Chapter 241
The media storm swept across the internet like a hurricane. Richard Lowell nearly collapsed in his office when he saw the news.
Lowell Entertainment had become an empty shell. Its stock price plummeted, leaving the entire company in panic.
"River Banquet" was his last lifeline. This big-budget production not only hired an elite writing team but also invested heavily, nearly exhausting Lowell Entertainment's remaining resources.
Even after Emily's massive blunder, he suppressed his anger.
But misfortunes never come singly.
Within days, Richard's wrinkles deepened, and stark white strands appeared at his temples. The once-ambitious tycoon now carried only bitterness in his eyes.
He loathed Sophia Laurent.
A real daughter would have handed over the Valdemar resources without hesitation. Once the Lowells rose to the elite, she would have benefited too.
But this selfish girl lacked any sense of the bigger picture.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to reprimand his beloved Emily.
Dinner at the Lowell residence was shrouded in eerie silence.
"Emily." Richard suddenly set down his chopsticks. "Did you arrange for Derek Langley to join the company?"
He usually focused solely on creative work, never meddling in such trivial matters.
William stiffened at the question.
Lately, he'd been drowning in stress. Public humiliation from Sophia, coupled with single-handedly propping up the crumbling Lowell empire, had pushed him to the brink.
Emily's spoon clattered into her bowl.
Tears welled in her eyes as she trembled. "Dad, I swear I didn't know what kind of man he was..."
"My adoptive parents forced me to arrange it... I barely knew Derek..."
"Adoptive parents?" Richard frowned.
Emily clenched her napkin, lips pale from biting. "The... the Butcher family..."
The dining room plunged into silence.
Everyone remembered the absurd baby-switching scandal. Sophia was the victim, but hadn't Emily suffered too?
How could anyone understand the pain of discovering the family who raised you were strangers?