Chapter 471

Dr. Preston Quincy stood aside, his eyes flickering uncertainly. His demeanor clearly indicated he had no objections to Sophia Laurent taking the research findings at any time.

"Impossible!"

Richard Lowell suddenly clutched his chest as blood spurted from his mouth.

"Call Emily here immediately! I need to question her face to face!"

Victoria Lowell frantically supported him. "Richard, calm down. Sit and rest first..."

Daniel Lowell and Nathan Lowell both paled. "Dad, don't get agitated. This isn't as serious as it seems..."

Despite their words, both brothers knew this scandal could devastate Lowell Entertainment.

Daniel clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He recalled forcing Sophia into that sham marriage with the comatose man for Emily's sake. The absurdity of it now made him sick.

Nathan remained eerily calm. This outcome felt almost expected to him.

William Lowell closed his eyes briefly before dialing Emily's number and putting it on speakerphone.

"Big brother? The press conference is about to start. Why call now?"

The sweet voice from the receiver now sounded unbearably grating.

When Emily had requested leave for a "vacation abroad" two days prior, Richard had approved without hesitation.

All lies.

"Where are you now?" William demanded.

"The Maldives! The ocean is still so blue here. Want to join me, big brother?"

William's face darkened. Had he not seen the surveillance footage himself, he might have softened again.

"Is that so?"

Emily instantly detected the shift in tone, her voice turning saccharine. "Don't you trust me, brother?"

"Of course I do," William replied mechanically before pivoting sharply. "There's been an incident at the company. Dr. Quincy's research was stolen."

"What?" Emily gasped theatrically. "How could this happen?"

Listening to her feigned shock, William's heart turned to ice.

"The surveillance footage has been recovered."

Dead silence filled the line.

After several seconds, Emily chuckled lightly. "So this is an interrogation now?"

"Not an interrogation," William enunciated each word. "A confirmation."

He drew a deep breath before voicing the question burning in his chest:

"Why would you do this?"