Chapter 77 Spring is in the Air
Emily stared at Joshua in a daze. His refined features and elegant demeanor completely captivated her, and her cheeks visibly flushed with an unmistakable pink glow.
Her heart raced uncontrollably as Emily quickly lowered her gaze, accepting the handkerchief and taking a half-step back. Her expression was shy and awkward. "Thank you."
Joshua watched Emily intently. When she looked down and couldn't see his expression, a flash of controlling dominance flickered in his eyes.
In just a second, that strange look vanished from his eyes, replaced by tender warmth.
As if genuinely concerned for Emily, he spoke earnestly, "Ms. Smith, there's so much conflict in high society. It's rare to meet someone as genuine as you. You're the Smith family's only daughter—your family surely loves you. But your every word and action represent the Smith family's reputation. When you make your stance known, you can't leave any ammunition for your enemies. Otherwise, how can your family support you?"
His words were subtle, but fortunately, Emily understood.
She looked at Joshua gratefully. "Thank you. I don't have any friends in this circle. I'm lucky to have someone who understands me."
As their classmates left through the main entrance, most noticed the two figures by the fountain engaged in intimate conversation. They didn't approach to say goodbye, but they'd already formed their judgment.
Joshua was clearly duplicitous—flirting with Sophia on one hand while pursuing Emily with ulterior motives on the other. He was calculating and untrustworthy.
Only Lucy watched with jealous eyes, burning as she stared at Emily.
She'd wanted to get close to Emily to build a relationship with the Smith family, hoping for a chance at an arranged marriage later. But Emily was useless—she couldn't even win over Andrew and John, so she had no value.
Lucy had planned to shift her target from Andrew and John to Silverlight City's Joshua, but had Emily beaten her to it?
...
The next day.
"Sophia, where did you get this paternity test?"
Having just finished their morning meeting, Michael saw the photo Sophia had sent—a paternity test report between Emily and Jane.
It showed no blood relation between them. They weren't mother and daughter.
"A birthday gift from Joshua."
High society families valued their reputation, but if these secrets came to light, it would create a scandal tsunami throughout Emerald City.
George and Jane had married for business reasons with no romantic feelings between them. Even having children was just fulfilling obligations.
They were often away from home. To outsiders, they appeared to be a loving couple traveling together, but in reality, they each had their own entertainment.
They maintained long-term lovers, but never the same long-term lover.
Never sleeping with someone twice—this way, they were less likely to be discovered.
But there were always accidents, weren't there?
Sophia wasn't particularly surprised that George had an illegitimate daughter.
She was just curious about how Joshua had obtained this test report. Logically, Joshua shouldn't have access to Jane, just as Emily shouldn't have had access to George earlier.
Both test reports had appeared mysteriously. She wondered if the person secretly helping Emily might be Joshua.
But this hypothesis didn't make sense. If Joshua only wanted to manipulate from the shadows, why had he approached Emily last night?
"The previous two test reports were between Emily and George, proving their blood relation essentially confirmed Emily as the Smith family heiress. But I never expected that a biological daughter could also be illegitimate." Michael chuckled, finding the situation increasingly absurd.
"Whether Emily is legitimate or illegitimate, that's the Smith family's business and has nothing to do with me. The key issue is that Joshua seems to be deliberately escalating Emily's hatred toward me, trying to drag me into this mess."
This was what Sophia found most incomprehensible. Whatever grudge Joshua had against the Smith family, she was no longer part of them. If he wanted revenge, it shouldn't involve her.
Why was he so fixated on her?
Just because she'd enjoyed the Smith family's resources for 17 years?
How much must Joshua hate the Smith family? Did he consider anyone connected to them an enemy?
"I think I understand why Joshua gave you this test report."
Michael leaned back in his office chair, twirling a pen in his hand as if he'd discovered something interesting. "Joshua assumes that after being the Smith family daughter for over a decade and then suddenly being kicked out, losing your wealth and status, you'd be resentful. He told you Emily is George's illegitimate daughter, hoping you and Emily would destroy each other."
This theory made sense. Sophia laughed and continued Michael's thought, "But he didn't expect that I don't care at all. When I didn't expose this information with so many people present last night, he shifted his target to Emily, creating conflict to force me into the game."
"Exactly. You're so smart."
Michael praised her affectionately, then turned serious again. "I'm curious, though—if you have no blood relation to George and Jane, and Emily is only George's illegitimate daughter, then where is the child Jane actually gave birth to?"
This was the most important question, one that made Sophia's blood run cold.
Wasn't this supposed to be a story about a real versus fake heiress? How had it become a mystery thriller?
"I don't know if this test report is authentic yet. I asked Beth to try to get hair samples from the couple and Emily so we can run a new test."
She preferred doing things with certainty. If this report was fake and she gave it to Andrew, he might think she still had designs on the Smith family.
Once she confirmed Emily's blood relation to the Smith couple, if she really was George's illegitimate daughter, she'd report to Andrew.
Whatever conflicts arose in the Smith family would be none of her business.
"Are you thinking of using this to get revenge on the Smith family?" Michael asked, though his tone suggested he didn't believe this possibility himself.
Sure enough, Sophia replied with a smile, "I'm indifferent to the Smith family—I neither love nor hate them, so I have no reason for revenge. It's just that Emily constantly tries to cause me trouble. She's too noisy; might as well make her disappear."
Hearing James call her for breakfast from outside, Sophia quickly wrapped up the conversation and prepared to hang up.
"Sophia."
His slightly deep, alluring voice came through the receiver. Sophia brought the phone back to her ear.
She heard his magnetic voice, rich with honey-sweet affection, "I miss you."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. Half a second later, she curved her lips into a smile and replied, "I miss you too."
After hanging up, Sophia went to open her door.
James stared at Sophia for a moment, sensing something was off. "Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"
Sophia's eyes flickered as she unnaturally touched her burning cheeks. "Ahem, maybe the room was a bit stuffy."
Meanwhile, at Green Group's executive office.
Still holding his phone to his ear, Michael's ears were flushed as he remained lost in thought for a long time.
His lips curved into a secretly pleased smile—those simple words left him savoring the moment endlessly.
Arthur entered with files and, seeing Michael's expression, glanced at the brilliant sunshine outside the window.
Ah... spring was definitely in the air.