Mr. Chairman’s Devious Wife

Chapter 23

Sofia stared at the news on the tablet. Alexander had warned her that this would happen, but reading the news was enough to disturb her.

Breaking: LH DESIGNS Interim CEO Sofia Lockhart Faces Allegations of Bullying and Design Theft]

[Controversy Surrounds LH GROUP: Interim CEO Sofia Lockhart Under Fire for Alleged Design Theft and Bullying] LH DESIGNS in Turmoil: Interim CEO Sofia Lockhart Faces Accusations. of Bullying and Intellectual Property Theft] Exclusive Report! LH GROUP’s Sofia Lockhart Accused of Design. Plagiarism and Workplace Bullying]

LH DESIGNS Interim CEO Sofia Lockhart Grapples with Allegations of Bullying and Design Theft]

Sofia Lockhart, Interim CEO of LH GROUP, Faces Backlash Over Design Plagiarism and Workplace Bullying] Design Scandal Rocks LH DESIGNS: CEO Sofia Lockhart Accused of Bullying and Plagiarism]

LH GROUP Shaken by Scandal: Sofia Lockhart, Interim CEO, Accused of Stealing Designs and Workplace Bullying]

Breaking News: LH DESIGNS CEO Sofia Lockhart Entangled in Allegations of Design Plagiarism and Bullying]

She turned her tablet off and stared at the wine on the table, then towards the man sitting opposite her. Before she could say a single word, her phone started ringing. It was Daniel.

She answered it but chose not to say a word. 1/6

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“Where are you? Why aren't you answering the door?” Daniel’s voice reverberated against her ears. “I know you are inside. Give me the password; let me in.”

“Do you believe the news?” Sofia asked.

“What are you talking about?” Daniel asked. “Why would | believe something that stupid?” Sofia said nothing.

“Now open the door. | brought food... your favorite.”

Still, Sofia said nothing. Daniel had always been the first one who would comfort her in times like this. Who would have thought that he was only doing this because of her shares?

A part of her wanted to ask him if any of it was real but ended up sighing. “Please leave. | need to finish some designs. | will talk to you tomorrow.”

“Babe-” Daniel tried to say a few more words, but Sofia ruthlessly ended. the call without waiting for his response.

“He is outside,” Sofia said. “I believe it is time that | change residence.” She glanced at Alexander, who sat at ease on her couch. His legs were casually propped up on the couch, dressed in gray sweatpants, and a loose robe draped over his upper body. Folders and his tablet lay casually on the coffee table.

The man was really too good at treating this as his own home,

“Josef bought it... | hope you do not mind?” he uttered when he noticed. her staring at her robe.

She shook her head.

“| have already prepared the guest room for you. The lock combination is naturally our wedding anniversary.” M

M

“...” Sofia did not know if she would take that word seriously.

“lam serious.”

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...” Was it really the date of their wedding? She looked at him in disbelief. Seeing this, he chuckled. “You should probably call that father of yours, no?”

Sofia shrugged. Logically, she should call that man to avoid suspicion. However, she was not going to do that now. Instead of picking up her phone, she poured some more wine into her glass. Twirling the glass, she watched as the velvety scarlet liquid moved, reflecting the fireplace in her living room.

“Thank you,” she uttered after a few minutes of silence. “Thank you?”

“| know you are busy.” It was not a coincidence that he immediately arrived just a few minutes after her arrival. He must have canceled a few meetings just to come here. Perhaps, he already knew that Lawrence. would release the news today, so he chose to accompany her.

“Are you certain you would be alright?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. “I could accompany you to your bedroom if that would make you feel better.”

Unable to stop herself, she smiled. “Right...” Who would have thought that the Chairman of Beaumont Empire had a hobby of making people smile? She never thought that this would be possible—not even once.

“Why are you planning to leave that jerk?” he asked.

“Soon...” she answered almost immediately. Then she narrowed her eyes on him. “Is something the matter?” She had actually forgotten to ask his feelings about everything.

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“As your husband, knowing that you have a boyfriend is naturally making me uncomfortable,” he said. “Besides, Aunt has been wanting to meet with you again. She wanted to talk about the wedding.”

“The wedding?”

“| wanted one for you, for us.” he chuckled. “She was excited when | told. her perhaps she could help you plan it.” He leaned towards her, took her empty wine glass, poured some wine into it, and finished it before Sofia could say another word.

“A wedding for me?” Sofia frowned. She thought about that when she signed those papers but didn’t delve deeper into the matter as she was busy with the company.

“You do not want one?”

“No, I-‘This was The Jenny Thomas! She was well known for her fashion sense and elegant style! Who wouldn’t want her to plan a wedding for them? If anything, she did not know what to say.

For some reason, she could only feel warmth in her heart. She wanted to tell him how excited she was, but once again, her phone vibrated, interrupting the conversation between them.

She looked at it. “It’s Lawrence...” Sofia said. She quickly answered it. “Father?” “Have you seen the news?” Lawrence asked. Sofia chose not to answer for a few seconds before she said. “Hmmm... | did.”

“Don't worry, | already asked our team to issue a statement about this matter. For security purposes, it would be best if you come back to the mansion. | have already sent people to get you. You-”

“No...” Sofia interrupted him. M

M “Pardon?” LXN6% 14:27

“| will not be coming back to the mansion,” Sofia said, her tone suddenly changed when she realized what this man was trying to do. Just weeks before her birthday, a scandal like this was made to tarnish her name and reputation. On the outside, the scandal seemed simple. However, after hearing Lawrence’s words, she was certain that this man was brewing something else.

He wanted to take advantage of this issue to let her go back home and live in the same house as him! How could Sofia not know that this man must be planning to control her every move just before her birthday!

He did not want her investigating things or talking to reporters. He would then use this reason to record all of her calls and the people that she would be seeing.

If she was right, he would use this opportunity to completely isolate her from the outside world under the pretense of keeping her safe from the one who had been targeting her! This was all a trap!

She met Alexander's cold gaze, and she involuntarily shivered. If she had not met Alexander then... she would have fallen into this trap!

Lawrence would have easily convinced her to give her shares to Daniel, and Charlotte would be with her as she signed those papers.

It was too cruel-they are too cruel.

“What are you talking about? You are alone. This scandal will-”

“| have plans. There is no need to concern yourself with this matter, Father. | will not let this go.” There was a brief silence on the other line, so she added, “The Annual

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IN UR 14:27

Shareholders meeting is coming. Father. | apologize for making you worry, but there is no need to concern yourself with matters like this. | am going to handle this.”

“Sofia...” “| know you are worried about me.” “| promised your mother that | would take care of you.”

“And you did...” Sofia’s voice softened. “However, there are things that | need to face on my own.” She forced her anger down. “| can assure you, father. | will get to the bottom of this and make those who wanted to tarnish my name... suffer.”

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