Chapter 14 Sophie grew angrier as she thought about it . She swept all the files off her desk in one swift motion . The sound of scattering papers drew attention from outside . Everyone in the office couldn't help but glance toward Sophie's office . After her outburst , Sophie glared at the onlookers . She stood up and slammed the door shut with a bang . " Who's going to tell Miss Sophie about the design competition ? " Everyone shook their heads . No one wanted to face Sophie's wrath . The deputy director had no choice but to deliver the news himself . Stepping around the scattered documents , he placed the competition guidelines on Sophie's desk . " The company's holding a design competition this year . Here are the details . Mr. Victor wants you to lead the design department in creating our entry . " Only upon hearing it was Victor's directive did Sophie pick up the document . She glanced at it briefly before saying , " Get out . " For the next two days , Sophie remained unusually subdued , holed up in her office sketching designs . She'd pick up her pencil to outline an idea , only to tear the paper away moments later , crumpling it into a ball before tossing it aside . Sophie wasn't exceptionally talented in design . The awards she'd won in Chapter 14 college meant little among the Scott Group's elite designers . With the team's collaboration , the project would've been manageable . But Sophie was determined to prove she surpassed Lily . She forbade anyone from assisting . Victor had appointed her director against all opposition . Since everyone believed she'd gotten the position through connections , she'd show them Sophie outshone Lily . 288 Vouchers . Just as Sophie hit a creative block , she discovered an exquisitely drawn sketch in Victor's office . " Victor , whose design is this ? " Victor took the parchment , recognizing it immediately - Lily had gifted it to him years ago . He remembered Lily eagerly presenting her work : " Victor , I designed this ring ! It's called ' Spring .' The inspiration came from- " " Enough ! Can't you see I'm working ? " Victor had impatiently tossed the sketch aside . Lily's smile froze . Silently , she placed the design back on his desk before leaving Now Victor stared at the sketch , lost in thought . After a long pause , he answered Sophie : " It's Lily's " Chapter 14 258 Vouchers Jealousy flickered across Sophie's face , though she feigned indifference as she set it down . " Was this design ever produced? " Victor didn't understand her interest but answered truthfully : " No. " He hesitated before adding , " She designed it for me years ago ." Days later , Sophie submitted her competition entry to Victor . Victor studied the ring design - it looked hauntingly familiar , reminiscent of Lily's " Spring . " He wavered for a moment but ultimately stayed silent . Lily , who'd once clung to him relentlessly , had finally vanished from his life . This was everything he'd longed for . Yet lately , he kept thinking about her . This strange sensation unsettled Victor . So even though he noticed Sophie's design resembled Lily's sketches , he didn't mention it . " Good work . We'll take a vacation after the design competition . " Sophie's head snapped up , eyes brightening . Their relationship had stalled . Though Victor was with her , she sensed he still remembered Lily and didn't actually dislike her . This sparked urgency - she needed to secure Victor's affection and deepen their bond . 11.46 3 Chapter 14 288 Vouchers Hearing about the vacation , Sophie saw the perfect chance to get closer . She leaned in to kiss him , but Victor gently stopped her . " Working hours . " Grabbing another file , Victor said coldly : " You may leave if there's nothing else . " 11.4801