Her Divorce, His Downfall (Sophia and Damian) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Only then did Sophia allow herself to relax. A long, slow breath escaped her lips as she unclenched her fingers.

As long as her mother’s legacy was safe. It didn’t matter whether it was in her hands or her cousin’s. The important thing was keeping it away from Isabelle and her ilk.

If Rhea and her daughter had gotten a single share, she was sure her mother would’ve turned in her grave.

Today’s performance had been Julian’s design from the start.

He had already coordinated with the Moore and Fitzgerald families, both fully aware that Sophia was alive and united in their cause.

Byron had two sons and a daughter. The eldest, Jackson, was Julian’s longtime friend. When Julian offered to solve a particularly thorny project issue in exchange for borrowing his sister’s identity, Jackson agreed without hesitation.

The second child, Vivian, had been studying abroad when she joined a local feminist protest. A riot broke out, and she was tragically caught in the crossfire, killed by stray gunfire.

Heartbroken and ashamed of the circumstances surrounding

héf death, Byron and his wife had quietly arranged her funeral overseas, keeping the news from most of their social circle in LA.

To the outside world, Vivian was still abroad, finishing her degree.

This fact made her identity perfect for Sophia.

The youngest, Garrett, was a well–known party boy in the entertainment industry. While at the hospital for a follow–up on an injury from a film stunt, he had stumbled upon Sophia during the assassination attempt and saved her life.

Later, under Julian’s arrangement, Byron and his wife officially took Sophia in as their goddaughter. This helped to mend the hole left by their daughter’s loss.

To the public, she was simply Vivian, who returned from her studies abroad.

Perhaps Sophia’s connection to the Fitzgerald family was destined from the moment Garrett saved her.

Shaking off the thought, she walked over to Jeffrey and Arthur.

A faint smile touched her lips. “Thank you, both. We couldn’t have pulled this off without your convincing performances.”

Arthur slung a casual arm around her shoulders, his handsome features lighting up with a roguish grin.

“Hey, that was real emotion, not acting! You can’t fake that kind of sincerity.”

Sophia had grown fond of Arthur’s easygoing nature.

Compared to Isabelle’s constantly scheming and grasping nature, Sophia naturally felt much closer to her cousins. Their care for her came from a genuine place, with no strings attached.

Still, his sudden closeness caught her off guard. She managed an awkward laugh. “Well, congratulations in advance on the executive position at Zenith Corporation. You’d better take good care of my mother’s life’s work.”

“I know, I know.” Arthur chuckled, pulling her closer and lowering his voice. “You sound just like Aunt Elaine. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Damian awoke five days later.

In that time, Julian’s return from Northern Europe had taken New York by storm.

His name and the groundbreaking international logistics project he brought with him spread like wildfire through elite circles.

Financial outlets raced to estimate the venture’s profits, while Zenith Shipping Group’s soaring market value and expanding footprint now rivaled giants like Hall Group and Damian’s own Veridian Group.

Requests for interviews poured in, all politely declined by his assistant. Julian’s only comment was that he preferred to spend his time with his fiancée.

In Damian’s VIP hospital room, Weston and Lucas eagerly relayed every detail they’d gathered about Julian’s sudden rise.

Damian’s expression remained flat, devoid of interest, until the final words pierced the quiet. A tight, involuntary pang seized his chest.

He lifted his gaze toward the doorway, heart leaping at the sight of a familiar silhouette.

The dead stillness in his eyes shattered, replaced by a bright, hopeful gleam.

“Sophia…” he called out, voice rough with emotion.