Free Web NovelChapter 300: Chapter 300: She’s All Alone, Like She’s Been Bullied
"President Grant, what brings you here?"
Yancy Shaw still greeted him politely.
The same way he would treat a business partner.
Vincent Grant smiled, his gaze shifting to Sophia Shaw and Bun. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Cedric Grant announced loudly, "Today is my sister’s birthday! Dad and I are here to celebrate with her!"
His voice was bright and clear, his eyes warm and joyful as he looked at Bun.
Cedric Grant held out a large box as he approached Bun. "Little sister, this is a present from your big brother."
Inside the box was a big, fluffy stuffed animal.
Sophia Shaw froze for a moment.
She had once casually mentioned during a livestream that Bun had been through an accident right after she was born. Because of that, she was very insecure and needed to be held or hug a small, fluffy toy to sleep soundly.
’Did Cedric hear that?’
Cedric Grant carefully took the toy out and handed it to Bun. "This toy can automatically adjust its temperature, so hugging it feels as warm as hugging a person. Mommy is busy with work and can’t always be with you when you sleep, so you can sleep with this."
Bun loved fluffy things. She happily took it and said, in a very proper manner, "Thank you."
Her thanks left Cedric Grant flustered, and he suddenly felt a pang of shame.
’This is my sister. I should have been helping Mom share the responsibility of taking care of her, but I haven’t contributed anything at all...’
"And this... is my gift for Bun."
Vincent Grant’s gift was a share transfer agreement.
Sophia Shaw took it, and Yancy Shaw glanced over her shoulder before letting out a short laugh. "Ten percent. Quite a grand gesture, President Grant."
Although the Grant Group had been hit with a lot of negative press recently, causing its stock price to drop, its market value was still nearly a hundred billion. Ten percent was no small sum.
Sophia Shaw was also taken aback for a second but accepted it. "Thank you."
’It’s a gift from him as her father. I have no reason, and no right, to refuse.’
"Cedric, go on inside and have a seat. There are some snacks you like in there," Sophia Shaw said, turning to Cedric Grant.
Although her voice was very gentle, Cedric Grant could clearly feel a thin film between them.
No matter how thin, it was still there, separating them.
A bitter taste filled his heart. He knew this was all his own doing. He gave a soft "Mm," but didn’t move.
He wanted to stand with his mom, to melt away that film, little by little.
Just then, his watch phone rang.
Cedric Grant took out his watch phone. When he saw the number on the screen, a guilty look flashed in his eyes, and he glanced at Sophia Shaw.
Sophia Shaw, of course, also saw the name flashing on his watch. She nonchalantly averted her gaze and gave him some space, walking over with June Evans, Yancy Shaw, and her grandmother to greet other guests.
Cedric Grant didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. He sheepishly answered, "Auntie Joanna."
"Cedric." On the other end, Joanna Sherman’s voice was filled with an indescribable pitifulness. "Today is Stella’s birthday, and Auntie wants to take her on a trip to celebrate. Cedric, can you go with her?"
"Well..." Cedric Grant glanced uncomfortably at Sophia Shaw and Bun in the distance.
"Sister Lane is gone, and Stella is having a hard time adjusting. You’re her favorite person. When Sister Lane isn’t around, she’d rather cling to you than be with me. You won’t let her down, will you?" Joanna Sherman said from the other end.
Lane had been with Stella Grant since she was born; they had spent far more time together than Stella had with Joanna Sherman.
Her sudden departure must have felt to Stella Grant almost like losing her own mother.
Cedric Grant’s heart couldn’t help but ache for Stella Grant.
Still, he said, "I’m sorry, Auntie Joanna, but today is also Bun’s birthday. I can’t go with you."
"Oh, I see." Joanna Sherman’s voice was laced with clear disappointment and fragility.
Cedric Grant hung up the phone very quickly.
"Dad, let’s go join Bun and the others," Cedric Grant said, pulling Vincent Grant over to Sophia Shaw’s group.
Sophia Shaw and Bun were wearing matching mother-daughter outfits.
Bun was in a puffy pink dress, while hers was a long pink gown.
The simple, calf-length dress perfectly accentuated the lines of Sophia Shaw’s figure.
The slight bit of weight she’d gained didn’t detract from her appearance at all; on the contrary, it made her even more radiant and captivating.
Sophia Shaw was the type to gain weight in her chest but not her waist. Despite having an innocent and gentle face, the dress brought out a seductive charm.
Countless eyes were on the mother-daughter pair—some admiring Bun, others with the purely male gaze of men looking at a woman.
The moment Vincent Grant and Cedric Grant joined them, the tall man’s frame blocked all the scenery. freёweɓnovel.com
His intimidating aura forced those gazes to retreat.
