Sophie handed her phone to James, saying, "The video evidence is all here. It''s your call."


    James took the phone. His brows furrowed, and his voice was deep. "I came back for you. I can only rest easy knowing you''re safe."


    "Thank you, Mr. Burke, but if you truly wish for my safety, please proceed with our divorce as soon as possible."


    After all, Bea had done so much simply because James refused to finalize their divorce.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "After the divorce, you want to be with Colby?"


    "Yes."


    Sophie''s straightforward answer pained James.


    She watched James, her tone indifferent. "I thought I made myself clearst time. You should understand how I feel. Our marriage was a mistake from the start." "Nichole''s child is gone. Can''t we..."


    Suddenly, Sophie jerked her hand away, disgust gradually tinting her gaze. "You think, just because her child is gone, there are no barriers between us? James! Wake up. The obstacle between us has never been Nichole!"


    Hearing this, James grabbed Sophie''s shoulders, urgency and confusion in his eyes. "Then tell me, what is the obstacle between us? Why did you choose Colby over me? I know I''ve neglected you, but it was because we had no feelings before. But it''s different now..."


    "Let go!" Sophie pulled away from James, staring into his eyes. "James, I chose you once, and you gave up on me."


    James wanted to say more, but Sophie coldly interrupted, "James, you must be aware of what people in Devonport say about me. They say I''m desperately chasing after you. They say I debased myself and am willing to mimic a college girl just to win your favor."


    James'' momentum weakened. He had heard such rumors before. People even mocked Sophie in his presence, saying she was like a puppy trailing behind him.


    He never took those words to heart.


    Back then, he considered marriage merely an unconventional business arrangement, and Sophie was nothing more than a stranger he had never met. He intentionally kept his distance from Sophie in an attempt to break free from Bea''s control over him since childhood.


    Initially, he disliked Sophie because she was always annoyingly behind him, always copying Nichole''s dressing style. He assumed it was his grandmother''s doing, a ploy to make him like Sophie more, to use her to control him further.


    But at that auction, he saw Sophie in


    a red dress, and it was the first time he saw Sophie not trying to be someone else. She was confident, radiant, dignified, and elegant. That was also the first time he truly saw Sophie.


    James pressed his lips together. "I hurt you in the past. I can make amends. Can we start over?"


    "James, there''s no starting over for us." Sophie spoke calmly, "Mr. Burke, you must have many matters to attend to. I won''t disturb you any longer. I''ll be leaving."


    James clenched his fists. "I will never agree to a divorce. I won''t let you be with Colby. You can only be my wife."


    "A marriage certificate can''t trap me. James, you look nothing like the head of the Burke family now."


    With that, Sophie left.


    James stood there, mocking himself. Of course, he knew he didn''t look the part of a head of the family.


    The Burke family had always


    demanded its head prioritize the interests of Burke International. Now that Russell Enterprise had gone, bankrupt, Sophie had lost her


    qualifications as his wife longvel


    The Burke family should


    immediately find the most suitable Mrs. Burke candidate.


    However, Sophie publicly requested a divorce months ago, and James had still not agreed, much to the dissatisfaction of Burke International''s upper echelon. Still, they couldn''t ovee James'' stubbornness


    As he watched Sophie''s retreating figure, James'' expression darkened. Colt approached. "Mr. Burke, Officer Derick is still upstairs waiting. Maybe..."


    "Tell me everything about today in detail." James'' tone returned to calm.


    Bea''s decision to publicly announce Nichole as the future Mrs. Burke was something he was unaware of. Tonight''s dinner was obviously meant to target Sophie.


    Colt, head bowed, admitted, "Mr. Burke, I failed to catch wind of it."


    "Is it that you didn''t notice or chose to ignore it?" James'' sharp gaze swept toward Colt.


    Colt had been with him for years and was always efficient. He never missed any whisper about the Burke family.


    This time, Bea sent out invitations and half the businessmunity attended, but Colt hadn''t caught a whisper. It was abnormal.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Colt


    finally said with difficulty, "Mr. Burke, Bea mobilized Burke International''s upper echelons to pressure you. You might ignore it, but the directors are very dissatisfied. Keeping MS Sophie in her position affects your standing. So, I..."