To facilitate the Verdane Valley project, Javier invited Mayor Hodgson and his wife to y golf.


    This ce was usually frequented only by society''s elite. But today, it seemed Javier had booked the whole ce, leaving the golf range to only their own men.


    Sophia was terrible at golf. Still, she dolled herself up well for today''s outing. Light makeup, cotton golf clothes, and a sleek golf club made her look quite youthful, especially while standing by her daughter, Betty. They looked almost like sisters.


    She had brought Betty over so the Mayor and his wife could get a glimpse of her. Betty was 25 now, after all. Sophia believed it was time for Betty to marry, despite her obsession with Landon Harper.


    "Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson," Betty greeted politely, putting on her sweetest smile.


    "This must be your daughter. She''s even more beautiful in person!" Minnie Minks, now Mrs. Hodgson, said with a beam.


    That made Sophia and Betty tense up for a quick second. While Minnie might not have intended any harm, it still felt like she was sarcastically alluding to Betty''s previous public media conference.


    "Sorrygate" was no longer trending online. But there were still emojis and stickers online that mocked Betty''s embarrassing moments from that time, along with hurtfulments and nicknames.


    Onder Hodgson nudged his wife gently, clearing his throat. Only then did Minnie realize what she had said. She gave an embarrassedugh. "Aha ... your daughter truly is a beauty, Mrs. Beckett. She might be the prettiest among the bachelorettes in Sna City."


    "You''re very kind, Madam." Sophia beamed, holding onto her daughter''s arm. "Where is your son, I wonder? I''ve long heard how fine a young man he is. He even studied in the same institution as my Betty did."


    "Ah, he had some matters to tend to today."


    "What a shame. Another time then. I''ll arrange another get-together for both our families," Sophia suggested enthusiastically.


    Minnie gave her a perfunctoryugh. "Haha, of course. When there''s time, yes ... Anyway, I thought you have another daughter, Mrs. Beckett? Your youngest, I believe? She isn''t here with you today?"


    Betty''s fake smile nearly crumbled. It was clear as day that Minnie wasn''t interested in her whatsoever.


    Betty was unaffected. After all, she wasn''t interested in their son either. But bringing up that little bitch she had to call her sister was too insulting!


    Sophia replied, "My youngest has weaker health than most of us, so she often stays at home to rest. She''s also quite introverted, so I didn''t ask her to join us today."


    "Oh dear. Does she have some medical condition?"


    "No, no. It''s no big deal. She just needs to stay at home to rest." Sophia assured, though she had already heard Minnie''s implicit message. The woman clearly liked Lauren more than Betty.


    But her daughters weren''t products to be pondered and bought over!


    At this point, Javier and Jasper had already gone through a few rounds of golf with Onder. They were taking a stroll, chatting leisurely.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "We''re so d you let us handle this project, Mr. Hodgson." Javierughed heartily as he shook hands with Onder.


    "We''re more than just business partners, old friend. Of course I had to have you help me with this." Onder had known Javier for over two decades.


    "Come, let''s go out tonight. My treat!"


    "Thank you, but it''s my father-inw''s birthday tonight, so I won''t be free," Onder said. "We can drink our fill this Friday once the contract is signed!"


    Jasper kept a straight face as the two men talked, but he felt increasingly anxious.


    He needed to snatch this project under his name before Friday. If they signed the contract this Friday, he would have very little opportunity to make progress in the future.


    Even if he exposed Sophia''s crimes, Javier would still insist on keeping the matter within the family circle rather than making it public.


    That was why the only recourse Jasper had was to create something so jarring and shocking to the public eye that they had no choice but to kick Sophia off the team.


    Just then, a golf cart drove up to them and stopped.