Chapter 3: There's Always a Bigger Fish

Having spent the night at the hospital, Sophie Mitchell woke to a buzzing phone. Glancing at it, she found a slew of missed calls — all from her family and company. An uneasy feeling washed over her. She quickly freshened up and dashed back to her office. Meanwhile, after a restful sleep, Henry felt considerably better. The absence of Sophie from the room, however, left him feeling a touch hollow. In her place was Elder Bennett, who handed Henry a small notebook. "Master, since you’re not keen on returning to the family, here's the information you ought to know,” he said. Henry's eyes widened in disbelief as he skimmed through the names of influential figures in King City. "These," Elder Bennett explained, "are the connections your father cultivated secretly for you over the years. They're at your disposal." Elder Bennett then presented two items to Henry. One was a luxurious black card with gold patterns — an exclusive offering from the Four Continents Bank. The other was a purple-gold emblem with the family insignia — a phoenix, symbolizing his rightful place within the Carson dynasty. Noticing Henry's hesitation, Elder Bennett pressed, "Don’t you wish to aid Sophie in elevating her family status?" Henry's tumultuous past flashed before his eyes, and Elder Bennett’s words struck a chord. "Master, remember: there are always bigger battles, and greater powers at play. One day, you'll understand." Feeling cornered, Henry replied, "Enough, Bennett. I'll take what's mine." Elder Bennett, visibly relieved, hinted, "There's someone in King City from your past who’s been seeking you out." As Bennett left, his parting words hung heavily in the air. ... Sophie's day at the office was nothing short of chaotic. News had spread about a batch of counterfeit cosmetics from one of their stores leading to a severe allergic reaction in a customer. The media had descended upon her company like vultures, and Sophie found herself at the center of the storm. Sophie's precarious position in the family was no secret, and this incident was just more fuel for her detractors. To make matters worse, her grandfather, Joseph Mitchell, caught wind of the scandal. His scathing phone call left Sophie on edge. "You better resolve this by tomorrow morning," he threatened, "or face the consequences." As Sophie grappled with her mounting troubles, her phone buzzed with a call from Henry. "I'm feeling much better now. I'll be home soon to cook dinner," he said, unaware of the turmoil at the company, and promptly hung up. Half an hour later, Henry, arms loaded with grocery bags, returned to the Mitchell residence. "I'm back..." he began, only to be interrupted. "Why didn't you just stay at the hospital? Better yet, why didn't you die out there instead of coming back here?" snapped Leah Mitchell, not even looking away from the TV show she was engrossed in. Sophie, already frazzled from the day's events, remained silent, her expression one of deep exhaustion. "I'll start cooking right away," Henry responded, making his way to the kitchen, trying to defuse the tension. "You married a man whose only talent is cooking, and now you're stuck in this mess," Leah continued, venting her frustrations at Sophie. "Just look at him! Dressed in rags, no real skills. No wonder our family looks down on us." After Henry had left the room, Leah's ire only grew. "If you'd listened to the family from the start, we'd be living the good life now. You wouldn't be struggling at the company!" "Mom, can you just stop? I'm already overwhelmed," Sophie shot back, her voice filled with weariness. Leah, in a huff, retorted, "All of this could've been avoided if you hadn’t been so stubborn." With that, she stormed off to her room, pinning all the blame squarely on her daughter. In the kitchen, Henry, having overheard the conversation, felt a pang of guilt. He couldn't help but wonder what had upset Sophie so much at work and started contemplating his next move. After dinner, Sophie retreated directly to her bedroom, while Leah and her husband comfortably lounged on the sofa, engrossed in their television show. Henry, ever the dutiful son-in-law, quickly began to clear the dishes. Leah's phone rang, breaking the brief silence. Recognizing the caller ID, her face lit up with excitement. "Dad... why are you calling so late?"