Chapter 4

“Honey, is that true?”

A trace of unease flashed across Joelle’s face, and she quickly looked up at Garcia.

Garcia let out a contemptuous laugh, his voice full of scorn.

“Sophia, don’t think you can threaten me with that.”

“Not long ago, my own company was already making millions in profit.”

“At this rate, within ten years, my assets will be close to the entire Stevens family’s.”

“I negotiated every deal myself. I didn’t use a single bit of family resources or connections.”

“I already have the ability to make my own decisions. I don’t need to rely on anyone anymore.”

He lifted his chin, looking incredibly arrogant.

I remembered one night last year when Christina suddenly contacted me.

She said Garcia was insisting on starting his own business, and Christina was afraid his first venture would fail and he would lose confidence later, so she specifically reached out to me.

She repeatedly told me not to reveal any connection to the Stevens family.

I contacted classmates overseas, and my dad also asked some more distant business partners to work with Garcia.

That was how I helped Garcia earn the first chunk of money for his company.

Thinking about it now was ridiculous.

“Garcia, does Christina know all of this?”

A little more anger entered Garcia’s eyes.

“Sophia, you’re trying to use my mom to pressure me again!”

“You’ve been doing this since you were little. Besides this trick, what else can you do?”

“I’ve been controlled by my mom since I was a kid, and I’ve had enough of you doing the same!”

“From now on, none of the Stevens family’s business is any of your concern. And from now on, I decide who the lady of the Stevens family is!”

Joelle’s eyes lit up with stars.

“Baby, you’re a real man!”

She looked at me provocatively.

“Garcia is the Stevens family’s only legitimate grandson. If he doesn’t call the shots for the Stevens family in the future, then who will?”

I lowered my eyes. Garcia’s father died early.

Christina had struggled alone for so many years to keep the company going, and I saw it all.

The Franklin family and the Stevens family had been in-laws for generations, and the friendship and interests between our families were too deeply tied together.

If this engagement were ruined because of me, I’d never forgive myself.

“Garcia, I’ll give you one last chance.”

“Not only does Joelle need to kneel and apologize to me, you need to kneel and apologize too.”

“Not just to me, but to the Franklin family.”

“As long as you apologize, I’ll act like nothing happened today. Otherwise, don’t blame me for whatever happens next.”

Garcia looked utterly disdainful.

“From childhood until now, I already see right through you. All you know how to do is threaten people with your family. What else do you have?”

I looked calmly at them both, took out my phone, and asked one last time, “Are you kneeling or not?”

Joelle laughed out loud.

“You’re just humiliating yourself.”

She turned to Garcia. “Honey, she’s like a crazy dog. Let’s go.”

I didn’t hesitate any longer and dialed the number.

Into the phone, I said calmly, “Joelle really is, as you said, an idiot.”

Joelle stopped walking.

“She’s rude and brainless. She doesn’t belong in any rich family at all.”

Joelle stared at me in disbelief, her eyes wide.

“Just like you said, it’s best to cut out her tendons and throw her to Alaska, make her an illegal resident, and never let her come back.”

Joelle flew into a rage, rushed forward, and snatched my phone away.

She shouted into the phone, “Who the hell do you think you are!!”

“Dare to say your name, and I’ll have someone deal with you tonight so you’re kicked out of Los Angeles forever!”

“You’ll have nowhere to put your ashes even after you die!!”

Garcia stepped forward and held her.

“Honey, don’t get worked up. She’s just trying to scare you. As long as I’m here, no one can do anything to you.”

I took my phone back and turned on speaker.

The voice on the other end exploded like firecrackers.

“Garcia! Is this the thug you found?!”

“If you insist on being with her, then never come back to the Stevens family again!!”

Garcia’s pupils widened, and after a long moment, a sound finally came from his throat.

“...Mom?!”