After the award session was the lottery session. The lowest ranking prize was still a monetary gift of two thousand, and everyone at the event had the right to join the lottery with the number they received when they entered the venue.
When Samuel looked at his number, he cried out, “Hey, I won! Two thousand!”
Beside him, Alexander remarked, “Have you never seen two thousand in cash?”
“How can this compare to that? I won this! Moreover, the pretty CEO, Ms. Yarrow, is going to be the one to hand me my award on stage later! Hey, what are you doing?”
Just as Samuel’s words were out of his mouth, Alexander snatched his number away.
As he stared at his thirty-one-year-old childhood friend in disbelief, Samuel asked, “Alex, do you really have to do this?”
“I’ll give you twenty thousand.”
“Do I look like someone who needs twenty thousand?”
“I’ll give you one percent of the project at Salinsburgh.”
One percent of that project was worth over two hundred million.
He’s charitable!
“You’re my friend, and I’ll do anything for you. Take it, take it. I’ll feel terrible if you don’t.”
Alexander shot Samuel an icy look. “Stop it. Stop pushing your luck.”
“Sure!”
Samuel was more than happy to clamp his mouth shut for two hundred million.
By then, they were already giving out the prizes on stage, and the host called out the number that Alexander now had.
Samuel nudged his friend with his elbow. Although he did not speak, the funny look at Samuel gave Alexander was more than enough to tempt Alexander into beating the other up.
Nevertheless, the corner of Alexander’s lips only twitched as he went past the crowd and went up the stage.
Many were surprised to see Alexander.
In fact, even Sophia stood transfixed for a moment. However, that only lasted for a good second before she recomposed herself and reached out to shake hands with Alexander. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Alexander lowered his head to look at her. The tender warmth still lingered on his palm, but he took the monetary gift that Sophia handed to him and went down the stage.
That was mayhaps the most peaceful moment they shared ever since they divorced each other.
After the lottery session was time for everyone to mingle with other people. Those who wanted to stay could stay, and those who wanted to leave could do so.
Sophia stepped down from the stage and took a glimpse at the time. She planned to leave in another five minutes.
Right then, Stephen, who was talking to Joshua earlier, walked over. “Sophia.”
Sophia smiled at him. “How was it?”
“Great. You’re a generous boss.”
Stephen had been busy lately as well. The two of them were only in a relationship for work matters, so naturally, they would not have time to meet.
However, Sophia could see that Stephen did not seem like he needed her, the fake girlfriend, anymore after that night.
“It’s only because the company is small.”
Stephen was about to reply to that when his phone rang. “Sorry, I have to take a call.”
Sophia nodded. When she turned to the side, about to get a glass of soda, she noticed Alexander staring at her.
In response, she arched a brow and averted her eyes from him before lifting the glass to sip the soda.
Meanwhile, Stephen ended the call with a darkened look. “Megan’s outside. She says she wants to have a talk with you.”
Sophia knitted her brows. “We have nothing to talk about.”
“She says it’ll only take you five minutes.”
Sophia fell silent for a moment. “Well, I’ll take my leave now then.”
“Sophia, about what happened that night… I’m sorry.”
She smiled. “You’ve said that. It doesn’t have much to do with you.”
Still, Stephen shook his head. “I know about the vase.”
“Hmph! You’re not going to try to convince me to be the bigger man, are you?”
“No, I just feel even guiltier about making you upset.”
Sophia raised her brows. “I won’t let anyone upset me that easily. Excuse me.”
With that, she turned and left.
While she was on her way out, Katherine suddenly ran over to her. “You’re going back?”
“No. Megan’s looking for me.”
“Why is she looking for you?”
Sophia mulled over it briefly. “Maybe it’s because of the bet.”
Katherine mocked, “What’s the matter? She can’t stand by her words?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll come with you. Who knows what that girl’s trying to do?”
