Chapter 14
Sophia lifted her head, staring directly into James's eyes, and stubbornly declared, "Don't worry, I'd rather die than beg you for anything!"
James's chest heaved with anger. This Sophia, she just wouldn't back down.
James's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but seeing Sophia's fierce gaze, he couldn't utter a word.
She looked at him with a resolute expression.
Finally, Sophia opened the door and stormed out without looking back.
James instinctively reached out to grab her, but his hand only grasped at empty air.
Leaving the hotel, Sophia headed straight for the Brown Villa.
Since marrying Chase was no longer an option, she had to find another way.
As soon as she entered, she felt the oppressive atmosphere in the living room.
Hayden, Hazel, and even Veda had rushed back.
She sure moved quickly.
Judging by the scene, it was clear Veda had already played the victim.
"You still have the nerve to come back?"
Hayden slammed his hand on the table, his face livid with rage. "Look at the mess you've made! How dare you threaten Chase? You must be out of your mind!"
Hazel, pretending to wipe away tears, chimed in, "Sophia, we know you're upset, but you can't act like this! We're family, can't we talk things out?"
Veda looked at her smugly, clearly feeling emboldened by Hayden and Hazel's support.
Sophia sneered, "If none of you are crazy, why would I be?"
With that, she pulled out her phone and played the incriminating video.
"Either give me a billion dollars, or this video will be trending on every social media platform tomorrow."
"A billion dollars? Why don't you just rob a bank!" Hazel shrieked, dropping her pretense.
Sophia looked at them coldly. "The shares and inheritance my mother left me are worth about a billion dollars. Asking for a billion isn't unreasonable, is it?"
Hayden's face was beyond furious.
A billion dollars, just handed over? No way.
"Are you out of your mind? Do you even care about the Brown family or your father?" Hazel screeched.
Sophia found her words laughable. "Did he ever treat me like a daughter?"
Hayden had never fulfilled his duties as a father, yet he expected his daughter to consider him? What a joke.
"Enough!" Hayden roared, "A billion dollars? How dare you ask for that? We don't have that kind of money. Are you trying to kill me?"
"Yes, Sophia," Hazel quickly added, trying to use family ties to manipulate her. "Why make things so ugly? If the video gets out, Veda and Chase's reputations will be ruined, and both families will be at odds. What good does that do you? Be reasonable, delete the video, and we'll pretend this never happened."
"Pretend nothing happened?" Sophia laughed mockingly, her gaze shifting past Hazel to Veda, hiding behind her. "When she fired me and seduced my fiancé, did she think about us being family?"
Hazel was at a loss for words, unable to come up with a rebuttal.
Sophia continued coldly, "You have three days. If I don't get a billion dollars, this video will be in the inboxes of every partner of the Brown Group and the Smith Group. Does Veda want to marry Chase so badly? Let's see if the Smith family still wants a daughter-in-law with a scandalous video circulating."
Her tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
"You, you—" Hayden was trembling with rage, pointing at Sophia but unable to speak.
Sophia's desperate stance reminded him of the late Ava.
Hayden was also afraid. If Sophia was pushed too far, she was capable of anything.
Hazel and Veda's faces turned extremely ugly.
The mother and daughter exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts.
Imprison Sophia, seize her phone.
They were indeed thinking that, but Sophia's next words crushed their plans.
"Don't even think about locking me up or taking my phone."
As if reading their minds, Sophia waved her phone at them, smiling. "I've already backed up the video on someone else's phone. If I don't walk out of here today, you can kiss your reputations goodbye."
To Hayden, Sophia now seemed like a madwoman.
The living room fell into an eerie silence, each person lost in their own thoughts.
Hazel's mind raced.
A billion dollars was almost all the Brown family's liquid assets. Giving it away would be devastating.
How could she willingly hand over such a huge sum to that dead woman's daughter?
But if they didn't, Veda's reputation would be ruined.
Suddenly, Sophia spoke lightly, "Actually, the money doesn't have to come from the Brown family. Chase and Veda are so in love, I'm sure he'd be happy to pay a billion dollars for her."
This hit Hazel right where it hurt.
Why hadn't she thought of making Chase pay?
As long as Veda married into the Smith family, a billion dollars would be nothing. They could even kick Sophia out of the company and the Brown family.
This deal was too good to pass up!
Suppressing her excitement, Hazel leaned close to the still-fuming Hayden, whispering her persuasion.
"Honey, don't be mad. I think she's right. We can make Chase pay. Once Veda marries into the Smith family, this money will be nothing. The Smith family will provide enough resources for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. If we push Sophia too far and she releases the video, Veda's reputation will be ruined, and she won't be able to marry into the Smith family. That would be a real loss!"
Hayden's face gradually softened as he listened to Hazel's reasoning.
Yes, with the Smith family's wealth, Chase could easily come up with a billion dollars.
And he was so infatuated with Veda.
This fool, who else would he pay for?
Hayden took a deep breath, glaring at Sophia. "I can give you a billion dollars, but you must sign an agreement! Once you get the money, you delete all photos and video backups and give up all shares and inheritance. From then on, you have no ties to the Brown family!"
"No problem." Sophia agreed without hesitation, showing no attachment.
"You draft the agreement, and I'll come to sign it. Remember, you have three days."
With that, Sophia didn't spare another glance at the dramatic trio, turning and leaving the house that made her sick.