Chapter 120
When we went to visit Robert, we unexpectedly ran into Sophia.
The last time we saw each other was at the hospital when the police took her away.
She was crying and complaining to Robert about something while Gregory sat nearby, his head down, not saying a word.
"Did we come at a bad time?" Oscar held my hand as we stopped at the doorway. Looking at the awkward atmosphere inside, a cold smile played at the corner of his mouth as he spoke lazily.
Everyone's eyes turned toward us. The first look that shot my way was Sophia's venomous glare, like she'd been poisoned.
I gave her a disdainful smile: "Sophia? When did you get released?"
Sophia's expression flickered slightly. She lowered her eyes and turned her face away, not answering my question. Instead, she said quietly to Robert, "Mr. Lopez, I really don't know what to do anymore. The doctor said that after losing one baby before, if I don't keep this one either, I might never be able to become a mother."
I was shocked. From what Sophia was saying, she was pregnant again?
Following Sophia's words, I unconsciously looked at Gregory sitting nearby with his head down. Seeming to sense my gaze, he quickly looked up at me, then immediately turned away the moment our eyes met. His flushed face made it clear that this child was indeed his.
Oscar spoke bluntly: "Gregory, this is wrong of you. If she's pregnant, you should take responsibility. Why are you letting her make a scene in front of your grandfather? Wait, is she talking about the last pregnancy or is she pregnant again?"
Robert's face darkened, especially at Oscar's blunt questioning. He looked at Gregory with anger: "You really are... Now that things have come to this, what do you plan to do?"
Gregory glanced at me quickly. I raised an eyebrow, watching the drama unfold, which seemed to sting his eyes. He frowned, his whole person seeming to sink into struggle: "I didn't... I don't know what to do either. I always thought of her as... as..."
This time, he couldn't bring himself to say the word "sister" no matter what.
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Who wouldn't think this excuse was a joke?
I quickly covered my mouth, but still couldn't hide the amusement in my eyes: "Sorry, I just thought of something funny. Please continue."
"Emily—" Gregory called out my name through gritted teeth, his voice filled with anger.
I looked surprised and exchanged glances with Oscar. Clearly, neither of us understood what he was suddenly angry about.
Oscar stepped forward, the smile completely gone from his face: "Gregory, I've warned you several times already. Emily is your elder. Calling her by her first name like this—where are your manners?"
Robert also frowned and scolded: "Apologize to your aunt right now."
Gregory stiffened his neck and asked defiantly with a red face: "They're not married yet, so she's not my aunt? They say they're engaged, but when was the engagement ceremony held? Were any parents from either side present?"
"You bastard!" Robert's cane struck the floor hard. "Is this how you talk to your elders? Gregory, what's gotten into you lately? If you keep this up, I need to reconsider who should manage The Novagen Group."
Gregory frowned: "Grandpa, I know that ever since Uncle Oscar came back, you've had this plan all along, haven't you?"
Robert's lips trembled with anger: "You're so ungrateful! Why did Oscar come back? If it weren't for him, the Brown Group would now be supporting The Novagen Group. Not only are you not grateful, but you're complaining?"
Gregory let out a cold laugh and slowly stood up, straightening his chest: "Yes, the original plan was that after he came back, he'd bring benefits to The Novagen Group. The company's financial chain has been stretched tight for a long time—one wrong move, and it'll all snap. But after he came back, have the things he's done really brought benefits to The Novagen Group? Besides announcing to the world that the Lopez family has an heir, hasn't the company been running the same as before?"
Oscar's lips curved into a mocking smile as he looked at Gregory: "So what you're saying is, when you all begged me to come back, it wasn't about family at all? You just wanted my money?"
Robert's hand holding the cane trembled as he explained urgently: "No, Oscar, don't listen to his nonsense. Of course, we wanted you back because we didn't want you wandering alone out there. I don't have much time left, and I just wanted to see you and your brother get along during my remaining days."
Oscar smiled at Robert: "But what Gregory just said seems different from what you're saying. So who should I believe?"
Robert raised his cane, pointing it straight at Gregory: "You bastard, the family was fine until you had to create this misunderstanding! Apologize to your uncle right now. If you dare talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being harsh."
Gregory took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and suppressed all the anger and resentment in his expression: "I can apologize, but there's one thing I must make clear to all of you."
His gaze turned to me again, his finger slowly pointing at me: "I want to compete fairly with Uncle Oscar. I like Emily. I want her to be my wife."
"No!" A sharp scream rang out. Sophia had completely lost her gentle demeanor, her whole being radiating madness. She suddenly stood up from the floor, her sharp gaze fixed on Gregory. "Gregory, are you trying to kill me?"
Oscar laughed lightly with amusement: "You're entangled with another woman, and you still want to mess with my fiancée. Emily, we really did come at a bad time. Why don't we leave first? They probably need to handle some family matters."
Gregory said in a low voice, "Emily, you can't leave. It took me so long to finally say this. I'm sorry, Uncle Oscar, but I hope you can understand me..."
The smile on Oscar's face didn't fade. He slowly walked forward and, catching everyone off guard, slapped Gregory hard across the face.
After the crisp sound, before anyone could react, Sophia rushed forward and pushed Oscar: "What right do you have to hit people? Gregory, are you okay?"
The urgency in her eyes didn't seem fake. I also stepped forward quickly, and before her hand could touch Oscar, I grabbed her wrist and flung it aside, my eyes cold: "Try hitting him again and see what happens."
Sophia's gaze met mine. The vicious expression quickly faded, replaced by a pitiful look: "He hit first."
I sneered and glanced sideways at Gregory: "Wasn't it someone talking nonsense first? No man wouldn't tolerate this kind of thing. Just one slap is getting off easy."
Gregory's left cheek was visibly swollen and red, but he acted as if he couldn't feel it. He stepped forward and looked at me with deep emotion: "Emily, I don't blame Uncle Oscar for hitting me. I just want to say that everything I said is sincere. You're not married yet, so I have a chance. I want to compete fairly. Emily, I like you."