Sophia did not reject her offer. However, when they went out and spotted Megan, she stopped Katherine from going any further. “I’ll talk to her alone.”
Katherine frowned. “All right.”
It was freezing outside, but Megan was only in her gown and a shawl as she stood by the edge of the boat.
Only when Sophia walked over did Megan turn her head around. “Sophia, must you force me to do this?”
When Sophia heard her words, the former’s brows rose. “I’m forcing you?”
It’s been such a long time since I’ve heard something as funny as this.
“Are you really not going to cancel the bet?”
“Ms. Queen, you’re an adult now. You have to bear the responsibility for your actions,” Sophia said as she looked at her.
Just as those words left her lips, Megan suddenly climbed onto the rail. “If you don’t agree to it, I’ll jump from here! There are a lot of reporters by the coast. Am I right? By then, I’ll say you were the one who pushed me down! How many days of imprisonment do you think you’ll get for that?”
Tsk. So this is what she’s planning.
Sophia curled her lips. “Well, I’m rather interested to see you jump down.”
Her words immediately made anger stir within Megan. “Sophia, I’m serious! I’m not joking with you!”
Sophia dropped the smile on her face. “So am I. Ms. Queen, you might have forgotten about what happened three years ago, but I have not.”
I will never forget how you pushed me into the pool in front of so many people.
At a loss to what she should do next, Megan actually turned and leaped into the sea.
Katherine, who had been recording with her phone, quickly ran over. “Has she lost her marbles?”
Sophia turned to look at Megan in the water. “Maybe.”
As she spoke, she turned around and call for help.
Megan knew how to swim, so she was not going to drown. That was why Sophia was calm. It’s such a cold day, and since she seems to enjoy jumping into the sea, I might as well let her soak a little longer in the sea.
Indeed, by the time the others came, Megan was already crying and cursing profusely in the water.
Turning to look at Samuel, Sophia said, “Mr. Schild, go to her.”
Samuel gritted his teeth but remained motionless.
It was not that he was heartless, but that he knew Megan used to be in the region’s swimming team and that he did not have the courage to leap in after her on such a cold day.
By then, the lifeguards had gotten her up to the deck. When Megan caught sight of Samuel, she lunged toward him and cried out, “Samuel, it’s her! She was the one who pushed me into the water!”
Sophia remained standing at the side with a smile that did not reach her eyes as she watched Megan pretend to be the victim.
In the next second, Katherine appeared with a phone in one hand and a microphone in another. She then played the video she recorded.
“Sophia, must you force me to do this?”
“I’m forcing you?”
“Are you really not going to cancel the bet?”
“Ms. Queen, you’re an adult now. You have to bear the responsibility for your actions.”
“If you don’t agree to it, I’ll jump from here! There are a lot of reporters by the coast. Am I right? By then, I’ll say you were the one who pushed me down! How many days of imprisonment do you think you’ll get for that?”
“Well, I’m rather interested to see you jump down.”
“Sophia, I’m serious! I’m not joking with you!”
“So am I. Ms. Queen, you might have forgotten about what happened three years ago, but I have not.”
“You’ll regret this, Sophia Yarrow!”
The phone was small, and people couldn’t see the video clearly. However, the voices in the recording were magnified by the microphone, and everyone around could hear the conversation between Sophia and Megan, including Megan herself.
Instantly, Megan, who was screaming for Samuel to call the police, found herself unable to shed any more tears as she grimaced and paled in Samuel’s arms.
The people around them immediately looked at Megan as if she was the laughingstock of the century. Humiliated, Megan buried her face in Samuel’s arms and bawled, “I want to go home! Samuel, I want to go home!”
Even a thick-skinned man like Samuel could not bear to stay any longer. He quickly scooped up Megan and left.
When they went past Sophia, through the gap between Samuel’s arms, Megan saw Sophia standing still with a small smile on her face and a cold look in her eyes.
At that very moment, Megan felt that she had been nothing but the joke of the day.
