Chapter 242

William Lowell was the first to lose his composure. He slammed his chopsticks onto the bowl with a loud clatter.

"Dad, stop asking." His brows furrowed deeply. "Those adoptive parents were vicious. They must have threatened Emily."

Victoria Lowell had just repaid Sophia Laurent's nine million, finally feeling some relief.

She quickly chimed in. "Those people were monsters. How can you blame Emily?"

Yet thinking of Sophia's childhood suffering still pained her heart.

Both were her daughters. She genuinely wanted to make amends with Sophia, but the girl wanted nothing to do with her.

Christopher Lowell remained in detention.

Daniel Lowell was preoccupied with Versini Couture's haute couture design competition, staying at his apartment near the company.

As a premier couture brand, Versini's internal selection process was exceptionally rigorous.

Every designer, regardless of seniority, had to submit original creations.

The chief designer would personally evaluate each piece, deciding who stayed or left.

Fashion was a brutal industry where trends changed overnight.

Many designers who failed to keep up vanished without a trace.

Adding to the pressure, Versini's elusive founder would attend the competition in person.

Gaining that person's favor could launch a designer's career.

At the Lowell dinner table sat only Richard Lowell, Victoria, William, Emily, and Nathan.

Since his music career scandal, Nathan had grown quiet.

Hearing his mother and brother defend Emily, he slowly lifted his gaze.

The girl still wore that innocent expression, her eyes glistening like a startled fawn.

But Nathan's eyes darkened.

What he'd uncovered didn't match this picture of purity.

Who would guess this seemingly guileless girl had participated in bullying Sophia?

Though she hadn't done the deeds herself, the ringleader had been Emily's best friend.

That girl had torn Sophia's textbooks, locked her in storage rooms until midnight.

They'd believed Emily's claims that Sophia was out partying.

The bully spread rumors of Sophia stealing, turning the whole school against her.

Sometimes they'd gotten physical, though Sophia apparently held her own.

Each time Sophia returned home disheveled, they'd scolded her for not being as well-behaved as Emily.

And Emily? Always pristine, standing aside like an innocent bystander.

Nathan mechanically stirred his soup.

They'd thought they knew this sister.

Now he understood she was far more complex than she appeared.

She'd just mastered the art of deception too well.

"Fourth brother..." Emily suddenly called to him in that timid voice.

Her eyes reddened like a frightened rabbit.