Chapter 331

Chapter 331

Alexander and Emily's expressions darkened simultaneously, though for entirely different reasons.

"When did you have contact with them?" Emily asked, her voice tight with concern.

She was well aware of the Foster family's vast influence, but she had done everything possible to protect Jasmine and Maurice. She questioned them daily about any strangers they might have encountered. How had she failed to prevent this?

Somehow, Natalie had obtained samples from the children and conducted DNA testing with Alexander without her knowledge.

Anger flashed in Emily's eyes.

To Sophie and Victoria, however, this reaction looked like guilt.

"Emily, if the children belong to the Foster family, why shouldn't they have contact? What are you afraid of?" Sophie's gentle voice broke the tension, feigning innocence as if she couldn't possibly imagine anything suspicious.

The onlookers who had been exchanging glances earlier now kept their eyes firmly fixed ahead, not daring to show any reaction. 

Alexander's earlier warning that some matters were best left alone until things became clearer had been unmistakable.

Victoria let out a contemptuous snort. "Exactly! What are you afraid of? Emily, do you have something to hide? Do you know the children aren't my brother's?"

"Victoria." Natalie's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clear disapproval.

"Mom!" Victoria protested, stepping closer. "My brother might be confused, but you can't be. You can't let the Foster family raise someone else's children."

"Victoria!" Natalie's voice rose slightly before dropping to a whisper. "Are you saying the children aren't Alexander's? Do you have proof?"

"The DNA test results are right there. Don't you know?" Victoria paused in confusion, uncertain why her mother would ask such a question.

Natalie had received the test results just before hearing about the commotion at Foster Pharmaceuticals, which had prompted her to come investigate. But now...

Her brow furrowed as her gaze moved between the people present, finally settling on Emily. "Are you nervous?"

"Mom."

Before Emily could respond, Alexander stepped in front of her, addressing Natalie directly. "Whatever this is about, we can discuss it at home."

"Why?" Victoria scoffed, then suddenly widened her eyes. "Alexander, don't tell me you already knew the children aren't yours?"

The possibility made her even more indignant.

"What kind of spell has Emily cast on you? You'd choose her over Sophie and even raise children that aren't yours?"

Every word revealed her assumption that Jasmine and Maurice couldn't possibly be Alexander's children.

Natalie's frown deepened, her expression growing more confused.

"Enough!" Alexander's voice turned glacial. "If you don't want your cards frozen, go home now."

"I won't!" Victoria's temper flared to match his. "How can you treat me this way for a woman who betrayed you? Are you even my brother anymore?"

She turned her glare toward Emily. "Don't think you've won just because you've fooled my brother. I won't let you get away with this!"

Emily ignored Victoria's outburst and looked directly at Alexander. "What did you promise me?"

From the beginning, her greatest concern had always been for Jasmine and Maurice. 

Their identity, once revealed, could be weaponized with unpredictable consequences.

They were still so young, completely unable to withstand any public scrutiny. All she wanted was to protect them.

When she first learned Alexander had acknowledged the children as his, she had worried about the media attention it might bring.

Now...

Her eyes grew cold. "Alexander, you said you would give them the best protection. Is this your idea of protection? Letting someone easily obtain samples from them for testing? Or..."

She paused for several seconds, her voice revealing her anger. "Were you involved in this? Did you arrange for them to do this?"

The thought that despite all her careful precautions, someone had still managed to access the children made her sick with worry.

But her reaction, to everyone else, looked like pure guilt—fear about what the test results might reveal.

Sophie seized on this immediately, stepping forward to address Natalie.

"Emily and Alexander were married before, but after being apart so long, and with her returning with children, it's natural to be cautious."

"I told Emily before that if a test confirmed the children were Alexander's, I would step aside."

"But she refused to agree. Even at the testing center, she made a scene and begged Alexander to take her away."

She paused, allowing a hint of humility to enter her expression.

"I love Alexander. I want him to be happy, but I need to know he truly is happy."

"If he's being deceived, I can't bear it."

By the end, her performance was tearful and seemingly selfless—not upset about losing Alexander, but concerned that the man she loved might be hurt.

"Enough!" Alexander interrupted sharply, his voice frosty. "This is a Foster family matter. It doesn't concern you."

Ignoring Sophie, he turned to Emily. "It wasn't me. Trust me, I would never do something like this."

"Then tell me, what do we do now?"

Their eyes met, a thousand unspoken emotions passing between them.

Natalie watched them intently, her frown deepening.

"What's really going on here, Alexander? What do you know that I don't?"

She glanced around at their surroundings, her expression hardening. "Come with me to the conference room."

This was about Foster family bloodlines—a matter too serious to be confused, yet too private to be discussed in public.

Sophie immediately understood Natalie's intention, and her eyes gleamed.

In the past, she too would have preferred to keep things quiet. 

But now everything had changed. Alexander had not only broken their engagement but told her to stay away from him.

Without delivering a crushing blow, how could she ever win him back?

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Sophie quickly stepped forward to Natalie. "In matters like this, women understand better than men. Alexander might be deceived, but Emily knows the truth. Just give him the test results now, so the truth can come out..."

She pulled Victoria to her side. "Then Victoria won't have to suffer any more unfair treatment."

"Yes, why go to the conference room? Let's settle this right here!" Victoria, completely oblivious to being manipulated, eagerly chimed in.

Natalie's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

She cared for neither Emily nor Sophie, though if forced to choose, Sophie's social standing would have given her the edge.

But Emily had children, which changed everything.

Now Sophie was clearly trying to create a public scandal, with Victoria foolishly playing along, and it irritated her.

Glancing at Victoria, she spoke coldly, "So you want me to open the test results right here?"

Sophie paused, suddenly realizing something. "You haven't seen them yet?"

"No. I received the results just before coming here. Is that a problem?" Natalie had arranged the private testing specifically because she feared complications with the family bloodline, but it seemed the situation had already spiraled out of control.