Chapter 169: Settling Scores
After reviewing the entire chat history and finding nothing useful, Sophia tossed the phone back to Emily. She resumed her usual cool composure, her smile ambiguous. "You can get lost now."
Emily froze, clutching her phone. After a moment's hesitation, she mustered the courage to ask, "You... you said I'm not the Smiths' biological daughter?"
Sophia smirked. "Curious about your origins? Why not ask your most trusted 'River'? Ask her how she orchestrated your birth and manipulated your entire life."
Emily lowered her head, jaw clenched tight. She knew she'd completely lost control of the situation. Sophia wouldn't waste her time satisfying her curiosity.
She asked one final question, "Who exactly is 'River'?"
This time Sophia didn't deflect. She stated plainly, "Silverlight City Rainbow Bridge Foundation President—Maggie Thomas."
Emily's eyes widen in shock. Maggie?
The surname Thomas—could she be Joshua's mysterious aunt?
"What does Maggie actually want?" she asked urgently. The thought of being manipulated by someone she barely knew made her skin crawl.
Sophia was already done with Emily. She turned toward the door and said casually, "I have no obligation to answer your questions."
In the adjacent room, the moment Bruce realized Michael had been drugged, he immediately called the hotel's medical staff to examine him.
It was a common sedative—caused fever and weakness, but would pass after sleep. No lasting harm, no aphrodisiac effects.
After the medical staff left, Bruce collapsed on the sofa, cursing under his breath, "Fuck, who uses such filthy tactics? In Sophia's own hotel, someone managed to spike your drink? And Emily's an absolute moron for thinking she could pull this off on you!"
Michael leaned against the headboard, blanket covering his legs. The drug's effects made his thoughts sluggish.
After a long pause, he said worriedly, "Go check on Sophia. I'm afraid she'll do something rash."
"Not happening." Bruce grimaced, looking thoroughly unwilling. She wasn't remotely normal. "She'd furious right now. What if I walk in and get caught in the crossfire?"
When he'd first met Sophia, she'd been a sweet, gentle girl. But after years under the influence of two psychopaths, she'd become increasingly cold and calculating.
Once, he'd tried teasing her to bring back that innocent joy from her childhood. He'd only provoked her instead. She'd lost her cool and dislocated his shoulder on the spot.
Fortunately it was just dislocated. The moment she regained her senses, Sophia popped it back into place.
After that incident, she'd vowed to suppress those dark impulses and malice within her. She'd learned to navigate social situations flawlessly, hiding every shadow beneath a perfect surface, terrified of hurting those around her again.
She refused to become a monster like Andrew or John.
This time Emily had crossed the line by targeting Michael—trampling all over Sophia's boundaries. He wasn't about to stick his neck out.
"Perfect timing. I just heard you talking about me behind my back." Sophia appeared in the doorway, wearing a faint smile.
Michael straightened immediately, eyes fixed on her with concern. "Sophia, are you... alright?"
"Just peachy."
Sophia walked to the bed and sat down, pressing her hand to Michael's forehead. Her cool palm against his feverish skin made him shudder.
"Sleep for a bit. I'll drive you home later." She adjusted the blanket covering him.
Michael watched her intently, sensing the chill beneath her smile. "Where are you going?"
"Someone needs to pay for this." Sophia's lips curved, though the smile never reached her eyes.
The loaded statement sent chills down Bruce's spine. "Sophia, you're giving me serious cleaner vibes right now."
"Relax. I won't do anything excessive." Sophia smiled, conveniently forgetting that her treatment of Emily moments ago had already crossed several lines.
"Just sleep. I'll be back soon." She gave Michael a few distracted reassurances before she stood and left again.
Joshua waited outside the door. Sophia's smile vanished the instant she stepped into the hallway. She shot him a cold glance.
She turned toward the elevators. Joshua cast a thoughtful look at the closed door, then followed her.
They went to an empty private room on the first floor, already stocked with fruit and beverages.
The door closed. Sophia claimed the sofa first, picking up an ice-cold sparkling water and taking a sip to steady her nerves.
"Was it you?" she asked flatly.
Joshua settled into the single armchair across, his tone frank. "No."
"Where's the drug Maggie gave you?"
"Andrew took it to the police."
Andrew had hired someone to hack into the surveillance system of Joshua's Silverlight City residence. He'd obtained footage of Maggie handing Joshua the pills, then delivered both the video and the drugs to the police to file a report.
The police had already launched an investigation. Michael had people digging for weaknesses in the Rainbow Bridge Foundation. This time, Maggie was in serious trouble.
And this was just the beginning.
Maggie operated too meticulously. Bringing her down completely would require far more evidence, especially proof of the baby swap.
Sophia set down her glass, her smile sardonic. "If you didn't drug Michael, does that mean Maggie has other people planted in this hotel?"
Joshua leaned back casually, showing no sign of guilt. "Maggie's always cautious. She'd never put all her chips on me. More accurately, she never believed I'd actually drugged Michael. That's why she arranged for someone else to do it. Giving me the pills was just a loyalty test."
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Byron entered, followed by two bodyguards restraining a man in a security uniform.
"Ms. Johnson, we got him."
Sophia narrowed her eyes. She vaguely recognized this security guard.
He was the one who'd made her die of embarrassment at her coming-of-age party by shouting 'Ms. Johnson has arrived!'"
Byron reported, "His name's Abel. Hired five years ago. Hotel surveillance shows he claimed illness during the banquet, and left his post. He snuck into the laundry room, changed into a server's uniform, and entered the ballroom."
The person who'd delivered drinks to Joshua and Michael was Abel disguised as a server.
Sophia beckoned. The bodyguards understood immediately, hauling him before her.
She slowly crossed her legs, exuding absolute authority. "How much did Maggie pay you?"
Abel's expression turned stubborn. "Maggie? I don't know anyone by that name!"
The bodyguard thought him insufferably defiant, and tightened his grip.
But Sophia's eyes darkened. She'd always had strong instincts for reading people.
Something in his gaze told her the mastermind definitely wasn't Maggie.