Chapter 274

Chapter 274

Amelia's disdain was so obvious—how could Victoria not feel it? In that moment, anger surged through her chest. She wanted to lash out at someone, anyone.

But Victoria quickly reined herself in. She softened her expression and said obediently, "You're right, Mom. I also think the Stuart Group branch is nothing special. It's just… it's just…"

Victoria hesitated. Should she say outright that Sophia was alive? Or should she hint that the branch manager looked a lot like Sophia and let Amelia figure it out herself?

But Amelia had no patience for her daughter-in-law anymore. Seeing Victoria stumble over her words only irritated her more. "If you don't know what to say, don't bother opening your mouth. Go rest."

Rushed by Amelia's sharp tone, Victoria abandoned caution. "The Stuart Group branch manager is Sophia."

If it weren't for the fact that the family's sole heir had loved Sophia so irrationally, Amelia would never have spared a second glance at a girl from such an unremarkable background.

In fact, after Victoria had supposedly dealt with Sophia, Amelia rarely thought about her at all. Only when Robert made a scene would she occasionally curse the "little vixen" under her breath. And after Robert disappeared, Amelia had forgotten Sophia's name entirely.

Now, hearing Victoria bring her up out of nowhere, Amelia didn't register it at first. "Who? Sophia?"

When it finally clicked, the shock hit her just as hard as the earlier news that Zephyr had information about Robert.

Amelia glanced around cautiously, then lowered her voice. "Let's talk in the study."

The two women locked the study door behind them. Amelia's first words were an accusation. "You told me Sophia was dead. How is she suddenly the head of the Stuart Group branch?"

Victoria felt utterly wronged. She didn't understand how things had turned out this way either.

Seeing Victoria's silence, Amelia grew skeptical. "Are you sure you didn't mistake her for someone else? Maybe it's just someone who looks similar."

Victoria rejected the idea immediately. "Mom, I couldn't have been mistaken. How could two people in this world have identical faces? I'll show you a photo."

Someone as proud as Victoria would never willingly save a photo of her enemy. She'd pulled a screenshot from a news article—after all, Sophia had attended the first round of bidding as the branch manager, and the coverage showed her face clearly.

Amelia glanced at the phone for only a second before handing it back. She couldn't bear to look at that face any longer. It dredged up terrible memories she'd worked hard to forget.

Victoria gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her mind raced. How could she subtly poison Amelia against Sophia and those two little bastards she'd brought back? Ideally, Amelia would continue to despise—or even hate—the mother and children, and never question the twins' parentage.

It wasn't a simple task. Victoria's thoughts churned painfully, twisting her expression.

Amelia, sharper than Victoria, sorted through the situation quickly. "At this point, figuring out how she survived doesn't matter. Either someone you trusted betrayed you, or your people were incompetent and let her escape without realizing it. What matters now is finding out why she came back. Victoria, have you met her face-to-face?"

Victoria's heart leapt into her throat. She hadn't come up with a perfect explanation yet. Should she just tell the truth?

She hesitated for only a few seconds before Amelia snapped impatiently, "If you've met her, say you've met her. If you haven't, say you haven't. Do you really need time to think about such a simple question?"

Victoria felt a wave of anguish.

Before the wedding, her mother had warned her to be careful around Amelia. She wasn't simple, and she definitely wouldn't be an easy mother-in-law.

Back then, Victoria hadn't taken the warning seriously. Before she married Robert, Amelia had been so kind to her—warm, even protective. Whenever Robert hurt her, Amelia was the first to appear and comfort her.

But Victoria hadn't expected that men weren't the only ones who changed after marriage. Their mothers could too.

Now she finally understood how difficult Amelia could be. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Victoria forced herself to continue telling the truth. "Yes, I've met her."

Amelia pressed on. "Where? And what did you two talk about?"

Victoria wanted to lie, but she knew how shrewd Amelia was. She had zero confidence she could pull off a convincing story.

In the end, she steeled herself and spoke plainly. "At Ori's preschool. She brought back a pair of twins who bullied Ori. I went to stand up for him, and she threatened me. Told me to 'wait and see.'"

Even though Victoria deliberately downplayed the fact that Sophia had a son and daughter, Amelia immediately latched onto the key detail. "Twins? You're saying Sophia brought back twins from abroad? Who's the father?"

Victoria's heart nearly burst out of her chest.

There was no way in hell she'd tell Amelia that those little bastards Sophia brought back were most likely Robert's children. She just shook her head and said calmly, "I don't know. The kids have the last name Mellon. I had someone look into it in Avalonia. Sophia's not married. She's had plenty of men around her over the years, but none named Mellon. Probably some guy she was seeing in secret."

Amelia did suspect the twins might be Robert's. She still remembered when Robert, before marrying Victoria, had come to her with an obstetrics report bearing Sophia's name, telling her Sophia was pregnant with his child.

But back then, Amelia hadn't believed him. She'd assumed it was just a lie Robert concocted to avoid the marriage.

Now, thinking back, if that report had been real and she did the math, there was a strong possibility those children were her grandchildren.

But Victoria's words snuffed out that flicker of hope.

Right. Sophia had always been so promiscuous—young and already skilled at seducing men, becoming someone's mistress, a homewrecker. Those kids could belong to any random man. Why would Amelia willingly put a cuckold's hat on her own son's head?

Amelia shoved the thought out of her mind and continued. "That doesn't matter. Victoria, tell me honestly—setting aside the kids' squabble, what was Sophia's attitude toward you?"

Victoria's racing heart finally steadied. She knew she'd cleared this hurdle.

People often get careless when they feel relieved. Now that Victoria had relaxed, she answered Amelia's question without as much caution.

"She said she's going to settle the score with me."