Chapter 258

Chapter 258

Being publicly berated in front of so many employees and Sophia made Gerald's cheeks burn with humiliation, but he could only keep his head down and grit his teeth as he admitted fault: "Dad, I was thoughtless and didn't screen properly..."

"Thoughtless? I'd say you're completely incapable of managing anything!" Augustus let out a cold laugh, his authoritative tone pressing down on Gerald's spine like a physical weight. "You can't even handle basic personnel decisions—what good are you for anything important! That downtown project? You're off it. From today forward, you're stripped of your project manager position. Get back to your office and reflect on your failures!"

The words hit Gerald like a thunderbolt straight to his skull.

Stripped of his project manager position?!

Gerald's head snapped up, his eyes bloodshot with shock and rage.

He clenched his teeth so hard they might crack, his nails digging deep into his palms until blood seeped out, though he felt nothing.

Everything he'd worked so hard to build, all the core power he'd finally grasped—stripped away by Augustus with casual indifference because of Amanda's idiotic performance!

Augustus's fury wasn't finished.

He stared coldly at Gerald's ashen face, delivering another merciless blow: "Since you lack even basic judgment in reading people and situations, there's no point in keeping you at the company. All your current responsibilities are suspended effective immediately. When you've properly reflected on your mistakes, then you can return!"

This was tantamount to completely stripping Gerald of all real power at Rivera Group.

Gerald's blood seemed to freeze instantly. He ground his molars until his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

Under the probing, mocking gazes of employees throughout the company, he lowered his head in humiliation and forced out a single word through clenched teeth: "Yes."

The drama ended with Amanda being unceremoniously "escorted" out of the building by security, and Gerald publicly suspended from his duties.

In the dim underground parking garage, Gerald slammed his car door with tremendous force.

Inside the cramped vehicle, the air felt suffocating.

"Gerald, why didn't you defend me back there!" Amanda rubbed her wrist, sore from the security guard's grip, complaining bitterly. "I'm your cousin! You just stood there watching that bitch Sophia laugh at me, watching Uncle throw me out—what kind of man are you!"

"Shut up!" Gerald whipped around, eyes bloodshot like a rabid animal, and grabbed Amanda's throat in a death grip.

Caught off guard, Amanda's back slammed against the car window, her face instantly turning purple as she desperately clawed at Gerald's arms.

"What kind of man am I? Amanda, you're nothing but a useless fool who ruins everything!" Gerald's knuckles bulged with veins, his voice dripping with murderous hatred. "I worked so hard to build this up, finally got control of the downtown project, was about to establish myself in the company! And because of your brainless ass picking a fight with Sophia, it's all destroyed! All fucking destroyed!"

He deeply regretted his decision. If he'd known this woman was so impossibly stupid, he never would have partnered with her, even at the risk of Augustus discovering his true identity!

The suffocation grew worse as Amanda's eyes began rolling back.

But in her extreme terror, the madness in her bones was fully unleashed.

Finding strength from somewhere, she kicked Gerald hard in the shin and used his moment of pain to pry his fingers loose.

Amanda clutched her throat, coughing violently and gasping for air.

She looked up, her carefully made-up face now twisted like a demon's, staring at Gerald with venomous hatred.

"You dare try to kill me?" Amanda laughed coldly, her voice hoarse but filled with chilling smugness. "Gerald, have you forgotten what you really are? You're nothing but a fraud! A thief who stole someone else's nest!"

Gerald's expression changed drastically, murderous intent surging in his eyes.

"Think you can dump me and walk away clean?" Amanda pressed her advantage relentlessly. "Let me tell you something—we're in this together now! You were part of switching those DNA results! If you dare touch a hair on my head or refuse to help me, I'll expose everything about you! Worst case scenario, we'll go down together—let's see how Augustus skins you alive!"

The car fell into deathly silence.

Gerald stared at Amanda, his chest heaving violently.

After a moment, he suddenly unclenched his fists and gradually relaxed his tense body.

"What are you saying?" Gerald's lips slowly curved into an ice-cold smile, his voice returning to its usual gentle tone while carrying the chill of a serpent's tongue. "I was too impulsive just now. Don't worry—since we're partners, I'll naturally help you to the end."

Amanda snorted coldly, straightened her disheveled clothing, and pushed open the car door to stride away.

