Chapter 154
I expected the Brown family to come looking for me, but I didn't expect them to show up directly at my company, and they even brought Sophia, who was already pregnant.
The receptionist stopped them at the door, saying politely, "I'm really sorry, but I can't let you in without an appointment. Please understand."
From upstairs, I could see Charles's angry face through the glass. This place used to be where the Brown Group was at its most glorious. I wondered if seeing this familiar place, now so different, stirred up any feelings in him.
He must have been really angry, because the fury in his voice was unmistakable: "Appointment? Why don't you call your boss out here and ask if we need an appointment to see her? You're just a receptionist—who gave you the nerve to stop anyone at the door? Don't you know who I am?"
The receptionist remained calm: "Sir, this is my job. No matter who you are, I can't let you in without an appointment. Please understand."
Isabella took a deep breath and stopped the hot-tempered Charles: "That's enough. We're here to talk to her properly, not to cause trouble. Calm down."
She smiled at the receptionist and said gently: "Ma'am, please let Emily know that the Brown family is here to see her about something important. Please make sure she sees us."
The receptionist's voice remained professional: "I can go in and ask for you, but whether our boss has time to see you and when depends on her response."
Watching them argue with the receptionist, I casually made a phone call, then leisurely made myself a cup of coffee and started working through the mountain of documents on my desk.
As for them, if they had enough patience, they could wait. A big surprise was waiting for them.
But clearly, they had patience, just not much.
Over two hours, they asked the receptionist three times when I would see them. The receptionist didn't dare come up to ask me again and just kept refilling their water.
After Sophia went to the bathroom seven times, I put on my heels and slowly walked downstairs toward them.
Seeing me appear, Isabella's face lit up: "Emma, you look busy. But that's okay, we don't mind waiting a bit."
Charles didn't look too happy. "She just runs a company. I don't believe she's so busy that she can’t spare time for her own parents."
Sophia stepped forward, her face pale. She didn't dare look me in the eye, her voice very low: "Emma... I didn't expect you to really be my sister."
I snorted: "I can't accept that title."
Sophia suddenly dropped to her knees at my feet. It was right at closing time, and many people pretended not to care while their eyes focused on us.
She cried pitifully, her voice choked: "Emma, I know I wronged you. I deserve to die. I did so many terrible things to you. I've regretted it for so long. All these years, every time I close my eyes, I see you. I'm so scared, Emma. Thank God you came back, thank God you're still alive. Please forgive me, okay?"
I watched her cry herself breathless and couldn't help but mock: "Sophia, aren't you tired of using this trick after all these years? Do you think if you play the victim, everyone will feel sorry for you? Are you planning to live off people's sympathy?"
Sophia shook her head through her tears: "Emma, I know you've never liked me. What will it take for you to stop being angry? If I die, will that repay what I owe you? If that's what it takes, I'll die right now."
She grabbed her clothes and struggled to stand up, then ran toward a nearby window as if to climb up.
It was after work hours, and quite a few people stood in corners watching. No one stepped forward to stop her.
Isabella rushed over in panic: "Sophia, calm down! Don't do anything stupid. We asked you to come apologize, not to give up your life."
Sophia cried and struggled hard: "Mom, don't stop me. Let me die. Only if I die will Emma calm down and accept you all again."
Isabella quickly said, "You're talking nonsense. How can you die? Jasper's fate remains unknown, and the baby in your belly is his only child and the Brown family's descendant. Nothing can happen to you."
I almost applauded Isabella. The stage wasn't even set, and she was already putting on a show. This really was a surprise.
Charles also stepped forward, pulling Sophia down from the window, and frowned at me: "Do you really need someone to die?"
I looked at Sophia with interest: "I'm a bit curious. Didn't you say before that the baby in your belly was Gregory's? But from what she's saying, this child is Jasper's?"
I widened my eyes and covered my mouth as if shocked: "No way? Isn't Jasper your brother? How did you get pregnant with your brother's child? Your relationship... that's pretty shameful, isn't it?"
When everyone heard this, their ears practically perked up, their curiosity piqued.
Charles's face changed instantly, and he snapped at me: "Stop talking nonsense."
I shrugged innocently at him: "I'm not the one who said it. Didn't Mrs. Brown just say it? And before, she said the child was Gregory's. Just now they said this child is the Brown family's descendant, Jasper's only child in this world. So is this baby her nominal brother-in-law's or her brother's?"
All color drained from Sophia's face. She looked at the phone cameras pointed at her from somewhere nearby. Her mind was probably so confused that she even forgot to perform her signature crying act.
The smile on my face grew wider as I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her answer.
She took half a step back, trying to explain: "It's not like that... This child is... is..."
She probably realized that no matter whose child it was, she would be humiliated.
I smiled happily and said to Isabella: "You should take her away quickly. She's pregnant. Don't let anything happen here and blame it on me."
Isabella wanted to say something, but seeing Sophia's swaying body, she stepped forward and whispered: "Sophia, take it easy."
Sophia's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed toward Isabella.
"Sophia!" Charles and Isabella shouted in panic.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. This Sophia was really ridiculous. When she ran out of options, fainting was always her go-to trick.
"Why don't you hurry up and take her to the hospital? If something happens to the baby, Jasper will have no heir," I said mockingly.
They thought it over and could only say, "Emma, we'll come find you again next time," before hurrying off with Sophia.