Chapter 256: Fully Support Her

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Fully Support Her

Ivy Hawthorne was also in disbelief when she heard this. "Produce a solo program exclusively for Stella?"

Even top-tier celebrities couldn’t easily secure such a project. The manpower and resources required behind the scenes were not to be underestimated. Stella had merely been active in the public eye for the past two years, gaining some fans through marketing and her good looks. What qualifications did she have to carry an entire show on her own?

Stella quite enjoyed seeing the shock on Ivy and Sophie’s faces. It proved that she possessed something Sophie Winslow could never obtain.

"Yes. To be honest, I’ve recently been participating in a key national medical project alongside Kingsford Medical University and other university medical schools," Stella said, her lips curling into a smile. "Kingsford University shoulders the heavy responsibility of assembling research teams from top medical schools nationwide, and securing the subsequent funding is a major priority. If my program can gain momentum, it will attract investment for the university. It’s highly profitable."

Sophie instantly understood. This was Julian Sterling paving the way for Stella, increasing her leverage to eventually enter the National Academy of Somatic Medicine. Bringing public attention to this key medical project at Kingsford University would also serve as a major accomplishment on Stella’s resume.

Although universities nationwide were working toward a common research direction, the quota for the National Academy of Somatic Medicine was fixed. Contributions and achievements would be evaluated, meaning everyone still had to fight tooth and nail for a spot. That meant it was time for everyone to show their unique skills. Even if Stella didn’t stand out among a crowd of geniuses, Julian and the others could make up for her shortcomings.

But hadn’t Finn Lockwood already found out that Stella was deceiving him? Sophie had seen Finn’s anger with her own eyes that day. She thought the two would have had a falling out by now. What was the meaning of this?

Ivy never expected her own network to be dragged into this mess. She was especially furious at Stella’s smiling expression—even though she was trying to suppress her smugness, the way she kept shooting sidelong glances at Sophie made Ivy’s blood boil.

"If you don’t have the capability to shine in your own profession, I guess you really have no choice but to resort to these underhanded tricks!" Ivy snapped.

Stella’s smile faded slightly. "The real underhanded trick is relying on shady methods to occupy a position that doesn’t belong to you, delaying the studies and futures of the university’s students."

She figured whatever means Sophie had used to become a professor were probably entirely unpresentable. At the very least, she was far more aboveboard than Sophie!

Sophie naturally heard the insinuation, and Ivy couldn’t help but laugh out of pure anger. Sophie had earned her position through the Digital Chinese Medicine database, her past papers in top-tier journals, her awards for new drug research and development, and even more so, the fact that she was Faye. And Stella dared to question her?

Naturally, Sophie wasn’t going to waste her time arguing with Stella. How Julian and Finn chose to support her was their business. It had nothing to do with her.

"I won’t disturb you any longer, Mr. Coleman. We can discuss the details of our advertising contract later," Sophie said, standing up.

Julian sat opposite Sophie, casually acting the part of an aloof bystander. He expressed no opinion on Stella’s insinuation, nor did he make any initiative to greet or speak to Sophie. However, the moment she stood up, he slowly leaned back against the sofa.

"This program is Miss Sutton’s personal segment. It will be filmed over seven days to produce three episodes," Julian said slowly. "For the final episode, Miss Sutton’s parents will participate in the recording as guest stars. We hope to feature the products and businesses of Rhodes Corp."

A ringing sound echoed in Sophie’s ears, and her movements came to a sudden halt.

Isaiah Sutton and Maeve Walsh were going to make an appearance? To put on a show as a harmonious, loving family? Rhodes Corp was Isaiah’s company. This wasn’t just to elevate Stella—it was to raise the status of the Sutton Family, promoting their businesses and bringing them massive profits!

Sophie found it impossible to remain completely unfazed in the face of such a thing.

Back then, Isaiah had relied on seizing the Winslow Family’s antique shop to inject cash flow into Rhodes Corp, which allowed his business to skyrocket. He had leeched off the Winslow Family’s blood. Yet, when he brought Stella and her mother into their home, he transferred a portion of his shares to Stella—who had no blood relation to him at all—while tossing Sophie into a remote countryside to fend for herself.

