Chapter 74

Victoria Lowell's migraines were chronic.

Each episode felt like a hammer pounding inside her skull, leaving her drenched in cold sweat. She'd visited every major hospital, undergone CT scans and MRIs—all results came back normal.

Sophia Laurent somehow discovered an elderly Chinese medicine practitioner and insisted on taking her for a consultation. The doctor prescribed dark herbal pills with an unpleasant odor.

Victoria had scoffed at the time, tossing the medication into a drawer.

One midnight when the pain became unbearable, she reluctantly swallowed one pill. Miraculously, the agony subsided within thirty minutes.

Assuming it was coincidence, she tested the remedy several more times before confirming its efficacy.

Over the past two years, the headaches had become infrequent enough to fade from memory.

As the current episode eased, her recollections grew sharper. She remembered chastising Sophia for meddling that day at the clinic while her daughter remained silent with that impassive expression.

The memory now weighed on Victoria's conscience like a stone.

She had to admit—her biological daughter had treated her far better than she deserved.

While she had...

Rubbing her temples, Victoria picked up her phone and dialed Emily Lowell.

"Sweetheart..."

Emily was touching up her makeup in the dressing room. Today had been disastrous—first Nathan Lowell's production team replaced her without notice, then she'd been blackmailed before finally squeezing money from Christopher Lowell.

Seeing the caller ID, she forced sweetness into her voice. "Mom? What's wrong?"

Victoria cut to the chase. "You know about your sister suing me? I'm short on funds right now. Could you—"

Emily's grip tightened around her powder puff.

"Mom, I'm strapped for cash too..."

"Just transfer whatever you can spare. I need to repay Sophia." Victoria's tone turned urgent.

Emily's eyes flashed with irritation as she sweetened her voice further. "I sent you 1.5 million last month. My account only has 20,000 left for daily expenses now..."

Victoria sounded stunned. "How can you be broke with your current popularity?"