Rebirth: Love me Again - Chapter 221

Chapter 221: The Price of Pride
 

Sophia’s face contorted in anger, her composure snapping. “That bitch! She’s faking it! She—”

“Enough!” Sullivan barked, cutting her off before she could say anything more damning.

The two lawyers turned their attention back to him, their expressions cold.

Sullivan swallowed thickly, hands tightening into fists. “My apologies,” he muttered, shooting his wife and daughter a glare that promised consequences later.

Marcus adjusted his cufflinks, unfazed by the outburst. “You should consider yourself fortunate that our client is offering a settlement,” he said. “A trial would be far more costly—both financially and publicly.”

Victoria’s gaze pierced through Sullivan. “You have twenty-four hours to make a decision,” she stated with a crisp tone. “Release the statement and pay the settlement, or we proceed to court.” She rose from her chair with an air of finality, Marcus following suit. “And Mr. Rosette,” she added, “we do not lose.”

The words lingered ominously in the room long after Victoria and Marcus exited, their footsteps echoing down the hallway like a death knell.

The silence that followed was unbearable. Sullivan sank back into his chair, defeated, his hands running through his graying hair. Sophia’s face was red with barely contained fury, while Sophie sat frozen, her mind reeling.

“This can’t be happening,” Sophie whispered, her voice shaky. “Twenty million dollars . . . for a slap?”

Sullivan said nothing, his mind racing for a way out. But deep down, he knew the truth—there was no escaping Blackthorn & Kingsley. They had already lost.

There was an undeniable evidence. Victoria Blackthorn’s assistant had delivered it, placing a sleek black tablet on the table before exiting. The screen flickered to life, revealing a video. Crystal clear. The confrontation. The slap. And then another slap.

Every detail played out with damning clarity—the sound of skin meeting skin, the furious words exchanged, Eve stumbling back, her hand cradling her cheek.

As if that weren’t enough, the voice recording followed.

The atmosphere in the conference room remained suffocating as the tension refused to ease. Sullivan sat slumped in his chair, his head in his hands, while the weight of Blackthorn & Kingsley’s demands bore down on him like an immovable boulder.

“Damn it,” Sullivan cursed under his breath, his face paling as he leaned back into his chair. He felt as if the walls of the pristine conference room were closing in on him. There was no escape. Eve had come prepared.

Sophie, however, was far from cowed. “Dad,” she said suddenly, her tone shockingly casual given the situation. “You’re still going to buy me that dress, right? And the jewelry. And hire the best glam team for the Fay’s party. You promised.”

The words hit Sullivan like a slap of their own. His head snapped up, eyes narrowing in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?” he hissed, his voice sharp and laced with barely controlled fury. “Do you even understand what just happened? Do you think twenty million dollars grows on trees? That it’s nothing to us?”

Sophie frowned, crossing her arms. “But Dad, we’re Rosettes. Twenty million shouldn’t be a problem for us. It’s not like we’re poor.”

Sullivan’s lips twisted bitterly. “It wouldn’t be if we still had access to your grandfather’s fortune. But right now? Every cent I have is tied up in my company! Do you have any idea how costly startups are?” His voice rose, anger and frustration spilling out.

Sophia looked up sharply. “Don’t shout at her, Sullivan. She’s only asking because she knows how important this party is.”

“Important?” Sullivan shot back, his voice low and biting. “She’s talking about a dress and some damn jewelry while we’re on the brink of paying millions we don’t have! If not for the billion-dollar that I took from Eve’s, I’d be bankrupt by now!”

Sophie let out an indignant scoff, her face twisted in bratty disbelief. “So you’re saying I should just wear old dresses and look like a laughingstock? Do you want me to be humiliated at the Fay party? Do you know how much the Fay family’s opinion matters?”

“You have dozens of dresses and more jewelry than you know what to do with,” Sullivan said coldly, his voice dropping like a stone. “Wear those. I don’t care.”

The words seemed to slice through Sophie like a knife. Her lips trembled, her face flushing with anger and disbelief. “I hate you, Dad!” she screamed, tears spilling down her cheeks before she stormed out of the room, slamming the heavy door behind her.

The silence she left in her wake was deafening. Sullivan leaned back, his hands pressed into his temples as if trying to keep his head from splitting apart.

Sophia watched the door swing back into place before turning to Sullivan, her voice softer but no less urgent. “Sullivan, we can’t afford to let this happen. You know as well as I do—Sophie needs to look her best for that party.”

Sullivan let out a humorless laugh, looking at his wife like she’d lost her mind. “Did you not hear what I just said? We don’t have the money! Without access to my father’s assets, we’re practically drowning. Every penny is tied up in the company I’m just building. What do you want me to do? Pull millions out of thin air?”

Sophia’s expression hardened, her lips a thin line of determination. “Then take out a loan.”

Sullivan’s head snapped toward her, disbelief etched onto his face. “Are you serious? A loan? And from whom? Do you want me to put the company on the line just so Sophie can wear a dress and some diamonds to impress the Fays?”

Sophia leaned forward, her voice low and urgent. “Listen to me, Sullivan. The Fays could save us. One word from them, one partnership, and our struggles would be over. You know what this party means. Sophie is our best shot at getting the Fays on our side. We can’t let her go looking like some second-rate nobody.”

Sullivan ran a trembling hand down his face, exhaustion settling in his bones. “And what happens when we can’t pay the loan back? You think Victor and Eve won’t hear about it? She’ll ruin us the moment she finds out I’ve borrowed money just to keep up appearances.”

“Then ask your father’s friends,” Sophia pressed, her voice growing more insistent. “Or go to your business partners. You have to find a way.”

Sullivan’s jaw clenched, his patience fraying. “And what about you, Sophia?” he spat bitterly. “Why don’t you ask your parents for help? Surely they can spare a few million for their darling daughter?”

Sophia’s face turned red with outrage. “Are you insane? Do you want my parents to think we’re so desperate that we’re begging for their money? They’ve already invested hundreds of millions into your company. If I ask for more, they’ll start to doubt your competence! They’ll doubt you.”

Sullivan let out a long, weary sigh, slumping back into his chair as though the fight had been drained from him entirely. He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing through options—none of them good.

Sophia’s voice softened just slightly. “Sullivan, I don’t care how you do it. Take out a loan. Call in favors. Sell off shares if you have to. But don’t let Sophie go to that party looking like a joke. You know how important this is.”

For a long moment, Sullivan said nothing. His face was drawn, his eyes dark with shadows of pressure. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse and resigned. “Fine,” he said quietly. “I’ll figure something out.”

Sophia’s expression eased, satisfaction flickering behind her eyes. “You’ll see, Sullivan. This will all be worth it in the end.”

But as Sullivan sat there, staring blankly at the pristine conference table, a sinking dread curled deep in his stomach. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a small voice whispered what he refused to acknowledge.

The price of pride had just become far too steep.