Chapter 29

Lukas remained expressionless. "I don't know about that. I'm not a mind reader!"

I frowned. "Then what did you mean by your words just now?"

Lukas raised an eyebrow slightly. "Just a reasonable guess. Don't you think Hugo would use the same trick against you, dumbass?"

"You…" I lacked the courage to curse at him, but I felt indignant. "Even if he recorded something, I also have a full recording of the entire conversation. If he dares to edit the recording to make it seem like I agreed to set him up, I'll release the full recording to prove my innocence. Let's see whose side people will take!"

As I spoke, I took out my phone and opened the recording app. I had learned my lesson and was now more careful.

Lukas didn't expect that I was still recording after the press conference. He looked surprised. "It seems you've grown wiser!"

My mouth twitched in frustration. "Lukas, with that sharp tongue of yours, you probably don't have many friends. Am I right?"

Lukas's eyes flickered. "I indeed don't have many friends, but I prefer quality over quantity!" His gaze seemed to hold a hidden meaning as he glanced at me.

A surge of bitterness washed over me. I sensed deep disdain from him. Feeling aggrieved, I turned to look out the window. "Are we leaving or not?"

Lukas's eyes widened, surprised by my outburst. He unexpectedly thought of Emily. Every time she got angry, she looked just as ferocious.

He reached out, playfully pinching my cheek. His large hand cupped the back of my head, turning my face toward him. "What? Are you mad? Did I say something wrong?"

This brought us closer. His hand supporting my neck, my body stiffened, but I stubbornly raised my head. "I'm not!"

Lukas sneered, his tone full of disdain. "Whether you are mad or not, your judgment of people is"

I couldn't accept that. "Then what about you, Mr. Strakovski? I chose to marry you. Does that mean you're saying I'm lousy, or that I'm blind to have chosen you?"

Lukas's eyes narrowed. "Sophia… Are you provoking me?"

"What if I am?!" I retorted.

Lukas's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Sophia, sometimes, being overly independent is not a positive trait!"

I retorted, "There's no sense of self without you!"

"Then get out of the car!" Lukas's face darkened, and he fell silent. He must have been out of his mind to think this woman was interesting and come here to help her.

With a tense expression, I opened the passenger door and stepped out. Before I could steady myself, Lukas accelerated, leaving me choking on exhaust fumes. I stomped my foot in anger. How could there be such a petty man?

Through the rearview mirror, Lukas saw me stomping my foot, and his mood inexplicably improved. He couldn't help but smirk.

I took out my phone, intending to contact my best friend, Ava, when her call came in.

"Sophia, the press conference is over. Where are you?" Ava's cold voice filled the phone.

I pursed my lips. "I'm downstairs at Trifleming Jewelry. What's up?"

Ava said in a low voice, "Come over now. I'm waiting for you at the pastry cafe!"

When I arrived, Ava was already sitting in her usual spot with a laptop.

I walked over. "How is it? What's the situation online?"

Ava Smith, a computer expert and hacker known online as V, had helped me post the screenshot of my application for the Century Jewelry Competition and timed my social media posts before the press conference. She had a cold personality, but she was the only friend I trusted.

After hearing my question, Ava turned the laptop toward me. "See for yourself!"

I leaned over, and the first thing I saw was the latest statement on the official Strakovski Jewelry website.

Chapter 30