Chapter 262

Chapter 262

The kindergarten situation hadn't been resolved perfectly, but Elijah and Eloise were perfectly content staying home, having the time of their lives.

Watching them, Sophia questioned whether sending them to kindergarten was even the right call.

When she got home that evening, Elijah was waiting for her at the door. Unusual.

Her twins had personalities like little animals—Eloise was a clingy puppy who loved cuddles, while Elijah was a standoffish cat who kept his distance.

Now her cat-like son stood before her, those beautiful amber eyes gleaming with pride.

Her restless anxiety melted away. She ruffled his hair. "Elijah, you did me a huge favor. You're amazing. I need to thank you properly."

Elijah usually acted like a little adult and liked being treated as an equal, so Sophia's wholehearted praise clearly pleased him.

"Mom, Dr. Caleb is living in a villa outside the north district. The owner's name is Jackson."

Sophia hadn't expected new results. She praised him again before her mind started working.

Jackson.

How convenient. She'd been planning to meet him anyway.

Before the first bidding round, meeting Jackson without revealing her identity would've been nearly impossible. The Stuart Group's reputation was built overseas. Here, they were just a startup. Those four corporate bigwigs wouldn't bother with her.

Now, things were different. Sophia easily contacted Jackson's assistant.

[Ms. Stuart, Mr. Rivers will meet you tonight at eight at The Willow Room.]

Sophia arrived five minutes late. Jackson was already seated, looking thoroughly irritated.

Time hadn't just changed Victoria—it had transformed the once charming Jackson into someone haggard and worn. Sophia almost didn't recognize him.

"Mr. Rivers?"

She walked in calmly, her greeting warm enough.

Jackson looked up. The moment his eyes landed on her face, he froze.

Unlike other companies' jealousy toward the Stuart Group, the Rivers Group hadn't bothered giving them much attention. Five slots meant someone would fill them. In the second round, they'd all be cannon fodder anyway.

"You… how are you…"

Jackson had agreed to this meeting with the mindset of a cat toying with a mouse. He'd wanted to hear what amusing nonsense this startup's head might say.

Now all his nonchalance had evaporated.

Sophia sat gracefully and smiled. "Mr. Rivers, you think I look like someone you used to know? You're not the first. Zephyr from the Sinclair family, Victoria from the Brown family—they've said the same."

Zephyr? Victoria?

Those names gave Jackson a moment to compose himself.

He knew exactly how much Victoria hated Sophia. If Victoria had met this woman and done nothing, she must just resemble Sophia.

Jackson had almost convinced himself when Sophia smiled. "I never imagined you'd be so tight-lipped, Mr. Rivers. You kept my pregnancy hidden for five whole years."

That sentence shattered his calm.

The woman before him had features nearly identical to Sophia's from five years ago, but her demeanor had completely changed. Even her voice felt different. Jackson's thoughts spun.

"Who are you?"

His handsome face had gone pale. His usually charming eyes brimmed with panic.

Sophia smiled and put on a disappointed look. "Don't you recognize me, Mr. Rivers? The first time we met, you asked me to be your mistress. I thought you'd fallen for me. But after five years, you've forgotten."

Her accuracy forced Jackson to believe her. Even if she wasn't Sophia, she had to be closely connected.

After studying her carefully, he swallowed. "Are you really Sophia? But… weren't you dead?"

Sophia said casually, "Almost. Someone saved me."

She had no interest in the past. "About the Harbor Village project—what are your thoughts?"

Jackson's mind was in chaos. He couldn't focus on business.

After a pause, he said, "I heard you came back with two children. Are they Robert's?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "That has nothing to do with why we're here."

Her dismissive tone irritated him.

He tried to hold it in but finally snapped. "Do you think I'm in the mood to talk about anything else?"

How had Sophia survived? Had she given birth to Robert's children? Where had she been these five years?

Now that he knew, Jackson had a dozen burning questions—all more important than that damn project.

Under his furious gaze, Sophia laughed.

Genuinely. Not forced.

It only made him angrier.

Just as he was about to explode, she spoke. "Mr. Rivers, do you know why I'm being honest with you?"

Since entering, she'd dropped one truth bomb. The rest of the time, she'd asked questions. Jackson had spent the whole conversation questioning her. In this state, neither could communicate.

Jackson closed his eyes, finally regaining composure. "I'm listening."

Sophia glanced at the tea beside her. Poured before she arrived. She didn't touch it.

"In Emerald City, you're one of the few who never showed me hostility. Of course, time changes people. Maybe you want me dead now. If so, I've lost my bet."

Her words left him speechless.

After a silence, his tone softened. "Back then, when news of your death spread, Robert nearly went insane. He married Victoria because—"

Sophia cut him off.