Leo took a step forward, curious. “Bruno, I noticed you limping when you walked. What happened to your leg?”
“It’s none of your damn business! Stay out of it!” Bruno retorted coldly, then turned his attention back to Sophia. “Sophia, let me tell you the truth. No matter how much you do, the position of the Henley Group’s chairman will always be mine!”
Fanny also approached, mocking Sophia. “Sophia, if you’re thinking about taking the chairwoman’s position, you might as well give up now. If it weren’t for Grandpa, do you think you’d be in the position of General Manager? I heard you bought two Audi A8 cars. You must have made a lot of money in your current position.”
“Fanny, don’t talk nonsense!” Sophia retorted coldly.
“Am I just talking nonsense?” Fanny feigned surprise, exaggerating her expressions. “Many people know about you buying two Audi A8s. Do you think you can keep this a secret?”
Fanny was speaking the truth. Many members of the Henley family were envious when they learned that Sophia had bought two new cars in quick succession. Spending over two million dollars in one go was something many of them couldn’t achieve in their lifetimes.
Bruno had already informed Teresa about the car purchases, but she hadn’t given a response.
It wasn’t until lunchtime that Teresa appeared with an impressive presence.
Despite being a second-tier noble family, the Henley family had many customs and traditions, some intentionally created to emphasize their prestigious heritage. However, these customs often felt like mere child’s play when compared to truly elite noble families and aristocrats.
Everyone rose from their seats and respectfully greeted Teresa when she arrived.
“Grandmother!”
“Mother!”
Once Teresa had taken her seat, the others felt at ease to return to their positions. As for Leo, his treatment was the same as before. While Teresa had invited him to attend the family gathering, she didn’t seat him at the main table. Instead, she provided him with a chair in a corner, where he could easily be overlooked.
As soon as they were seated, Bruno exchanged meaningful glances with Fanny. She understood his signal and loudly addressed Sophia, “Sophia, your family recently purchased two expensive cars. Don’t you think you should tell Grandma about it?”
Teresa’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She was aware of Sophia’s car purchase, but she didn’t consider it a big deal and had no intention of delving into it. However, she only knew about the car replacement, not the fact that Sophia had bought two cars at once.
Bruno chimed in with a sarcastic tone, “Right after Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company delivered its first batch of cosmetics, Sophia decided to buy two Audi A8s. I guess she thinks aligning herself with Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company will make her a fortune.”
Teresa turned her gaze toward Sophia, her voice growing slightly stern. “Sophia, did you buy two Audi A8s?”
It was actually Leo who had bought the cars, and not a single cent of company funds had been used. Sophia nodded and replied, “Yes, Grandma. One for my parents to drive, and the other for Leo to use as he drives me to work.”
Bruno added, his tone mocking, “Quite extravagant, I must say. Having your husband as your chauffeur while you ride in an Audi A8. It feels like the Henley family has already become a top-tier clan.”
Sophia looked at Teresa directly and said, “Grandma, both cars were purchased with my personal funds. Not a single cent of company money was used.”
This statement sparked a discussion among the Henley family members. “It is no small amount. Spending it on two cars at once, that’s quite lavish.”
“Why would she worry? It’s not her own money, so why should she care? Misuse of public funds is so common these days.”
“Even though Sophia is in charge of the cosmetics company now, she’s making a lot of money on the side without the Chairman’s approval. If we don’t put a stop to this, other heads of subsidiaries within the group might follow suit, and that would be dangerous for the Henley family.”
These comments were a subtle reminder to Teresa that if she let Sophia’s car purchase go unchecked, others might follow her example.
“Sophia, you’ve heard what everyone thinks. You need to explain yourself,” Teresa said, increasing the pressure on Sophia.
Sophia was about to respond when Bruno suddenly stood up and loudly addressed Old Mrs. Henley, “Grandma, I almost forgot! There’s something you probably don’t know.”
All eyes turned to Bruno. “Sophia not only bought two Audi A8s but also purchased a large villa. I heard that she’s moving to the new house at the end of next month. She did this secretly, and it took me quite an effort to find out from outsiders.”
Bruno’s revelation sent shockwaves through the room. Buying two luxury cars was one thing, but purchasing a large villa was another. This wasn’t something you could do with just a few million dollars; it would take tens of millions at least.
“Sophia, you certainly have some nerve. Even if Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company delivered its first batch of products, there’s no need to flaunt it like this.”
“It appears that Sophia has made quite a personal fortune from it.
“Mother, we must investigate this thoroughly. We can’t tolerate this behavior. As the saying goes, a dike may collapse from a small hole; if we want the Henley family to become a top-tier clan, we must eliminate any troublemakers.”
The members of the Henley family looked indignant, sparing no mercy in their criticism of Sophia.
Teresa was equally furious. If Sophia had used her own money to buy the cars, Teresa might have overlooked it. But using company funds for a personal villa was something Teresa couldn’t tolerate.
Teresa’s lifelong dream was to elevate the Henley family to a top-tier clan, and she wouldn’t hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone who posed a threat to that goal.
“Sophia Henley, you’ve heard what everyone thinks. Now is your chance to explain yourself,” Teresa said, her voice growing icy as she addressed Sophia directly.
Sophia stood up from her seat, looked around at the Henley family members, and spoke confidently, “A clear conscience fears no accusation. The company’s financial records under my management are transparent. If you suspect me of misusing company funds, you can have the accounts audited. If there are any discrepancies, I am willing to accept punishment.”
The Henley family members, most of whom had dabbled in misappropriating company funds at some point, felt uneasy when they heard Sophia’s challenge. The issue of auditing accounts was too sensitive, and they feared that if Old Mrs. Henley suddenly decided to conduct a thorough audit, they might be implicated.
Even Bruno didn’t dare to pursue the auditing issue further. He simply snorted and said, “Sophia, while you are in charge of Sophia Cosmetics Company, we all know how much you earn personally. Let’s not even discuss the new cars for now; with your current income, you couldn’t possibly afford a villa better than those in the Gold Coast!”