I stood at the estate's entrance, ready to leave and meet Michael and Hyun.
We were supposed to finalize the setup for Hyun's studio today, but my mind was elsewhere—clouded by the reality that Sullivan had stolen everything I had.
Every last cent.
He thought he had crippled me, but he was wrong.
Losing that money was only a setback, not my downfall. In fact, it had forced me to take a longer, more treacherous path to secure my future—a path that I wasn't afraid to walk.
If Sullivan thought that stealing from me was enough to break me, then he was about to learn a hard lesson.
Last night, while the world slept, I'd already planted the seeds of my next move. I'd accumulated investments—strategic, powerful ones—that would yield more than he could ever imagine.
Hopefully within a year, they would bear fruit, and when they did, I would rake in more than enough to not only secure my future but also build an empire strong enough to fend off any enemy who dared cross me again.
I wasn't going to play it safe anymore. I wasn't going to hold back.
If Sullivan, Sophia, and Sophie wanted to push me into a corner, then I would retaliate with a force they couldn't fathom. I was done playing that weak helpless girl.
In my mind, the pieces were already moving. I was thinking of setting up my own investment corporation, a conglomerate that would stand tall—untouchable.
Michael and the others would be my key players, managing it from the ground up.
And under that corporation, I would place QuantumLyfe, Hyun's studio, the restaurant and café I had purchased, the investments I had made in the stock market, and the multiple parcels of land I owned—land that was soon to be converted into high-end malls and luxury condominiums.
Every investment, every decision, was a calculated move.
But I wasn't about to enlighten them. Let them think whatever they wanted, and let them squirm for the truth.
I flashed a bright smile at Sophie, one that made her hesitate for a moment. "Fine then," I said coolly. "Come with me if you want."
Her eyes narrowed, clearly surprised that I wasn't resisting, but she didn't move at first. I pushed past her and headed for my car, not bothering to glance back.
As I slid into the driver's seat, I could feel her hesitation—she wasn't expecting this, wasn't ready for me to give in so easily. She was caught off guard. Good.
The engine roared to life under my fingers, and only then did Sophie hurriedly scramble into the passenger seat.
The silence stretched between us as she clicked her seatbelt into place, a thin smile on her lips, as if she believed she had won something.
She was wrong.
Her eighteenth birthday was just around the corner, and she was so close to getting what she thought she deserved—yet still so far from it.
For now, she played the role of the innocent maid, but anyone could see right through her. She was just biding her time, waiting for her moment to strike, to claim what she thought was hers.
But even with her scheming, even with Sophia's backing, she wouldn't be able to touch me.
Not now. Not ever.
The car sped down the driveway, leaving the estate behind. Sophie sat beside me, silent but watchful. I could feel her thinking, wondering what my next move would be.
She thought she had power over me, but she didn't understand the game I was playing. She would soon.
I shot her a quick glance from the corner of my eye before abruptly steering the car to a stop on the sideway. Without a word, I stepped out, slamming the door behind me with a resounding thud.
Sophie's eyes widened in shock. "My Lady—what are you doing?!" Her voice cracked, panic creeping in as she realized what was happening.