on to bring it all out into the open was great. But she wasn't naive. She understood that the world she lived in had no room for surprises, especially

venge; she wanted Gabriel Blackwell, as well as the others, to beli

s while hiding implacable determination. She had first gone to a few social events, laying compassionate hands on sick children or abandoned orphans, giving speeches on the importance of education

ection, she had discovered that it was also a huge opportunity to invest in up-and-coming companies, companies with growth potential but whose management lacked resources. The Blackwells, like other large group

e was, just another face, an heiress seemingly disconnected from serious business, always a little in the background, listening more than she spoke. But it was precisely this shadowy position that allowed her to stay

the power to resuscitate forgotten companies and bring them to growth, a subtle but impactful approach. And all this without anyone suspecting her intentions. Gabriel Blackwell,

uperiority, as if he was barely allowing her to breathe the same air as him. Sophia gave him a polite smile, but inside, a defiant glint burned in her eyes. She had long since stopped seeking

Gabriel had underestimated her, thinking she would remain eternally invisible, like a fleeting shadow. But

d her one evening when they passed each other at the

honeyed tone. "It's a real pleasure to be able to help. But you know, there's so much work to be done in this sector. It's a whole world to rebuild, and if we can be a small cog in this

d away, and Sophia let him go. She knew that in her mind, she was still the same, a young woman at the mercy of the big shots, who did not

yet dared touch, companies that the Blackwells intended to take over but had not yet identified as priority targets. She began buying stocks, building up h

scaped her. But he had no idea of the magnitude of what was going on in the shadows. He did not know that e

pared herself. She was no longer the shy girl he had rejected when they first met. She was no longer the young woman witho