Watching Amanda's swaying figure disappear at the garage exit, Gerald's mask instantly fell away.

He leaned back in his seat and let out an extremely low, cold laugh.

Threaten him?

This foolish woman actually thought holding his secrets gave her free rein? She was even more dangerous than that senile old woman.

Keeping her alive would only lead to trouble.

Gerald lowered his eyes and pulled out his encrypted phone, fingers lightly caressing the screen as murderous intent solidified in his gaze.

It was time to send her on her way.

...

Meanwhile, Amanda took a taxi back to the vicinity of Rivera Estate.

To avoid arousing Augustus's suspicions, she deliberately got out on the tree-lined avenue outside the manor, planning to compose herself before going inside.

Just as she reached a secluded corner, a tall figure suddenly emerged from behind the trees, blocking her path.

Amanda startled, then sneered when she saw who it was.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ethan," Amanda crossed her arms, looking him up and down.

Ethan wore a somewhat wrinkled suit, his face pale as paper with bloodshot eyes from sleepless nights.

He'd been sent to an overseas branch office for "training" by Benjamin recently—essentially exile in disguise.

Having just returned to the city today, he'd heard shocking news that hit him like lightning: the Rivera family had found their long-lost granddaughter, and that person was Amanda!

"Amanda, what the hell have you done?!" Ethan's eyes were bloodshot as he rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders, his voice trembling violently with rage and disbelief. "Why did you impersonate Sophia's identity?!"

He'd been cut off from information while abroad.

Only today did he realize with horror that the DNA sample Amanda had blackmailed him into switching at the private hospital had become her stepping stone to usurp Sophia's place!

He'd personally destroyed Sophia's hope of finding her family, while sending this vicious woman to the throne of the Rivera family!

"Let go!" Amanda disgustedly shook off Ethan's hands and brushed her shoulders as if contaminated by something filthy.

"Impersonate? Ethan, you'd better have evidence for such accusations." Amanda lifted her chin arrogantly, her face full of pride and smugness. "I'm now Augustus's properly DNA-tested, legitimately acknowledged niece. What nonsense are you spouting here?"

"Stop pretending!" Ethan clutched his head in anguish, his voice so hoarse it nearly broke. "You forced me to switch Sophia's sample! You exploited my weakness and stole Sophia's life! Amanda, you're absolutely heartless!"

Overwhelming regret gnawed at Ethan's heart like a venomous snake. He'd thought switching the sample would merely prevent Sophia from becoming part of the Rivera family—he never imagined Amanda would be audacious enough to take her place!

Seeing Ethan's agonized state, Amanda felt no guilt whatsoever—only immense satisfaction.

"Ethan, what are you trying to play—the remorseful good guy?" Amanda scoffed, her eyes full of undisguised mockery. "You were the one who personally switched Sophia's blood sample at the hospital. Now you're having second thoughts? Feeling guilty about your ex-girlfriend?"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a demonic whisper: "Don't forget—we've been on the same boat from the beginning. I still have evidence of your embezzlement and overseas gambling. By helping me switch that sample, you became my accomplice! If you expose me now, you're sending yourself to prison too!"

Ethan's body went rigid, his face draining of all color.

"You think Sophia would believe you if you went to her now?" Amanda laughed even more brazenly seeing his swaying form. "She'd only find you disgusting—think you're a coward who'd do anything to save himself! Ethan, you're already dirty, so stop fantasizing about standing clean before her!"

Each of Amanda's words was like a sharp blade stabbing into Ethan's vulnerable spots.

Looking at Amanda's triumphant, malicious face, Ethan suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of desolation and determination.

Yes, he was a coward.

To protect himself, he'd compromised with Amanda again and again, hurting the girl he'd once genuinely cared for.

He'd personally pushed Sophia into the abyss while letting scum like Amanda trample on her.

But he couldn't continue making mistakes.

Even if Sophia would never forgive him, even if Benjamin would break his legs, even if he faced imprisonment—he absolutely couldn't stand by and watch Amanda continue masquerading under Sophia's identity!

Ethan slowly lowered his hands from his head.

The struggle and cowardice in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by desperate resolve.

He looked deeply at Amanda one last time, said nothing more, turned around, and strode away without looking back.

He was going to find Sophia.

He would tell her everything—Amanda and Gerald's conspiracy, the switched DNA sample, the entire truth!