Chapter 55

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office on the 88th floor of Reid Group.

Tristan watched the video of Megan beating up Sophia,and the corners of his lips curled up in a grin.

A hand suddenly reached out and snatched his phone away.

"Damn! Your wife's got guts!" Kevin's eyes went wide.

Tristan leaned back lazily in his chair. "Guts? I'd say she was being kind."

Kevin almost dropped his jaw. "Sixty hits, man! That cane your family uses is practically a weapon! But honestly... kinda satisfying to watch."

"She's the only onewho's ever dared teach that witch of a stepmom a lesson," Kevin added with admiration.

Tristan chuckled. "You sure you still wanna be her brother-in-law? It might come with a life insurance clause."

Kevin stood silent for a beat.

He rubbed his chin, mumbling to himself,"What kind of gift would be good enough for her?"

Tristan replied effortlessly, "Please. With a face like hers, anything else is just background noise." Kevin stared at him, speechless.

Tristan fixed his gaze on him. "You've got a chance to prove yourself. I want fifty Star Point micro bugs."

Kevin choked. "Dude! Prof. XAL just gave us the design two days ago, and you already want fifty?"

"Is that a problem?" Tristan raised a brow.

Kevin instantly backtracked. "Nope. Not at all."

Tristan's expression turned colder as a thought crossed his mind. "Kevin, keep an eye on our internal staff. I sent people to the black market- turns out a new type of listening device is out. Ours are one millimeter. Theirs are two."

Kevin's brows knit tightly. "Got it."

At the Reid family's old residence-

Geoffrey stared intently at the chessboard, holding a piece between his fingers for what felt like an eternity.

Bruce burst into laughter. "What's the matter? Got cocky too soon?"

Geoffrey shot him a sharp look. "Ever heard of 'no talking while watching'?"

Bruce shrugged and sipped his tea.

Finally, the sound of a stone hitting the board broke the silence.

Megan picked up a white pieceand placed it swiftly on the board. "Congrats, Grandpa."

Geoffrey looked up, surprised. "I won?" "Nope. You lost- big time," she said with a cheeky smile.

Bruce laughed so hard he slapped his thigh. "Geoffrey,that granddaughter-in-law of yours has quite the attitude!"

Geoffrey quickly reached for two fallen pieces. "No way,we're not counting that. That spot didn't count.I'm redoing it."

Bruce raised a brow. "Tsk, you're actually reneging on a move? Guess chess style mirrors character-not too impressive, old man."

Geoffrey snorted. "I was just a bit drowsy earlier.This time I'm wide awake. Let's go again."Megan grinned,"Alright, but Grandpa, how about we make this a bit more interesting?"

"What do you have in mind?" Geoffrey asked.

She flashed a sly smile. "If I win, you owe me three favors."

Geoffrey didn't hesitate. "Deal. But what if you lose?"

Megan shrugged casually. "As long as it's not life-or-death or anything between me and Tristan, I'm in."

"You little trickster," he chuckled.

They reset the board and started playing again.

Just then, Nathan entered the room.

Megan stood up and nodded politely, "Dad."

Nathan replied with a soft grunt, taking in the lively atmosphere with a complex expression. "I'm heading upstairs."

As he disappeared up the stairs, Megan mumbled,"Feels like he's still upset over Aunt Sophia."

Geoffrey followed his son with his eyes too, then laughed, "Maybe, maybe not. Come on, your move."

Suddenly, the sound of the door slamming echoed through the hall-"Bang!" It hit the wall and bounced back.

Nathan stormed into the room and slammed the door behind him.

Sophia was lying on the bed whie Mrs. Ford applied ointment on her bruised back-it was covered in angry,purple welts.

Wyatt stood at the side, glaring. "Dad, Megan didn't even try to get the facts straight! She just went after me and Mom! She hit Mom sixty times!"

Nathan shot him a cold look. "You brat. Just got out of the hospital and already making trouble. You two are a mess.

If you hadn't pushed Megan's buttons, would she have done that?"

"Darling, Megan's totally twisting the truth!" Sophia wailed.

Nathan's tone was firm, voice biting. "You think I'm a senile old man now? Letting her do whatever she wants without reason? If you're going to claim someone framed you,at least make it believable!

You two better clean up your act."

Sophia didn't expect a scolding instead of sympathy.Her voice cracked, "She disrespected me and beat me like crazy! One day she'll come after you too!"

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Sophia, you're beyond help. Don't try to push my buttons with that nonsense.

If I ever really mess up, so what if someone knocks sense into me? 1

And if you're so unhappy here, then just sign the damn divorce papers."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Sophia screamed after him, "You've always missed Henrietta,that dead woman! I never stood a chance,neither did Wyatt!"

Nathan's steps faltered for a second, but he didn't look back. He just said coldly, "I'm glad you know.You're the one who broke us apart. You've always known that."

As he disappeared down the hallway, Sophia broke down in sobs, her voice echoing with grief and anger.She turned to Mrs. Ford, her pain twisting into rage."Get out! You're laughing at me too, aren't you?Leave!"

Mrs. Ford quickly set down the ointment and slipped out of the room in silence.Wyatt glanced at the sobbing Sophia and said, "Mom, stop crying already. After this Saturday, Megan and Tristan will be done with each other."

The sobs stopped instantly. She stared at him, her voice shaking, "Ash, are you serious?"

Wyatt's lips curled into a sly grin. "Absolutely. Once we bring Tristan down, the whole Reid family will be ours. Geoffrey, Nathan... they won't matter at all."

The very Geoffrey who was currently sitting across from Megan with a face that could cry a river. Hle'd always thought of himself as a Go master-until today.

Curious, he asked, "Megan, who taught you to play?"

She blinked and said mischievously, "Totally self-taught!"

Geoffrey paused, clearly stunned. "Seriously?"

Megan nodded with a straight face. No way was she spilling the beans about studying under international Go master Justin while on exchange in France.

Geoffrey looked genuinely distressed. "I really lost this game."

Rachel chimed in from the side with a comforting tone,Grandpa,you know how every generation builds on the last? Don't take it the wrong way."

Wait,was that supposed to be comforting?

Geoffrey felt like his granddaughter was going to stress him into the grave.

That night, a black Bentley rolled into the old estate. As Tristan stepped out, a petite figure ran right into his arms.

"Honey, I missed you so much today!" Megan chirped.

He pressed a soft kiss to her smooth forehead. "Did you now? Somehow I feel like you had a pretty eventful day."

Megan pouted slightly. "You have no idea! Rachel and I almost got ganged up on today."

Tristan fought back a chuckle. Right now,his wife was the picture of fake innocence.

"Tell me everything. I'll make it up to you."

Sniffling for effect, Megan said, "As soon as Rachel and I walked in, that mother-son duo started throwing shade. Mister Lies said Rachel was adopted from an orphanage, and Sophia said she lost her appetite just looking at us. So, I stepped up as the lady of the house and gave 'em a little taste of justice."

"Mister Lies?"

"Wyatt, duh. He's full of lies and hides behind a polished facade!"

Tristan couldn't help rolling his eyes. Where did she even come up with this stuff?

He chuckled. "You call that just a little punishment?"

He'd already seen the footage-every swing of that stick had landed hard.

Megan nodded firmly. "Yup, super gentle. I didn't even eat while dealing with that witch!" Tristan shook his head slightly. "My sweet Megan,you're just too kind."

Rachel, who overheard every word, had to admit-Megan truly had top-tier"Oscar Acting" skills, and Tristan was totally whipped.

But honestly? She kinda loved it.