I Ctrl+Alt+Deleted My Ex and Ctrl+C'd His Uncle novel Chapter 71

**Through Silent Meadows We Trace Stories Left Behind Yesterday by Asa Rowan Flint**
**Chapter 71**

A flicker of tension danced across Lena’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by her practiced calmness, a mask she wore with ease.

With a faint smile gracing her lips, she spoke softly, “I understand that Sophie may have made a mistake, but it’s likely because she was simply too eager to succeed. We all stumble from time to time, don’t we?”

“Can we not give her another chance, just for my sake? Let’s not completely shut her out,” she pleaded, her voice tinged with warmth and compassion.

Liora, with her heart as vast as the sky, always seemed to find the good in others. Lena’s mind wandered back to the last incident when Sophie had accidentally tumbled into the pool, only to point fingers at Liora. In that moment, Liora had been left with no choice but to offer an apology, despite the circumstances.

“She truly deserves this opportunity!” Lena thought, a pang of regret washing over her. “If I had known that Lena was Liora all along, I would have unleashed a keyboard rampage against her!”

As murmurs of support for Sophie rippled through the crowd, Lena felt her smile broaden, as if buoyed by the collective goodwill.

“Sophie, so this is where your journey leads you!” she mused silently.

“Alright, everyone, let’s settle down,” Liam interjected, clearing his throat with authority. “There’s no need to dredge up the past. After all, we’re all family here.”

Lena nodded in agreement, echoing Liam’s sentiments, “My brother is right. I hold no grudges against Sophie.”

“Really? What if I choose to argue with you?” a clear, bright voice rang out, slicing through the tension in the Grand Theater. Instinctively, the crowd turned their heads, eyes drawn toward the entrance.

Sophie stood there, her silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the lights, an enigmatic expression etched across her face. The crowd felt her presence before they could decipher her emotions—an aura of arrogance and ambition radiated from her, as if she could crush everything around her without a second thought.

“Is that really Sophie? Why does she feel so different now? Wasn’t she the one who used to follow Liora around like a lost puppy?” one voice whispered.

“Who cares what her aura is like? No matter how strong it seems, it won’t change the fact that she bought fake votes!” another scoffed.

“Get out, Sophie!” the crowd began to chant, their voices rising in unison, a wave of hostility washing over her.

Suddenly, a glass was hurled from the crowd, shattering the air with a sharp crack. Sophie stood frozen, her heart racing, bracing for impact. But before the glass could meet her face, a powerful force pulled her back, wrapping her in a familiar and comforting scent.

It was Marcus.

The glass shattered against his shoulder, yet he remained stoic, an unyielding wall of strength.

“Are you stunned?” Marcus whispered into her ear, his voice low and teasing.

Sophie blinked, slowly regaining her senses. “Are you hurt?” she asked, concern lacing her tone.

“Ha! I’m not that fragile,” he replied, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “Perhaps you should be more worried about them.”

In an instant, Marcus turned, his gaze like a hawk’s, locking onto the fan who had thrown the glass. The young man trembled, his bravado evaporating as he dropped to his knees, fear etched across his face.

“Mr. Morgan, I—” he stammered.

“Shh,” Marcus interrupted, raising a finger to his lips. “Explain yourself.”

Two imposing figures in black suits approached, their presence radiating intimidation, like demons from a nightmare. The fan’s heart sank; being dragged away by them meant he wouldn’t escape unscathed.

He bowed repeatedly, pleading for mercy, but the two men remained unmoved, swiftly pulling him from the scene.

Moments later, the chilling echoes of his screams resonated from outside, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present.

“Who else wants to make a move?” Marcus’s voice was calm yet filled with an unspoken threat, sending a ripple of fear through the crowd.

Sophie’s lips curled into a sneer. “Liam, your shamelessness never ceases to astonish me.”

Just as Liam prepared to retort, two men in black suits emerged from the shadows, seizing his arms with a firm grip.

Before he could react, they dragged him off the stage, leaving Sophie clutching the microphone tightly, her fingers turning pale with tension. Memories of Liam’s warning echoed in her mind, but she took a deep breath, suppressing the rising tide of anger within her.

“Don’t think that just because Mr. Morgan is backing you, you can do whatever you please!” Liam’s voice echoed from the sidelines.

Celine suddenly stood up, her voice cutting through the tension. “The fake voting has already been confirmed! What more do you have to say?”

With Celine rallying the crowd, murmurs of doubt and speculation spread like wildfire. After all, Sophie’s vote manipulation had been exposed. Even if Marcus wielded immense power, it couldn’t alter the truth!

Marcus’s expression darkened, poised to give instructions to the men in black when Sophie’s gaze caught his.

Her lips parted slightly, and despite the distance, Marcus could read her unspoken plea.

“Don’t,” she mouthed, her resolve shining through.

A faint smile graced Marcus’s lips as he settled into an empty seat, eager to witness how Sophie would reclaim her own narrative.

Sophie ignored the whispers surrounding her, her focus unwavering as she connected her phone to the holographic display.

In mere moments, a video began to play on the screen, illuminating the truth.

“Who said I was going to fake Liora’s votes…” she began, her voice steady, ready to unveil the reality behind the façade.

“Find someone to inflate number six’s votes—make it as much as possible!” the echo of her past orders loomed ominously, setting the stage for the truth to unfold.