Sophia gazed at Isabella's face, swollen like a pig's head, with secret satisfaction.

The injuries were clearly added afterward.

She dialed Natalie's number. "Natalie, what happened to Isabella's face?"

Natalie's exaggerated laughter came through the phone. "Hahaha! She got drunk at the bar last night and was dragged out of her car and beaten unconscious on her way home. Her face was completely disfigured! Even her bodyguards were taken down!"

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "What about the surveillance footage?"

"Funny thing—the cameras on that stretch were down." Natalie sounded gleeful. "Don't worry, sis. My brother's away on business. He didn't visit her."

After hanging up, Sophia walked into the living room.

Breakfast and a household register lay on the dining table, weighed down by a note.

Grace's flamboyant handwriting read: Sweetheart, divorce him! I'll set you up on blind dates—two a day! Let's make the Sullivan men choke on their pride!

Sophia laughed until her eyes turned red.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

Ethan's deep voice came through. "I'm handling an emergency overseas. The divorce will have to wait."

Sophia tightened her grip on the phone. "How long?"

"One to two weeks."

After a pause, she brought it up herself. "Isabella was beaten up last night. It wasn't me."

"I know." Ethan's tone was calm. "It was Kyle."

"It wasn't him!" Sophia's voice rose sharply. "He's been dead for years!"

Silence lingered on the other end before he responded with a quiet, "Hmm."

A week later.

"Senior!" A ponytailed girl bounded into Sophia's home. "I'm Iris, Julian's sister!"

As they talked, they realized they shared the exact same birthday.

Iris explained her purpose. "The museum wants you to restore Wang Meng's Hermitage Scroll."

Sophia froze.

Wasn't that the very painting she'd been forced to authenticate during her kidnapping?

The restoration room was filled with white-haired experts—Sophia was the only young face.

During the lunch break, Iris leaned in conspiratorially. "Senior! There's a ridiculously handsome guy heading this way!"

Sophia looked up and met a pair of profound eyes.

Ethan strode over in his crisp suit, the museum director trailing behind him.

"He's looking at me!" Iris frantically smoothed her hair. "Senior, does my makeup look okay?"

Sophia suppressed a smile. "It's fine."

Iris suddenly froze.

The handsome man walked straight to Sophia and casually draped an arm over her shoulder. "Lunch together?"

"Sure." Sophia nodded.

Iris's eyes widened. "You know each other?"

"Yeah. It's... complicated." Sophia hedged.

Ethan, already impatient, whisked Sophia away, leaving Iris utterly bewildered.

"What's your relationship?" Iris called after them.

Sophia turned back and winked. "Ex-husband."