Chapter 162

Victoria Lowell sighed deeply, her face etched with worry.

"Families like the Valdemars value their reputation above all. Aren't you afraid they'll grow tired of your antics?"

Sophia Laurent curled her lips into a cold smile at the feigned concern.

"Mrs. Lowell, have you forgotten the real reason the Valdemars married me? What do I have to fear?"

The biting sarcasm in her voice made Victoria's expression darken.

"You're just bitter about being forced into this marriage."

"Wrong."

Sophia's crimson lips curved upward. "I was eager to marry into the Valdemars."

If not for being coerced into that healing marriage, she might never have seen through her family's true nature.

All her life, she'd yearned for their love.

Despite repeated disappointments, she couldn't sever those blood ties.

But the arranged marriage shattered her illusions completely.

Fortunately, the Valdemars treated her well.

Now she lived comfortably.

No more cleaning up Lowell Entertainment's messes.

No more exhausting herself for her family's showbiz ambitions.

No more handing over her creative works to Richard Lowell.

Victoria studied Sophia's serene expression, her frown deepening.

They'd assumed Sophia's erratic behavior stemmed from resisting the marriage.

Now she was utterly confused.

"If you were willing, why sabotage us at every turn?"

Sophia arched an eyebrow. "Who exactly have I sabotaged?"

Victoria faltered under her daughter's unflinching gaze.

After a long pause, she hissed:

"You stole Lowell Entertainment's contracts, leaving William scrambling."

"Nathan's music career was finally taking off, and you destroyed it."

"Then there's Christopher - just some property damage, yet you had him arrested."

Her voice rose with each accusation.

She wanted to demand why Sophia had canceled that $9 million check from Emily.

But remembering her daughter's ruthlessness, she swallowed the words.

Sophia actually laughed at the litany of complaints.

"Business is war. Pearl Group won those contracts fair and square."

She leaned back lazily in her chair.

"Nathan built his career plagiarizing my work, then bit the hand that fed him. Why should I help him?"

"As for Christopher, he got what he deserved."

Victoria trembled with rage.

"They're your brothers! How can you be so heartless?"