Chapter 328

Chapter 328

Emily froze mid-step.

She had returned to the country specifically for Donna, but who could have imagined that family bonds could be even more disappointing than romantic ones.

At least Alexander merely didn't love her, whereas Donna—despite claiming "you're both my daughters"—repeatedly forced Emily to step aside for Sophie.

Her eyes lowered as she continued walking, resuming the steps she had momentarily halted.

When family ties became unbearable, why look back?

Sophie watched Emily continue walking forward and felt her momentary triumph evaporate. "Emily, you can't just walk away like this!"

But no matter how loudly she called out, Emily showed no sign of turning around.

Panicking, Sophie thought of Victoria and hurriedly moved to the entrance to make a call.

"Sophie! Why so early?" Victoria's voice was thick with sleep.

Like many wealthy heiresses, Victoria lived for pleasure. 

As long as she didn't make poor investments, the Foster family could guarantee her lifelong luxury, which was why she was still lounging in bed.

Hearing that sleepy voice, Sophie felt a surge of resentment. Why was Victoria born into such privilege?

But she carefully kept this from her voice, forcing cheerfulness instead. "Victoria, I'm sorry to disturb you. I wouldn't call if it wasn't urgent."

"What's wrong?" Victoria yawned audibly, clearly not fully engaged.

"I..." Sophie started, then deliberately choked up, "Emily told Alexander yesterday that she once lost a baby. She's blaming me for it..."

Her pitiful sobbing made Victoria instantly alert.

"She lost a baby? How could she have lost a baby?" Victoria sat bolt upright in bed.

'Is that really the point?' Sophie thought irritably, but couldn't express her annoyance.

She continued her tearful performance, "She's saying it's my fault—it's completely unfair! Who knows if it wasn't something inappropriate between her and Daniel that led to complications? I'm being framed!"

"A baby..." Victoria might be spoiled, but she wasn't cruel-hearted. 

The thought of Emily having lost a child stirred sympathy in her.

"Sophie, losing a baby is truly tragic. Maybe you shouldn't take it so personally."

This was the first time Victoria hadn't immediately taken her side. Sophie's expression momentarily twisted with rage.

She decided to escalate dramatically. "What about me? Alexander and I were forced apart, I lost our child, and I never dared speak of it. Now she's pinning this horrible accusation on me—who should I blame?"

"What?" Victoria was completely shocked now. "Sophie, where are you? I'm coming right away!"

After quickly getting ready, Victoria rushed to Foster Pharmaceuticals.

"It's freezing out here! Why are you standing outside? Why not wait in your car?" Victoria asked, concerned by Sophie's pale complexion.

Sophie was genuinely anxious now.

She knew Alexander was truly angry with her, blaming her entirely for Emily's miscarriage. 

If she couldn't use Victoria to turn things around, all her previous efforts might be wasted.

"Victoria," Sophie grabbed her hands, tears streaming down her face in genuine distress, "I don't know what to do anymore. Alexander hates me because of what Emily said. He won't even take my calls. I begged Emily to tell the truth, but she ignored me..."

Tears were always effective.

Victoria was fond of Sophie, and hearing her sobs made her anger rise rapidly, extinguishing any sympathy she'd felt for Emily.

"She's been gone for years—why come back causing trouble? So what if she had a miscarriage? Can she even prove it was my brother's child?"

The furious tone reassured Sophie that Victoria remained firmly on her side.

Wiping away tears, she continued her heartbroken act. "If Alexander believes it, it must have been his. But how could her miscarriage possibly be my fault?"

As she spoke, her body trembled visibly, as if the mere accusation had traumatized her deeply.

"Sophie, let's get you out of this wind. You're delicate, and this cold could make you ill," Victoria urged.

"It doesn't matter," Sophie shook her head, glancing toward Foster Pharmaceuticals with desperate hope. "Could you take me inside? I need to understand what really happened back then. I must prove my innocence. Otherwise, I'm afraid your brother will never forgive me."

"What spell has that Emily cast on my brother? Making him chase after her like..." Victoria stopped abruptly, her eyes widening. "Wait, didn't she return with two children that she claims are my brother's? How could she have had a miscarriage too?"

"Well..." Sophie's eyes darted nervously, realizing she'd made a misstep.

She quickly interjected before Victoria could pursue the thought. "Victoria, please don't ask so many questions. Just help me see her."

"See her? Why bother? If she lost my brother's child, then whose children did she bring back? Is she so shameless she'd try to pass off another man's children as my brother's?" Victoria scoffed. "Impossible!"

"Maybe... maybe the child was from before?"

"How could that be?" Victoria laughed derisively. "She used to call my brother fifteen times if she got so much as a paper cut. If she really had a miscarriage, wouldn't she have blown up his phone? She's trying to manipulate our family into raising someone else's children—her plan is falling apart!"

In the laboratory, Emily was calibrating data with her team when she heard a commotion at the door.

Ashley wasn't one to tolerate disruptions, and immediately frowned. "Who's making that racket outside our lab?"

Foster Pharmaceuticals took data security seriously—each laboratory door was specially designed so only authorized personnel could access it with their keycards.

Even high-ranking officials couldn't enter without permission.

The banging sound clearly indicated someone was looking for trouble.

As Ashley moved toward the door, Emily had already spotted Sophie and Victoria on the security monitor.

"Ashley, those people are here for me. I'll handle it."

Ashley followed Emily's gaze to the monitor and immediately recognized Sophie. "Isn't that the self-proclaimed 'non-competitive female PhD' who keeps showing up? Doesn't she ever give up?"

Ashley was straightforward and had initially disliked Emily, assuming she'd gotten the position through connections.

But after working together, she'd been impressed by Emily's abilities, which had completely changed her attitude.

"It's exactly these people who make our lives more colorful," Emily smiled wryly. "Go check on the culture dishes—I'll deal with this."

If it had just been Sophie, Emily could have ignored her.

But with Victoria involved, the situation changed.

If Victoria complained to Quentin and the laboratory got shut down, that would be disastrous.

Emily frowned slightly as she opened the door, regarding them coldly. "What are you doing here? Victoria, since when has the Foster Group become so lax that people can kick at laboratory doors? If you compromise our data testing, are you prepared to take responsibility?"

Victoria scoffed, completely unconcerned. "Don't try to intimidate me with talk of experimental data. Don't think just because you studied abroad that you've suddenly developed real talent."

Emily didn't want to argue. "Then go ask Mr. Foster who hired me. He..."

"You dare mention my brother! Emily, how dare you try to make my brother raise children of questionable paternity!"