Chapter 47
Things finally came to an end, and her family took Sophia back. Looking at the uneasy Gregory, Robert's hands trembled, and after a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
William kicked Gregory's leg, knocking him to the ground: "Why don't you hurry up and apologize to your grandfather?"
Things were different now. Originally, all of the Lopez family's assets were theirs, but now Oscar had suddenly returned, young and already so capable. If they didn't win Robert's heart, when it came time to divide the property, they'd probably lose more than half.
Gregory didn't dare look at Robert's flushed, angry face. He could only lower his head and say: "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I really didn't know it would turn out like this."
Robert sat back down on the sofa, took a deep breath, and said: "Now that they're all gone, tell me the truth. What exactly happened last night? Give me all the details."
Gregory thought back: "Around eleven at night, Sophia called me saying the reception was over, she was feeling dizzy from drinking, and asked me to pick her up. She also said... she said Ms. Wilson went to a private room with some other people for another gathering, and she couldn't get in, so she asked me to tell Uncle Oscar."
Gregory carefully turned to look at Oscar and me, then continued: "After I got there, I was thinking about whether to bring Ms. Wilson back too, but then I saw Uncle Oscar had also come, so I just took Sophia back first. Sophia was worried about Ms. Wilson, afraid she and Uncle Oscar would fight, so she asked me to bring her to the Lopez Manor. We were just waiting in the room, but she had drunk quite a bit and was being a little wild, so I poured her some water to help her sober up. Then... I don't know how... how it just... that kind of thing happened."
Robert keenly noticed the problem: "Are you saying after drinking the water, you weren't clear about what happened next? Is there any water left? Go get it and have someone check it."
Gregory looked up at Robert in surprise. He hadn't considered another possibility. His eyes widened in shock, somewhat disbelieving: "That's impossible. I got the water myself..."
Grace came over to help Gregory up: "Dad, it shouldn't be that serious. Sophia isn't that kind of frivolous person."
Robert gave Grace a cold look and said to Gregory impatiently, "Go quickly. Even if nothing comes of it, at least we can see someone's true colors."
Gregory obediently went upstairs. When he came back down, his face still looked dejected: "The water... might have been finished last night. There's nothing left now."
He seemed relieved.
Robert wasn't satisfied: "Even if the water's gone, there should be something left in the kettle or cup. Take this to the family doctor later and have him check it."
Gregory had already come downstairs with the kettle and placed it on the coffee table, saying quietly, "We probably won't find anything. It seems like it was left outside last night, and the servants already washed it."
This statement made everyone frown. The timing of washing the cup seemed too convenient.
Grace quickly stepped forward: "Sophia shouldn't be capable of doing something like this."
Robert's eyes widened: "Are you saying Gregory is capable of doing something so terrible?"
Gregory kept his head down: "I'm sorry, Grandpa. It's all my fault. I'll try to make up for it."
Robert snorted coldly: "Make up for it? How will you make up for it? Who can you face? You pushed away the best thing you ever had. As a man, if you can't be completely devoted to one person, don't get married. I can't even figure out whether you like Emma or Sophia. If you really didn't like her, you should have said no to the marriage from the start. Look what you've done - Emma's been missing for three years. I don't know how you sleep at night."
Grace quickly chimed in: "You can't blame Gregory entirely. The three of them grew up together. What's wrong with Gregory treating her sister like his own sister?"
Oscar suddenly spoke up from the side: "Grace, what you're saying - you have a sister too, right? If she called right now and my brother immediately dropped you to run to her, would you be happy about it?"
Grace frowned: "My sister isn't that inconsiderate."
Oscar chuckled lightly, with a mocking tone: "Oh, is that so? Well, I've learned something new today. If there's nothing else, Emily and I will get going. Let's go change first, then I'll take you car shopping."
He took my hand and headed straight upstairs. The show was over, and staying any longer would just be a waste of time.
After returning to the room, I looked at him and asked: "Their water... you put something in it, didn't you?"
Oscar looked innocent: "Emily, you don't suspect them, but you suspect me?"
I smiled: "Stop pretending. Sophia probably didn't want to use this kind of method to climb up the ladder - it would put her in a permanently inferior position. After we came back, we showered and went to sleep. I don't understand when you did it?"
Oscar smiled at me: "I still can't hide anything from you. I definitely put the drug in beforehand, directly on the water bottle cap."
"Why?" I was confused. According to his way of thinking, knowing that I could handle many things myself, he shouldn't have interfered so rashly. "Weren't you afraid of being discovered?"
Oscar touched his nose, his eyes avoiding mine a bit, but seeing me staring determinedly at him, waiting for an answer, he decided to stop pretending: "You're asking me why? The way you looked at Gregory that day - look at how he acts. If I didn't do something, if you lose your head and something happens between you two, I'll end up looking like a complete fool."
My eyes widened. I didn't quite understand his thinking: "You... are you crazy?"
Having already said this much, Oscar stopped pretending. He sat on the bed and just gave up: "I'm not crazy, I'm protecting my interests. Gregory is trash; he's a playboy. One woman isn't enough for him, and he keeps sneaking glances at you. I've been pretty nice not gouging his eyes out. If he doesn't behave this time, I have backup plans."
I felt both annoyed and amused: "Weren't you afraid they wouldn't take the bait?"
Oscar raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of pride: "You definitely didn't think of this - when I went to pick you up, I looked really unhappy. I guessed someone would want to see us make fools of ourselves and definitely wouldn't pass up the opportunity. See, I was right, wasn't I?"
"Lucky guess. What kind of car are you planning to buy me? Don't we have a driver?" I stopped dwelling on what he'd done and asked my question.
Oscar pressed his lips together: "Having a driver isn't as convenient as driving yourself. Like yesterday - if you had driven yourself, you wouldn't have needed someone else to bring you back."
I looked at Oscar, a smile slowly spreading across my face: "How come I never noticed before how jealous you can get?"
"Now you know, so next time don't look at other men too much, and don't get too close to other men." Oscar raised an eyebrow. "Otherwise - next time, who knows who might end up getting drugged."