Now, Julian was going to support his future in-laws—the very Sutton Family whose patriarch had abandoned his original wife and daughter. He was letting them trample on the flesh and blood of her and her mother just to perform a glamorous, happy family reunion in front of a public audience.

Sophie’s breathing grew scorching hot. Her lips trembled imperceptibly. Her beautiful eyes stared with near-indifference at Julian, who was sitting securely as Stella’s steadfast supporter. She used to think that between a man and a woman, a lack of love was just that—there was no need for hatred. But now, she had never felt such thorough, bone-deep hatred for a person like she did for Julian Sterling at this moment.

Back then, her mother had gotten into a car accident right when Maeve arrived and Rhodes Corp was facing financial difficulties. This incident had always been a thorn in her heart. She suspected it wasn’t an accident, yet now she had to watch with her own eyes as they were praised as a happy family.

"As for this program," Julian said, casting a slight sideways glance. His line of sight finally accommodated Sophie. As he looked toward Ivy, his gaze collided with Sophie’s. He saw the agitated redness at the corners of her eyes but indifferently shifted his gaze away. He only said to Ivy, "I hope you can take charge of it."

Ivy was so angry she laughed. "Me? You want me to produce and film for Stella?"

He wanted her to serve Stella?

Stella offered a sweet smile. "Then here’s to a smooth shoot for us."

Ivy’s expression hardened. "Did I say I agreed?"

Felix Coleman, however, looked over with a complex expression. "Ivy, as long as you agree to take on this program, I will promote you to Deputy Director once it’s over."

Ivy was stunned. In a network of this caliber, it was impossible to reach the position of Deputy Director without working for over a decade. All for a single program of Stella’s?

She gritted her teeth. "I re—"

"Let’s leave it at that for now," Sophie said, stopping Ivy before she could completely flip out.

She knew Ivy was only unwilling because of her. But this was the position of Deputy Director—what else had Ivy been working her fingers to the bone for? If she publicly refused and defied Felix’s arrangement this time, would she ever be entrusted with important tasks in the future? The answer was obvious; the workplace was complex.

Without another word, Sophie grabbed Ivy and pulled her out of the room, sparing not a single extra glance at Julian.

Noticing Sophie’s knuckles turning white from her tight grip, Stella silently raised an eyebrow and smiled. When she turned her head back and saw that Julian hadn’t shown the slightest concern for Sophie from start to finish, her smile deepened.

—

After Sophie pulled her out, Ivy couldn’t help but curse, "What the hell does Julian Sterling mean by this? Isn’t he doing this on purpose? Forcing us to eat shit just to disgust us!"

There were so many people in the network. Why did he have to single her out?

Sophie raised a hand to rub her aching, stinging eyes. "After all, you still have superiors above you. It’s not worth ruining your career over her. Since Julian brought it up, he must have planned this from the start. If you refuse today, Felix won’t be able to explain it to Julian. By publicly slapping Felix—your superior—in the face, he won’t entrust you with important tasks in the future, and all your years of hard work will be for nothing."

Sophie had always been rational when analyzing the pros and cons of such matters. She looked at Ivy. "I’ll be fine. Maybe Stella is using you as a stepping stone, but you can use her as one too. A promotion is a pretty good deal."

After all, even if Ivy flatly refused, Stella’s program would still be produced. It was better to be realistic.

Ivy, however, felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She knew Sophie was looking out for her, but at the end of the day, Julian had done this intentionally. It was just to fuel Stella’s arrogance.

"Did you offend Julian or something?" Ivy couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Sophie fell silent. Was it because of the misunderstanding about the child? She couldn’t figure out what Julian was thinking.

After convincing Ivy to prioritize her own future, Sophie took the contract she had negotiated with Felix and headed downstairs. However, just as she reached the door, she walked straight into Finn Lockwood, who had just arrived.