news coverage. Congratulations!" Elizabeth responded enthusiastically.

Yet her tone carried a distinct quality.

The carefree, exuberant laughter was absent.

Instead, her response seemed more restrained and mature.

Elise felt a pang of sorrow.

"How are you currently..." Elise began.

"I'm genuinely doing well now, truly," Elizabeth asserted with forced brightness. "I've reached a new understanding. Certain events are simply destined. When circumstances prove unchangeable, acceptance becomes the only path. Perhaps... this situation contains hidden blessings."

"Are you and Ethan together now?" Elise couldn't restrain herself from asking directly.