Chapter 257

Chapter 257

Burning jealousy reddened Amanda's eyes as she took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and deliberately walked toward Sophia. Just as they were about to pass each other, she rudely blocked Sophia's path.

"Sophia, long time no see." Amanda lifted her chin slightly, her lowered voice dripping with unconcealed provocation and smugness. "Don't think that just because you've latched onto Benjamin, you can swagger around Rivera Group however you please. Let me tell you something—don't even dream of competing with me. I'm family now, Uncle Augustus's most beloved niece! So what if you're the project manager? You're nothing but a glorified employee. This entire Rivera empire will all be mine someday!"

Faced with Amanda's venomous boasting, Sophia didn't even furrow her brow.

She stopped walking and looked down at this delusional woman with cool eyes that held not a trace of jealousy, but rather a mocking coldness.

"Family?" Sophia's red lips parted slightly, her voice crisp and melodious yet cutting like a blade. "Amanda, are you perhaps confused about your own situation?"

Sophia's gaze swept dismissively over Amanda's wrinkled gray administrative uniform, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "The supposedly precious Rivera family member isn't sitting in some executive office, but instead wearing this cheap polyester outfit, running errands and delivering files in the lobby? Seems like your family status isn't worth much after all."

"You!" Amanda was hit where it hurt most, her face instantly flushing crimson as she trembled with rage.

Just then, steady footsteps echoed from the lobby entrance.

Augustus strode into the company with Barry and several executives in tow.

Amanda caught sight of that imposing figure from the corner of her eye, and a calculating gleam instantly flashed through her gaze.

She immediately dropped her arrogant facade and suddenly loosened her grip on the thick files.

Papers scattered across the floor in a fluttering cascade.

Then Amanda deliberately stumbled and fell, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls. Biting her lower lip, she used a pitiful yet restrained voice to accuse: "Ms. Taylor... I know you're the Williams Group representative now, high and mighty, and I can't afford to cross you. But I'm just a lowly employee—why did you deliberately bump into me and scatter all my documents?"

Her voice was perfectly modulated—not too loud, not too soft—instantly drawing the attention of passing employees.

People in the lobby stopped to stare curiously yet warily at the unfolding drama.

Sophia stood quietly in place, coldly watching Amanda's clumsy two-faced performance without bothering to offer a single word of defense.

"What's all this commotion in the lobby? This is completely inappropriate!" Augustus's authoritative voice rang out from beyond the crowd.

Employees quickly parted to make way.

Seeing Augustus approach, Amanda acted like she'd found her savior, immediately scrambling up from the floor and throwing herself at Augustus, clutching his arm while crying dramatically.

"Uncle! You have to stand up for me!" Amanda deliberately shouted "Uncle" loudly, making sure everyone could hear. Sobbing, she pointed at Sophia with a face full of grievance. "I was just trying to follow your advice and work my way up from the bottom, but Ms. Taylor... she deliberately knocked me down and humiliated me! She has absolutely no respect for the Rivera family!"

The surrounding employees collectively gasped.

The lobby fell into dead silence as everyone's eyes darted between Amanda and Sophia.

So this new administrative assistant was the much-discussed Amanda!

Amanda was laughing maniacally inside. She wanted the entire company to know her status, and more importantly, she wanted to use Augustus's authority to publicly humiliate Sophia and show her exactly who called the shots at Rivera Group!

However, the scene Amanda had envisioned—Augustus exploding in fury and berating Sophia—never materialized.

Augustus looked down at Amanda clinging to his arm and sobbing, his clouded eyes flashing with deep disgust and ice-cold contempt.

"Let go!" Augustus suddenly barked, mercilessly pushing Amanda away.

Caught off guard, Amanda staggered backward two steps, nearly falling again.

She looked up at Augustus in disbelief, her face full of shock. "Uncle..."

"Shut up! This is a corporation, not your personal playground!" Augustus's face was livid, his voice so harsh it carried no warmth whatsoever. The oppressive aura of someone long accustomed to power instantly enveloped the entire lobby. "Rivera Group has always maintained strict professional standards. Look at yourself right now—shouting, making a scene, grabbing at people. What kind of behavior is this!"

Amanda was completely stunned by his outburst, tears still clinging to her lashes as she stared in bewilderment.

Augustus didn't give her a chance to defend herself, coldly scanning her with eyes full of disappointment and impatience. "Since you clearly can't handle entry-level work or deal with the slightest setback, then you don't belong in this company. The Rivera family may not miss your contribution, but Rivera Group absolutely cannot tolerate someone who creates factions and poisons the work environment! From this moment on, you are banned from setting foot in this building!"

The declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Amanda felt like she'd been struck by lightning, her blood turning ice-cold.

Her carefully orchestrated performance had not only failed to humiliate Sophia—it had completely backfired on herself!

"Uncle, I didn't... I was really wronged!" Amanda panicked, trying to approach and explain, but Barry stepped forward with a cold expression to block her path.

At that moment, Gerald, who had received word from the front desk, came rushing breathlessly out of the elevator.

He had originally come to watch Amanda deal with Sophia, but instead emerged to find this tense confrontation.

"Dad, what's happening here?" Gerald's heart sank as he reluctantly approached.

When Augustus saw Gerald, the coldness in his eyes intensified, and his fury immediately transferred to his supposed son.

"Gerald! This is the kind of person you brought into the company?!" Augustus whirled around, pointing at the scattered documents on the floor and Amanda's panicked face, his voice thundering with rage. "I entrusted this company to you so you could practice nepotism and sneak in people who don't understand basic professionalism?! What do you think Rivera Group is? Your personal charity case!"

Gerald's face went deathly pale as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.