The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 78

Early the next morning, Lance’s study was still lit up.

A knock sounded on the door. Lance’s voice came out rough. “Come in.”

Sophia walked in and was instantly hit by a wave of cigarette smoke. She coughed hard, eyes watering. “Seriously, you’re smoking this early? What’s wrong with you?”

Lance stubbed out the cigarette. “What do you want?”

Sophia marched over and flung the window open, waving her hand to clear the air. When she spotted the ashtray overflowing with butts, she sucked in a sharp breath. “You didn’t sleep at all last night, did you?”

“Just say it.” Lance’s brow was pinched tight, his eyes rimmed red.

She’d never seen him this frustrated before. Sophia clicked her tongue. “Grandma asked me to check in about Catherine’s resignation. What exactly are you planning?”

The whole company was buzzing. Everyone thought Catherine was out and that Lance was the one trying to fire her. But since her contract wasn’t up, Catherine was supposedly refusing to leave.

Except Sophia knew better. According to Belinda, Lance was actually the one refusing to let Catherine go.

“Work stuff is my business,” Lance said, shutting her down.

Sophia dragged a chair over and sat, her tone urgent. “Come on, if she wants to leave, just let her. You can’t force someone to stay. Haven’t you ever heard that?”

She’d already heard about Gavin showing up at SilverLeaf Industries yesterday to defend Catherine. That afternoon, things blew up at Golden Horizon Enterprises. Gavin probably got himself into real trouble.

Sophia and Fiona had talked it over. Turns out, Gavin wasn’t just playing games with Catherine. He seemed serious. And if Catherine stayed at SilverLeaf Industries, that job would be a huge obstacle for Gavin.

Fiona hated to see Catherine go, but she knew things were already set in motion. If it meant Catherine could be happy, she was willing to help. That’s why she’d sent Sophia to get Lance’s take.

“What do you know?” Lance said, cold as ever. He tossed out those words, then got up to leave.

“Lance, just in time,” Belinda called from the living room as soon as she heard him coming.

She walked up, her expression stormy. “You really threw me under the bus for Catherine?”

Yesterday, during the board meeting, Catherine’s name had been cleared. Lance hadn’t come right out and exposed Belinda, but he’d made it obvious enough. Now everyone on the board knew Belinda was behind it. But since she was his mother and Lance was clearly protecting her, no one dared challenge her in public.

Behind closed doors, though, the board was furious. Belinda had spent all night going to each member, trying to explain herself and patch things up.

“What about my reputation? Doesn’t that matter?”

Lance sat at the dining table, not even looking at her. “All you had to do was talk. She got slapped across the face.”

Belinda was livid. She slammed her hand on the table. “What did Catherine do to you? Why are you so determined to take her side?”