Con

CHAPTER 72

Sophia’s POV

I stared at Elijah in shock, unable to believe what I had just heard. I’d always thought before that he

favored Julia over me.

Elijah stood firm, his jaw set in a way that brooked no argument. “No, Sophia,” he repeated, “I won’t agree to Chris using Julia’s name for your work.” Then he turned his gaze toward Chris disapprovingly. “What kind of request is that, anyway?”

Before Chris could respond, though, Elijah went on, raising his voice just a little bit and showing his

emotions.

“Besides, Julia has hurt Sophia before because of that plagiarism issue. This is just unacceptable. I don’t want Sophia to deal with similar problems again. And also, it won’t be good for Urban Next if any of it comes out. Right, Trevis?”

Trevis, standing off to the side, looked just as surprised as I felt. “Of course!” He immediately agreed with Elijah. Then he said, “Chris, are you serious? This is insulting to a designer, especially one of Sophia’s caliber.”

Chris shifted uncomfortably, his face flushed with both embarrassment and frustration. “I know, I know. It wasn’t my intention to insult you, Sophia,” he said, his voice pleading.

“But I originally approached Julia first. Her style, though… it’s too avant–garde. Even though my grandfather likes Julia, he probably wouldn’t accept or be happy with such designs.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the chaotic emotions inside me. “So, what? You want to use my designs but put Julia’s name on them?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help

1. it.

Chris nodded, looking helpless. “Yes. I’m under a lot of pressure here, Sophia. My grandfather is… particular.”

“Elijah’s right,” Trevis said, stepping forward. “This is not just about designs. It’s about respect. Sophia deserves recognition for her work, not Julia.”

“Yes, that’s right,” I agreed. “I’m sorry, Chris. I understand your plight, but it’s really not right. I won’t let

my

work become someone else’s, under any circumstances.

Η

I glanced at Elijah, who gave me a reassuring nod. “We won’t let anyone take advantage of you, Sophia. Not again.”

I swallowed hard, feeling a combination of relief and gratitude.

Trevis said that he had tried to keep Julia’s and my designs from crossing paths to avoid any further disputes between us. Hearing his words, I felt a warm rush of gratitude wash over me.

It wasn’t just Trevis–Elijah was also looking out for me, ensuring that I wouldn’t have to face unnecessary conflicts. Their efforts touched me deeply.

I looked at Trevis, a soft smile playing on my lips. “Thank you,” I said quietly. “It means a lot.”

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Then I turned toward Elijah next, meeting his eyes. His gaze made my heart skip a beat. Throughout our married years, I’ve never felt protected or taken care of by him. And now, this.

“I really appreciate it, Elijah. Thanks.”

He returned my smile, a hint of relief and deep affection in his eyes. “We just want to make sure you can focus on your work without added stress.”

Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I get it, guys. I’ll figure something out. I’m sorry, Sophia. I really didn’t mean to disrespect you.”

“It’s alright.”

“And really, I truly appreciate your work,” he added. “I’ve seen the designs you did for Morgana’s project, and Trevis also sent me some of your previous works. They’re amazing. You are really talented.”

“Thank you.”

“So…” Chris began. “I was thinking, we should still move forward with this design. I won’t ask you to keep your identity. You can be credited for your work. What do you say?”

I was astonished. “I, uh, I’ll think about it,” I finally told him.

“Alright, I understand,” Chris replied, closing the photo album and keeping it. “Thanks, Sophia.”

“Okay, then,” Trevis said. “I guess that’s settled.” To Chris, he said, “We’ll just inform you when Sophia accepts the project. I think we can give her a few days to think this through.”

“Yes, sure,” Chris said.

Elijah spoke up, his voice firm. “Chris, Trevis, could you give us a moment? There’s something I need to discuss with Sophia.”

They exchanged curious glances but nodded, making their way out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, and suddenly, the room felt smaller, the air heavier.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was coming next. “What is it, Elijah?”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes searching mine. “We still have something to discuss.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “I know,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I opened my mouth to finally utter what I had been rehearsing since this morning, but nothing came out.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the silence stretching out uncomfortably. Elijah’s expression was unreadable, and I hated that I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. I felt quite uneasy, wondering if he could see right through me, to the secrets I was desperately trying to hold back.

Finally, he broke the silence. “Do you know Reese Davis?”

My heart stopped. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I felt as if the ground had disappeared from beneath my feet. Elijah’s question hung in the air, charged with an intensity that made my skin

23

prickle.

I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. O

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