I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 14

**Chapter 14**

Mr. Chandler hung up the phone, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had suddenly been placed upon them. The lines on his face deepened, and a heavy silence enveloped the room, thick with unspoken worries.

“Dad, what happened?” Sophie exclaimed, rushing to his side, her heart racing. She quickly grabbed a glass and filled it with water, her hands trembling slightly as she handed it to him.

“It’s about the West River property,” he muttered, draining the glass in one swift motion, as though the water could wash away the bitter news. “All the money we invested upfront… gone.”

Sophie felt the blood drain from her face, her stomach tightening with dread.

Millions. That staggering amount represented nearly all of the Chandler family’s liquid assets, their financial lifeline now severed.

“Is there any way to fix this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, hope flickering within her like a candle in a storm.

“Unless Marcus agrees to transfer the land,” he replied, bitterness seeping into his tone, “our company won’t survive this.”

Sophie’s gaze fell to the floor, her heart aching for her father, and a wave of regret washed over her.

If only she had known this calamity was looming, she would have seized the opportunity Marcus had offered her that very morning. The thought gnawed at her, a relentless reminder of her indecision.

“Dad, let me try to figure something out,” she proposed, determination creeping into her voice, though uncertainty lingered in her heart.

“And what could you possibly do? Talk to Liam?” Mr. Chandler scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Marcus doesn’t give a damn about that kid.”

The disdain in his voice was palpable. He had never liked Liam, and Sophie understood why.

Everyone in their social circle whispered behind her back, mocking her for her affection towards him, branding her as pathetic. And Liam? He merely basked in the attention, never once stepping up to defend her against the cruel jabs.

That kind of man, she thought bitterly, didn’t deserve her loyalty or her love.

“I’m not going to him,” she blurted out, the words escaping her lips before she could think them through.

A pause hung in the air, stretching out like a taut string.

Then came a low, mocking laugh from the other end, dripping with derision. “And what exactly does Ms. Chandler plan to offer in return?”

“I’ll pay for it! A proper transaction!” she interjected quickly, her voice rising in urgency. “I’m not using the baby as leverage!”

“Money?” His laughter turned even colder, slicing through her resolve. “You think the Chandlers can afford that land?”

“Where I get the money isn’t your concern!” Sophie snapped, frustration boiling over. “Morgan Group is focused on the East District now. That West River lot is just sitting there collecting dust!”

“I’ll offer one-point-two times market value!” she declared, desperation fueling her words, her mind racing with possibilities.

The stakes had never been higher, and she was ready to fight for what was rightfully theirs.