"Who is it?" Sophie felt uneasy, seeing the tight frown between Lisa's brows. "Mum, are you afraid?" Sophie could recall the last time, and the only time she saw her mother scared was when her parents divorced. All these years, her mother had been strong for her, protecting her all the time. What happened? What's making mum worried?

"Matt Davidson," Lisa said slowly and clearly as if to make sure that Sophie heard her seriousness.

​​

Sophie exclaimed immediately, "Matt?! Why? What do you mean?"

Lisa didn't know where to start to explain to Sophie. She said plainly, "Don't see him anymore. Promise me."

Sophie was confused and upset. It wasn't the first time Lisa had warned her not to get close to Matt. "Mum, why are you so worried about it? You know there's nothing between Matt and me. He doesn't love me." I'm a grown-up now. I know who I should meet or shouldn't. What's wrong with seeing Matt anyway?

"But you love him," Lisa said directly. "That's the problem." Sophie is too naïve. She can get hurt so easily. Falling in love with the wrong man can be the worst mistake to make.

"Mum!" Sophie jumped up, upset, dropped her fork down on the table, and defended, "I don't want to talk to you anymore." She went to her room, closed the door, and went to bed.

She didn't see the worries and sadness in her mother's eyes, nor did she hear her sigh.

When she got up the next morning, she had completely forgotten the unpleasant incident and was back to her mother's spoiled sweet little girl. Lisa prepared breakfast as usual. They ate and set off to work and class together.

A car was parked outside the house. A hefty and sharp looking middle-aged man came over with a smile, "Good morning, Ms. and Miss Watson." He greeted them politely.

"Morning, Tom, I trust you will look after Sophie from now on. Please keep me posted if anything happens, will you?" Lisa said sincerely.

Tom nodded, "No problem, Ms. Watson."

Sophie was puzzled. "Mum, what's this about?" Isn't mum being too exaggerative now? I'm not from a wealthy family. People will think I'm showing off. But this is so not mum. Why?

Lisa explained patiently, "Tom is here to protect you. He will be your bodyguard and private driver. Then I don't need to worry too much about you." She had thought it over all night, and this was her only solution for now. She had made a few phone calls, asked about, and paid a large sum of money to hire Tom. She just knew she couldn't risk it. In one month, Sophie would study abroad, and she wouldn't need to worry.

Sophie was even more confused. "But, mum, what is it that you worry about so much?" It can't be Matt. Matt is one of the nicest and humblest people I know.

This time Lisa didn't want to explain much, knowing that Sophie wouldn't listen to her anyway. "Bad guys." She said dismissively.

A week passed peacefully. Sophie followed a regular routine. She went to class, then home, and didn't visit anywhere. Lisa would go home straight away from work to make sure Lisa stayed home at night.

However, peace didn't last long. The second week started with a worrying Monday evening. Lisa was in a meeting when she got a phone call from Tom.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Watson, but I didn't manage to pick up Miss Sophie Watson this afternoon. I just found out from one of her classmates that she asked for a leave and left earlier." Tom had been waiting at the main gate. Observant as him, he would not miss anyone sneaking away, but he didn't see Sophie. He was quite certain that she had sneaked out from a different gate.

Lisa's heart sank. "What?!" she started to panic. Again and again, she tried to call Sophie, but it just couldn't get through.

Time ticked away slowly and night approached.

Why didn't she listen to me?! Sophie! Why? She's always been my good girl, but... Lisa kept calling Sophie every few minutes and tried to stop herself from picturing some sickening scenarios.

The clock rang nine times, indicating that it was already three hours to midnight. Someone finally answered the phone. Lisa yelled, "Where are you?! Get yourself home right now!"

"It's me." A man's voice answered coldly.

Lisa shook her head in despair. "Where's Sophie? Is she with you?" she asked, trying to stay calm. She should have guessed it. The only person that Sophie would turn rebellious for would be Matt. Stupid girl! Stupid girl!

"So your daughter has agreed to be my girlfriend. Aren't you happy for us?" Matt replied icily.

"Matt Davidson! Don't you dare do anything to my daughter!" Lisa screamed. She could see his sneer, and she wanted to strangle him! What a horrible man he is! Asshole! Evil!

Matt sounded indifferent. "I didn't need to do anything. I didn't need to force her. Anyway, I won't do anything to her, well, not yet. I will give you a week to reconsider my offer."

On hearing so, Lisa collapsed onto the sofa. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "Matt Davidson, you are terrifying. You aren't human. You are a monster." He's calculating. He's using my daughter as a pawn. He's threatening me!

She wished she could be stronger. The truth was she felt helpless.

Matt laughed, "Ha-ha, isn't it a fun game?"

A game?! He sees it as a game! Lisa almost went mad. "You are sick, Matt Davidson! What if your father finds out?!"

He had been disguising so well simply because he was cautious of his father. Now that he had taken over the company, he didn't need to worry about anyone anymore.

Matt lifted his brow, narrowed his eyes, took a look at the bathroom door, thinking, what's taking that girl so long? "Why? I'm not afraid." He replied indifferently, "He's given me everything anyway."

Curt had now retired and trusted Matt to take over. Just two months later, he was fully in charge. I have finally got what I wanted! Matt thought with a sneer.

He used to be an invisible man, following behind Curt. No one seemed to notice him. But now, he was the man in charge, the man with real power, the man that everyone looked up to.