Chapter 183
When the last customers had left, Emma Miller pulled down the rolling shutter. Trent Miller, the middle–aged man from earlier, also walked out of the kitchen. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he gave Victoria a once–over and asked, "Is this our daughter?"
Emma Miller replied, "She says she isn't."
Trent Miller sneered, "Sarah is the Hardwick family's heiress now, so the Hardwick family's ex–hiress has to be my daughter. She says she isn't? More like she doesn't want to admit she has parents as poor and pathetic as us."
Emma Miller's expression darkened at his words. She shot Victoria a glare and said firmly, "Let me tell you that you are my daughter. I carried you and went through so much for you. You can't be ungrateful".
"You owe us your respect and care, and when we're old, you'll take care of us!"
Victoria didn't bother with them. Truthfully, she was hungry, and she had to admit that Trent Miller's cooking was impressive—the pasta was delicious.
She quickly finished her pasta, wiped her mouth, and pulled the paternity test report from her bag. "I just picked this up from the hospital. It says we're not mother and daughter."
Emma Miller snatched the document immediately and flipped through it carefully. This was her second time seeing such a report.
Trent Miller grabbed the report from Emma Miller and scrutinized it, his brow furrowing into a deep crease. "What's going on? How can you not be my daughter? If you're not my daughter, then where is she?"
Emma Miller looked equally bewildered. "Yeah, where's my daughter?" Her demeanor shifted entirely. She slumped into a chair, mumbling, "I've already lost one daughter, and now, I can't find the other. Why is my life so miserable? What did I do to deserve this? Why is heaven punishing me like this?"
Hearing that, Victoria raised a brow. "What do you mean you already lost one daughter?"
Emma Miller glanced at her, some of her anger fading now that she knew Victoria wasn't her child. With a sigh, she explained, "I had two daughters–my eldest, Tiffany, and my youngest, Sarah.
"About five or six years ago, Tiffany died in a car accident. Then, Sarah went abroad. And now, after she finally came back, she says she's not our daughter anymore. I just..."
Emma Miller trailed off, unable to make her point. All she could think about was how Sarah had claimed the Hardwick family's legacy —but what about her daughter? Trent Miller looked equally lost as he stubbed out his cigarette, holding the paternity report and reading it over and over.
Victoria's eyes dropped, a nagging sense of unease creeping over her. "Was it iust a case of switched babies? But if there were others mixed up, too?" Her mind was a jumble of confusion, unable to make sense of it all.
The tense atmosphere was then broken by a loud knock on the rolling shutter.
"Who's there?" Emma Miller called out and then pressed the remote to raise the shutter.
Soon after, a familiar voice rang out. "Here's this month's bill. Please check it."
Victoria turned her head abruptly and locked eyes with Grace, who froze for a moment and opened her mouth in surprise.
"Mrs. Harrison?"
Victoria frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Grace's usually serious demeanor seemed to crack. She hadn't expected to run into Victoria here and struggled to come up with an explanation.
Emma Miller picked up on the key detail instantly and asked, "You called her Mrs. Harrison? She's Henry's wife?"
"Yes, I am." Victoria nodded lightly, her expression turning slightly peculiar as she glanced at Emma Miller.
Bang–Trent Miller slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Victoria with a hostile intensity. "So, you're the one who stole Sarah's man? You made her so heartbroken she's left the country for five years and refused to come back!"
Victoria was stunned and hadn't processed what was happening before Emma Miller stormed over. "It was you! Five years ago, Sarah and Henry were doing perfectly fine, but then, you showed up, drugged him, fucked him, and made him marry you. That's why Sarah left, heartbroken!
"You vile woman! How shameless can you get? Couldn't you find your own man? Why did you have to steal my daughter's boyfriend?"
No one expected the outburst. The crowd's eyes on Victoria were filled with hatred as if she were their sworn enemy.
Victoria quickly got up to dodge, but the restaurant was cramped, and she couldn't avoid Emma Miller, who managed to slap her–though it landed on her shoulder.
Grace stepped forward immediately to intervene. "Mr. and Mrs. Miller, you can't do this!"
The bodyguards rushed in, pulling Trent Miller and Emma Miller away, but their furious glares at Victoria didn't waver.
"Disgusting!" Emma Miller spat venomously. "Stealing my daughter's boyfriend like the trash you are. But it doesn't matter now. My daughter is the true heiress of the Hardwick family. You're nothing! Henry will divorce you soon enough, and you'll be kicked out on the streets!"
Trent Miller's anger mirrored Emma Miller's. "Henry should've married Sarah. That's the debt he owes our family!"
Victoria, feeling utterly overwhelmed, let the bodyguards escort her out of the restaurant. Without engaging further, she got into the car, leaving the chaotic scene behind. She barely had time to think.
Taking a sip of water to calm her nerves, Victoria steadied herself before looking at Grace, who had walked over. Victoria asked in confusion, "Why are you here? What did you give them?"
Grace's expression had returned to its usual calm as she replied, "That's a business secret, Mrs. Harrison. I'm sorry, but I can't disclose it."
Victoria's expression froze for a moment before she wondered, "A business secret? Is Harrison Group planning to redevelop this area? That would make sense."
Then, she remembered Trent Miller's earlier words and asked, "What did he mean by Henry owing their family?"
Grace's expression didn't change as she replied, "It's about something from five years ago. Mr. Harrison feels guilty toward Ms. Miller."
"Well, he should dirovce me and marry Sarah outright! It would save everyone so much trouble!" With that thought, she drove away immediately.
She had nothing to do with the Miller family, so their affairs were naturally of no concern to her. The only thing that mattered to her now was finding out who her biological parents were.
Feeling exhausted, Victoria returned to Starlight Terrace. As she stepped into the elevator, a person followed her inside. Seeing him, she was slightly surprised. "Mr. Caldwell."
Then, remembering everything Jayce had done for her, she smiled and said, "Oh, and Mr. Caldwell, thank you."
Jayce, still pale and gaunt, fixed his deep gaze on her and asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"
Victoria replied, "I went to visit my grandma."
"I see," Jayce responded with a faint hum, standing in front of her.
Looking at his back, Victoria eventually spoke up, "Mr. Caldwell, just deal with Sophia simply. I don't want to cause you unnecessary trouble because of me."
Jayce turned to her and said calmly, "I don't mind. No one gets to bully you."