Chapter 186

The elderly woman wrinkled her nose in disdain. "What could they possibly have to say?"

She turned to leave.

A reporter quickly blocked her path. "Do you know Sophia Laurent?"

The woman froze mid-step. Her tone softened instantly. "Has something happened to Sophia?"

The reporter's eyes lit up.

"We heard Sophia isn't the biological child of the butcher's family. We wanted to learn about her childhood..."

The old woman's eyes widened in shock. "Not their real daughter?"

She suddenly slapped her thigh in realization.

"No wonder!"

Before the reporter could react, the woman began stomping her feet in anger.

"I always wondered how those two could be so cruel! Now it makes sense!"

"That poor child never had a warm meal growing up. She wore nothing but hand-me-downs."

"When she got sick, they made her tough it out. She was doing laundry and cooking when she could barely reach the stove! Heartless monsters!"

Her voice cracked with emotion.

"My poor Sophia... to be stuck with such adoptive parents..."

The reporters exchanged glances.

They visited several more neighbors. The responses were eerily similar.

The video went viral the moment it was uploaded.

Oh my God! Sophia suffered like that as a child? How did the Lauren family lose her?

No food? No medical care? Are they even human?

Those adoptive parents are no better than Derek Langley!

So Derek wasn't actually hired because of Sophia's recommendation?

Emily Lowell's fans immediately jumped to defend her.

Derek is Sophia's adoptive mother's younger brother. Who else would've recommended him?

Exactly! Emily would never associate with someone like that!

Stop dragging Emily into this! She's the real Lowell heiress—why would she know such people?

Netizens didn't know about the baby swap.

Emily's fans genuinely believed she was the biological daughter.

The online debate grew heated.

At Lowell Entertainment, William Lowell paced like a caged animal.

He once considered Emily his lucky charm.

Ever since she recommended Derek to manage the entertainment division, profits soared 30-50%.

Shareholders praised his foresight daily during that period.

Now karma had arrived with brutal speed.

William's brow furrowed as he scrolled through the trending discussions.

Only he knew the truth.

Emily was actually the butcher's daughter.