Sophia was polishing a Song Dynasty celadon when Dominic Durand appeared at the shop entrance.

Her fingers stilled momentarily, though her gaze remained fixed on the porcelain.

"Can I help you?" Her voice was eerily calm.

Dominic strode in and slammed his palm on the counter. "Cut the act! Where's my five million?"

Sophia looked up slowly.

The man before her had a face bloated with greed, eyes glittering with avarice.

She suddenly remembered her childhood fantasies about what her father might look like.

Every illusion shattered in that moment.

"I have the money." She set down the polishing cloth. "But you won't get a cent."

Dominic's expression darkened. "You're not afraid I'll expose you on television?"

"Be my guest." A faint smile touched her lips. "Let the world see what kind of man abandons his wife and child."

Enraged, Dominic grabbed the celadon from the counter.

"Stop!" Sophia's sharp command made other customers turn.

He sneered, holding the artifact aloft. "No money? Then I'll smash it!"

Her eyes turned glacial.

As she stepped forward, Dominic hurled the porcelain to the ground.

The thousand-year-old treasure exploded into shards with a sickening crack.

Sophia's pupils contracted, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

That had been a national treasure she'd just restored.

"You monster!" Her voice shook.

Dominic laughed triumphantly. "Scared now?"

Bending to collect the fragments, she sliced her finger on a sharp edge.

Blood dripped onto the celadon shards, stark against the pale green.

Dominic stomped on her injured hand.

Sophia cried out in pain.

The shop door burst open.

A dark figure streaked across the room, delivering a brutal kick to Dominic's chest.

He crashed to the floor, howling as he clutched his backside.

Kyle Grant stood protectively beside Sophia, his expression icy. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, hiding her bleeding hand behind her back.

Dominic scrambled up, sizing up Kyle. "Who the hell are you?"

Ignoring him, Kyle turned to Sophia. "Call the police."

Dominic panicked. "Police? I'm her father!"

Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Father?"

Sophia gave a bitter smile. "Biologically speaking."

Seizing the moment, Dominic pulled out his phone. "I'll expose you both! Rich girl colluding with some man to assault her own father!"

Kyle snatched the device and crushed it with one hand.

Dominic stumbled back in fear.

Kyle advanced with lethal calm. "If you harass her again, I'll make sure you never walk again."

Trembling under his glare, Dominic collapsed back onto the floor.

"Get out." Though quietly spoken, the command carried deadly finality.

Dominic scrambled toward the exit, pausing only to snarl, "You'll pay for this, Sophia!"

Tears welled in her eyes as she surveyed the shattered remnants.

"Don't grieve." Kyle knelt beside her. "I can restore it."

She looked up in surprise. "You know artifact restoration?"

"Somewhat." He carefully gathered fragments. "My father collects porcelain."

Before she could thank him, her phone rang.

Ethan's name flashed on the screen.

The moment she answered, Dominic's voice screeched through: "Son-in-law! Your wife's canoodling with some man in her shop!"

Sophia went deathly pale.

Ethan's voice was arctic. "Explain yourself, Sophia."

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Kyle stood, his gaze complex as he watched her.

Outside, Dominic waved his phone with a vicious grin.

Sophia took a steadying breath. "Ethan, it's not what you think—"

The line went dead.

Dominic smirked. "See what happens when you cross me?"

Kyle's expression darkened as he strode toward the exit.

Dominic turned to flee but collided with Ethan's driver, Jack, rushing inside.

"Madam!" Jack hurried to her side. "Are you all right?"

She shook her head, her eyes following Kyle.

He stood framed in the doorway, his silhouette straight as a pine.

Sunlight gilded his outline but couldn't dispel the cold aura surrounding him.

"Mr. Grant..." she called softly.

He turned, his expression now neutral. "I have business to attend to."

She knew he meant to pursue Dominic. "Don't—"

"I'll be discreet." He cut her off gently before walking away.

Watching him leave, Sophia's heart churned with conflicting emotions.

Jack whispered, "Should we inform Mr. Sullivan?"

Her smile was bitter. "He already knows."

As she bent to gather more shards, fresh blood welled from her cut.

This time, she felt no pain.