I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 181

hapter 181

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The wave of online hate didn’t faze Sophie in the slightest.

She’d expected it all along. The more the trolls cursed, the hotter the Wild Grass Collection burned. She didn’t need marketing. The internet’s venomous tongues would spread her jewelry across the globe for free.

But then-

Sophie glanced at a post from “Liora’s” private account. Her lips curved into a sly smile.

Well, well. Looked like there was going to be a little surprise bonus.

Three minutes ago, that account had posted:

“The Wild Grass Collection has nothing to do with me. Please shop rationally, and don’t get swept up by the hype.”

On the surface, it looked like a neutral statement. In reality, it was a neat little way of throwing shade, telling fans not to buy.

The tone was fake–sweet, sharp beneath the sugar. Sophie didn’t need to think twice to know who was behind it.

Fine then. If she wanted to play games, Sophie would play bigger.

She dialed the number for the Art Expo committee.

On the other end, a foreigner answered in surprisingly fluent Riverland dialect.

“Liora? Is this really you calling me? This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“Send me the time and location of the Art Expo,” Sophie replied, calm and matter–of–fact.

“You’re coming? To have you as a judge this year would be the honor of a lifetime!”

“I’ll hang up now. Just make sure you send it.”

She ended the call without hesitation. Minutes later, a text arrived with the details. Sophie jotted them down, then sent back one short line:

“Don’t forget to announce it on the official site.”

“Of course! This is your first time appearing in public–we’ll make sure the whole world knows Liora is judging this year!”

Sophie pocketed her phone, expression unreadable.

The Art Expo was held once every four years–the pinnacle of the global arts scene. Four years ago, the organizers had somehow gotten her private number and invited her to judge.

Back then, Liam had refused on her behalf, and she–foolishly in love–hadn’t asked why. She’d just gone along with him.

Ever since, the committee had occasionally texted, testing the waters, waiting to see if she would accept this year.

She had planned to turn it down again–the event was overseas, too long, too consuming.

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I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C’d His Uncle

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Chapter 181

But now…

She had changed her mind.

Liora deserved to stand on the world’s biggest stage.

The Expo would last a week. Sophie quickly drafted a leave request and submitted it.

Minutes later, her office phone rang.

“Manager Chandler, we can’t approve this leave request. You’ll have to take it up with Mr. Morgan.”

Her brows furrowed. “Since when? Anything below VP level should be handled by HR.”

The voice on the other end was hesitant. “Normally, yes…but in your case…you’ll need to go directly to him.”

The line cut off. Sophie blinked, a little thrown.

She and Marcus were in a gray zone right now. She had wanted to keep her distance for a while. But apparently, the only way to get approval was through him.

Fine. All in one go.

She went straight to the top floor.

Chris, Marcus’s secretary, looked unsurprised when she arrived and held the door open with professional deference.

“Go right in.”

“Here you are.”

Marcus’s steady voice rolled out from behind the desk. Sophie turned–and nearly stumbled.

He wasn’t in his usual buttoned–up suit. Today, he wore only a black dress shirt, the top three buttons undone. The V of the fabric dipped just enough to reveal the edge of his chest. His muscular arms braced against the pearwood desk, his body leaning forward in a way that made the lines of his physique impossible to miss.

Sophie tore her gaze away, throat tight.

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