"The consequences you orchestrated back then—now you come looking for an explanation? Lambert, I'm going to Wenshte Group this afternoon. Have you arranged the project handover?" Mia interrupted him, retaliating in kind and leaving him no room to argue.
Lambert pulled out his phone from his pocket, knowing she wouldn't believe anything he said now. Actions would have to speak for themselves.
He opened the video Ethan had sent and showed it to her, warning, "Next time you pull something like this, don't leave evidence behind."
"Are you threatening me with this? Or would you like to see what I have on you?" Mia remained unfazed, letting out a cold laugh.
Lambert didn't respond. Instead, he deleted the video right in front of her. He was here to solve her problems and remind her to be more careful in the future—not to seek justice for Tiffany.
But Mia didn't see it that way. To her, this was nothing more than an exchange, fueling her hatred even further.
"You can leave now," she said coldly, her expression shifting from gentleness to gloom in an instant. When she pushed Lambert away, the force behind it was unmistakable.
The changes in her over the past two years had been staggering.
Lambert still wanted to explain, but the door slammed shut with a loud bang. A servant approached and said, "Mr. Lambert, this way, please."
He didn't move. The servant added, "We're just following orders, Mr. Lambert. Please don't make this difficult for us."
Lambert left Mia's house and returned to Wenshte Group, where he began organizing the documents for Project M. Most of Wenshte Group's funds had been invested in the production department, and the development projects relied on investments backed by Mia. Whether professionally or personally, if she asked for it, he had no choice but to hand the project over.
"Did you hear? Mr. Wenshte personally welcomed the CEO of Martha Corporation." Gossip spread quickly through Wenshte Group.
"Ms. Mia is Mr. Wenshte's wife. With their combined strength, they're unstoppable." Clueless newcomers saw Mia as some kind of savior sent to Wenshte Group. Little did they know, her return was Lambert's worst nightmare.
Lambert waited all day at the company, but Mia never showed up. Instead, she sent her assistant, Gene, to collect the project documents.
Despite Wenshte Group's extensive preparations, Lambert didn't even get to see her face. He had even canceled meetings with clients for this.
...
At the Garcia residence, Mia received a warm invitation from William and Julie. After work, she drove straight there.
The moment William saw the daughter he had raised now thriving, he bowed his head in shame. "Mia, I wronged you. Back then, I was blinded by greed and tried to take your shares. I was wrong."
"Get to the point," Mia said, sitting on the sofa, indifferent to William's tearful display.
"It's not that I don't want to return QIY to you, but most of the shares are in Lambert's hands now. Though QIY didn't go bankrupt, it's practically just a subsidiary of Wenshte Group. I don't have the authority to decide anything." William played the victim, sitting beside her as he tearfully recounted his struggles.
Julie didn't dare speak. She busied herself cutting fruit and making juice, bringing it to Mia before sitting next to William. She nudged him subtly, and William cleared his throat, putting on a remorseful expression.
"Mia, what happened two years ago was my fault. I was the one who accidentally fell down the stairs—it had nothing to do with your stepmother or stepsister. I was the one who told them to treat you that way. Blame me, not them."
William took all the blame, knowing there was no evidence left from back then. They could spin the story however they wanted.
Just as William reached out to grab Mia's hand, Gene yanked him off the sofa and threw him onto a single-seater nearby.
"You—" William was furious. How dare a mere servant lay hands on him? But seeing that Mia had no intention of stopping Gene, he softened his tone. "Would you still not forgive me even if I died?"
"Your death means nothing to me. When have you ever treated me like your real daughter? When they slandered and hurt me, did you ever stand up for me? Since you have nothing important to say, I might as well bring up my own matters." Mia listed his sins one by one.
William showed no remorse. Seeing that pleading wasn't working, he immediately switched tactics. Relying on his status as her biological father, he assumed she couldn't do anything to him.
He straightened up and stood in front of Mia, raising his voice. "What do you want from me? I've apologized and said all the right things—what more do you want? Your premature baby was because of your own health, not me. You came back fine, didn't you? You're even the CEO of Martha now. If not for that accident, you'd still be a pushover. You should be thanking me!"
"Shut up." Mia clenched her fists, her icy glare sending chills down William's spine.
He had never seen Mia like this—like a demon, her gaze sharp enough to kill. William quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.
One second later, had she not noticed the hidden camera in the chandelier, she would have punched him hard.
Another trap, another attempt to paint her as an unfilial daughter. Julie's methods were as despicable as ever.
Fine. If they wanted to put on a show, she'd play along. Let's see who would have the last laugh.
"What's the point in dredging up the past?" The hatred in Mia's eyes vanished, replaced with sorrow. "You were badly injured back then and didn't know what happened afterward. I don't blame you—only she knows the truth. Rumors have always swirled that I'm not your real daughter. So, am I? I want to hear it from you."
"Yes, of course you are," William answered without hesitation.
"Gene, did you hear what he just said?" In just a few seconds, countless emotions flickered across Mia's face before settling into indifference. She asked a question William didn't understand.
"Dad, I am your real daughter. So why have you been so cruel to me?" After two years, the word Dad sent William's heart into turmoil. He didn't dare respond.
"What are you doing?" William frowned in disgust as Mia suddenly burst into tears. Had the weak, timid Mia returned?
BANG.
"What was that?" Zhao Xuelan's voice rang out just as the door was forced open. A dozen reporters rushed in, cameras flashing as they captured William standing over Mia, who sat on the sofa with her face turned—perfectly framed to look like she had just been slapped.
"Mr. William, who is your real daughter?" The pointed question was thrown at him.