Chapter 46
Under everyone's curious gaze, Sophia acted like she was going all in.
"We found the house Emma was renting. In her room, we discovered lots of explicit intimate photos of her with someone, and in the trash can, there were even... even used condoms. Emma's like this, Gregory. Why do you still protect her?"
Sophia's words left everyone stunned, including me.
How come I didn't know I had intimate photos with anyone? How come I didn't know I was renting a place?
Even when I was naked back then, I was locked in a small, dark box, living in Michael's house. Sophia's words made it clear to me—she definitely set all of this up on purpose for Gregory to see.
Gregory's face darkened, his brows furrowed tight, veins bulging on the back of his hand. "Stop it, Sophia."
Sophia still felt indignant for him. "She's done things to betray you, and you still want to protect her? You're always like this—too kind, and in the end, you're the one who gets hurt. These three years, you've searched so many places. If she really wanted to see you, she would have by now. She's deliberately hiding from you, deliberately disgusting you. She doesn't love you at all. Wake up, Gregory."
Oscar glanced at me with interest, and while they were caught up in their own drama, he said coolly, "Gregory, did you see Emma with your own eyes?"
Gregory shook his head. "She still hates me and won't see me. By the time we got there, she'd already moved out and didn't even have time to take her things."
Gregory was really stupid. After all these years at the company, praised by everyone as an excellent heir, yet Sophia was manipulating him.
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "You didn't even see her in person, so how can you be sure she lived there? What if someone set it up on purpose to bring you there? Sometimes even seeing isn't believing, let alone when you didn't even see anything."
Gregory's face showed confusion. He seemed to be recalling something, as if some important detail was about to surface.
Sophia's voice was steady. "How would she dare let us find her? Two years ago, she stole thirty million dollars from our family, causing the company's stock to crash and the cash flow to break. Our family almost went bankrupt. It was Gregory who helped us get through it. The police are still looking for her. If she gets caught, it's economic fraud. Honestly, it's better that she leave. She's my sister, and our whole family hopes she's doing well."
Gregory nodded. "Uncle Oscar, it's true. The case is still open. You can check it out anytime."
Just like that, the topic suddenly shifted to me.
At the mention of this, Charles's face grew even darker. He slammed his glass on the table and said through gritted teeth, "If she dares come back, I'll teach her a lesson."
Isabella also sighed deeply. "After all those years she was out there, bringing her back should have been a happy thing. Who knew she'd be so stubborn and end up doing something like this? I really regret it..."
I sat there, thinking I'd already become numb to all this. Family love, romantic love—none of it brought me as much satisfaction as money and revenge did now. But seeing them say over and over that they regretted bringing me back, I found my limbs going numb, cold to the point of losing all feeling.
A warm, large hand slowly took mine, the thumb gently rubbing my palm, helping my numb heart gradually regain its warmth.
I turned to see Oscar's eyes carrying a faint smile, looking at me with determination. His grip on my hand tightened a bit more.
The feeling of helplessness slowly faded. If I still cared about this, that would be truly pathetic.
I took a deep breath. The stinging in my eyes had subsided, and I managed a smile. My fingers secretly scratched his palm twice, telling him he could relax—I wasn't that fragile.
Sophia wiped away her tears. "Gregory, loyalty should be for people who deserve it. After what Emma's done, she's not worth your sacrifice."
Surprisingly, it was Robert who spoke up for me. He interrupted Sophia. "Oscar has a point. You didn't see Emma herself, so what if someone faked all that? As for the thirty million dollars, that's all just your speculation. She's always been a good, obedient child. As her sister, you shouldn't slander her like this."
Someone actually believed me. I looked at Robert's aged face, feeling grateful again. Could he be the only one who could see through such a crude smear campaign? Or did the others just not want to see the truth?
Sophia nearly lost control. "All the evidence is real, and you say I'm slandering her? Mr. Robert Lopez, between Gregory and Emma, who's actually your grandchild?"
Gregory quickly tugged at Sophia's sleeve. "Sophia."
Sophia turned to look at Gregory in disbelief, the despair in her eyes growing. She suddenly pulled open her collar, exposing the suggestive red marks on her body to everyone. "I can keep quiet, but you tell me—after this happened, what am I supposed to do? What's a girl like me supposed to do?"
Tears streamed down her face. She looked pitiful.
Isabella rushed forward to hold her, protecting her with heartache. "Don't worry, we're here. We won't let you be wronged."
"Gregory, don't give me that crap about affecting her reputation. You just don't want to take responsibility, right? When you did that to her, why weren't you worried about her reputation? If you've decided Emma is your wife, why did you sleep with your wife's sister?"
Her words were crude and explicit, making Gregory's face flush red, not know how to respond.
William looked somewhat displeased, but, as a man, he just frowned at his wife.
Grace understood what he meant and quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Isabella, that's not quite fair to say. Gregory isn't that reckless. He said he didn't know what happened, and maybe he had a bit to drink..."
Jasper reminded her, "Mrs. Lopez, it was my sister who was drinking, not Gregory."
Grace raised her eyebrows. "That's why I'm saying, we're outsiders and shouldn't make assumptions. You should know that people who are drunk can't control their actions."
Jasper frowned. "What are you trying to say? Are you saying my sister seduced Gregory?"
Grace looked relaxed, facing their angry stares and shaking her head innocently. "I didn't say that. I'm just speculating. Besides, Sophia is someone we all watched grow up—she's always been sweet and well-behaved. If you think having Gregory take responsibility would be better for them, we don't mind."
Isabella looked like she wanted to attack Grace, glaring at her through gritted teeth. "Cut the snark. Gregory, if you're a man, own up to what you did."
Robert coughed and stood up slowly. "What's done is done. Let me suggest a compromise. If you think it works, fine. If not, then leave and handle it yourselves. I don't want to deal with it."
Isabella wanted to say something, but since they couldn't reach a consensus, she could only look up at the old man. "Let's hear what you have to say."
Robert looked at Gregory, then at Sophia, and said slowly, "If we make them get together now, like we just said, public opinion won't be kind to Sophia. Right now, Emma's whereabouts are unknown, and Gregory can't stay single forever. So let's give them one more year. During this year, they won't make their relationship public. If Emma still hasn't come back after a year... then we'll declare their marriage void, and you two can be together openly."
After Robert spoke, everyone fell silent, exchanging glances. Sophia was the first to nod, her eyes downcast as tears slid down her cheeks. "Okay."
No one saw that beneath her long hair, the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a smile. Perhaps only she knew clearly that there was no way I could come back.