Elise had no intention of letting Sophia escape her guilt. Especially not in front of the press.

"Cheaters and mistresses don't deserve forgiveness," she declared firmly. Her voice carried clearly through the room.

This was an undeniable truth.

There might be reasons for many things in life. But never for betrayal.

Sophia bit her lip nervously.

She knew her pleas wouldn't work on Elise. So she let fresh tears fill her eyes. "I know you're still angry, sis. But family bonds run deep. Time will heal everything."

"Family bonds run deep?!" Elise's voice cut sharply through the air.

"Well, that's partially true. Sometimes family bonds can be more toxic than anything else!"

"Sophia Mitchell, how dare you speak of family bonds?!" One journalist shouted, unable to stomach the hypocrisy. "Even if we accept your twisted logic about love justifying everything—you deliberately leaked those photos to slander your own sister! Have you no shame?!"

"I never framed her!" Sophia denied immediately. "I know nothing about those photos. I've always felt guilty toward Elise. I only want what's best for her. Why would I try to harm her? That's why I stayed at Stellar Group—to help my sister lead the company to success. To make amends."

Sophia was confident Elise couldn't prove she leaked the photos. Samuel was the one who handled it. He would never betray her.

Not when he still loved her. Not when they were partners in this. Samuel wasn't foolish enough to turn against her.

Still, the journalists remained convinced of her guilt.

"If not you, then who?!"

"You'd do anything to keep Samuel Mitchell for yourself!"

"I heard Benjamin Scott, the former chairman of Stellar Group, planned to pass leadership to you, Sophia. You're using this crisis to push Elise out, aren't you?!"

Sophia panicked as they hit too close to the truth. "Why would I do that? I would never take Stellar Group for myself. Everyone knows it was left to Elise by her mother. Everyone also knows I designed the autumn collection for Stellar Fashion. Why would I work so hard if I wanted to steal the company?"

She turned to Elise with pleading eyes. "You have to believe me, sis. It really wasn't me."

If Elise didn't know Sophia's true nature, she might have almost believed that performance.

She didn't respond to Sophia. Instead, she took out her phone.

The device connected instantly to the conference room's Bluetooth speakers. She pressed play.

[Hello, I'm Samuel Mitchell... Yes, I'd like you to instruct your journalists to provide some 'special coverage' at tomorrow's press conference.]

[Are you saying we should go easy on Elise Scott, Mr. Mitchell?]

Elise had thoughtfully edited the other man's voice with autotune. To protect the witness from backlash.

Samuel's voice responded quickly. [No. Actually, I want the exact opposite.]

Silence followed from the other end. Clearly surprised.

Samuel continued. [You heard correctly. Don't worry—I'll send my gratitude after tomorrow.]

There were more recordings. But Elise stopped after two.

"I won't play the rest to waste everyone's time," she stated calmly.

The conference room erupted into chaos once again.