"Let me hold Bun," Vincent Grant offered.
"No, no!" Bun still didn’t seem to like Vincent Grant much, her rejection clear.
She did, however, glance at Cedric Grant many times.
She remembered he was the one who gave her the big, fluffy doll.
Vincent Grant’s hands, raised midair, fell silently as he watched Bun once again turn her back to him.
His fingertips curled into his palm.
"Sorry about that. Bun gets a bit clingy around me when there are a lot of people," Sophia Shaw explained.
Vincent Grant had just given a gift worth tens of billions, so she couldn’t be too cold to him.
The words had barely left her lips when Levin Sawyer strode in from the entrance.
"Levin!" Yancy Shaw called out enthusiastically upon seeing him.
Levin Sawyer greeted the Shaws, his cool gaze sliding past Vincent Grant before landing on Sophia Shaw and Bun.
"My little treasure."
"Want, want, uppy!" Bun stretched out her chubby little hands and launched herself into Levin Sawyer’s arms.
Levin Sawyer just barely caught her, pulling her into a full embrace.
Sophia Shaw: "..."
She glanced awkwardly at Vincent Grant.
She’d just said that Bun liked to cling to her around crowds, and she was already being proven wrong.
Sophia Shaw shot a reproachful look at the very uncooperative little one.
Bun pressed her own rosy little cheek against Levin Sawyer’s, calling out sweetly, "Daddy, Daddy."
Sophia Shaw was mortified.
She quickly corrected her, "It’s Godfather."
"Daddy, Daddy."
The little one wasn’t getting the hint at all.
Levin Sawyer’s eyes were full of tenderness. He kissed her little cheek, the two of them interacting as if no one else was there.
They were as intimate as a real father and daughter.
Vincent Grant’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Yancy Shaw gave Levin Sawyer a meaningful look and sighed. "Levin, I hear you have good news on the horizon?"
Levin Sawyer’s gaze slid coolly past Vincent Grant. "Uncle, don’t listen to the nonsense online. I’ve already clarified it. Sylvia Jacobs is just like an older sister I grew up with. Those photos were taken at a misleading angle. Nothing happened between us."
"Speaking of which, this whole thing wouldn’t have blown up if someone hadn’t deliberately fanned the flames."
He didn’t name names.
But those who knew, knew.
Vincent Grant had shared and even liked posts about the incident from his sock puppet accounts. Wasn’t that just a ploy to drive a wedge between him and Sophia Shaw?
He had wanted to explain everything to Sophia Shaw yesterday, but he couldn’t get a chance since she was busy preparing for Bun’s birthday.
Yancy Shaw let out an "Oh," and the sigh in his heart instantly turned to hope. The light in his eyes brightened.
Vincent Grant ignored Yancy Shaw and looked only at Sophia Shaw.
Sophia Shaw’s expression was neutral.
’Levin Sawyer is denying his relationship with Sylvia Jacobs, but maybe it’s just to protect her.’
’Sylvia Jacobs is too famous; this kind of thing would inevitably affect her career.’
Levin Sawyer naturally noticed Vincent Grant’s every move. He smiled faintly, casting a particularly provocative glance in his direction.
It was as if to say: ’So what if Faye isn’t thinking about it that way? You don’t have a chance anyway. But me? I have plenty of opportunities, especially with Bun on my side.’
The frustration in Vincent Grant’s chest intensified.
Cedric Grant was also getting anxious. He ran over and tugged on Sophia Shaw’s hand. "Mom, when are we taking the family photo today?"
The Shaw family loved to document their lives, especially major events.
Taking a family photo was an indispensable tradition for them.
Sophia Shaw shook her head. "It’s been canceled."
"Can... canceled? Why?" The light in Cedric Grant’s eyes dimmed completely, and he was utterly crestfallen.
He wanted to be in the same frame with his mom, dad, and sister, like a real family.
"There are too many guests today. It’s not convenient."
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason.
The real reason was: she and Vincent Grant were divorced. Being in the same picture was inappropriate.
Cedric Grant’s shoulders slumped as he fell silent. Vincent Grant’s gaze, heavy with unspoken thoughts, rested on Sophia Shaw.
As the group turned to walk toward another hall, he reached out and grabbed Sophia Shaw’s arm.
Sophia Shaw stopped, and the others continued inside, leaving the two of them alone.
"Sophia Shaw, I clearly saw the photography team when I came in. Did you get rid of them on the spot because Cedric and I showed up?" A rare stubbornness hung on his face, his eyes locked on her, demanding an answer.
Sophia Shaw opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Leah Evans ran over.
"Sophia Shaw!"
She jerked her chin toward the window. "Go look!"
