Chapter 1285

Hylda was feeling increasingly restless. Albert had frozen her accounts and strip her of her position at the company. Now, she was left completely incapable of withdrawing a single penny from the company’s funds. While she did invest in a few small projects, these ventures barely yielded any significant returns. Most of those investments had been made simply to blend in with the social elite.

She saw them as a payment to gain entry into the exclusive circle.

Therefore, the kindergarten remained her primary source of income, and she refused to let it slip through her fingers without a fight.

“Is that license of hers genuine?” asked Hylda.

“The documents come with official seals. They posted them online. Do you honestly think she would dare to fabricate something like that?” Sophia impatiently replied. When she thought about how the account she had worked so hard managing in Hylda’s favor all these years was banned, she could not help but complain, “I can’t believe you put me in this mess without proper research!”

Hylda frowned at the sound of that. Ever since Albert found out that Hugo was not his biological son, she had begun to have lesser patience toward Sophia. She knew her daughter’s mindset too well. ‘Did Sophia really believe she was the exclusive heir now that her brother was no longer in the picture?

How naive!’

Hylda’s tone turned stern as she countered, “Why would I need your involvement if I had all the answers?”

Sophia pouted in response and remained silent.

Hylda’s expression grew colder as she continued, “Don’t be under the delusion that without Hugo, the Jewell family is solely yours. I understand the kind of man your father is better than anyone. He holds his sons in high regard. I’m telling you, if that bitch somehow doesn’t give birth to his son, he’d probably ask his brothers if he could adopt their son. He’d easily hand over the Jewell family’s wealth to his nephew rather than you.”

“That’s impossible!” Sophia instinctively rejected the idea.

Hylda laughed mockingly and said, “You’ll be someone else’s wife. Albert would never let you carry the Jewell family’s legacy under another man’s name. Think about it. Why did he never allow you to join the company? Why did he continuously encourage you to seek employment outside? Use your brain for once, Sophia!”

“You’ll get your share if your brother inherits everything.

However, you won’t get a penny if an outsider inherits the fortune! Can you guarantee that your future husband will remain devoted and won’t abandon you? If not, how will you sustain your position in high society, especially if you don’t have the Jewell family as support?”

Sophia’s trust in her father started wavering when she heard that.

“Why do you think I wanted to have Hugo in the first place? I did it for you, Sophia. I’m fully aware of your father’s nature. That’s precisely why I’ve always wanted to birth a son.

Would I have resorted to such an extreme measure if Albert truly cared about you? Would I have to lose my dignity?” Hylda sighed.

Sophia found it difficult to respond. It felt strange to hear her mother talk about wanting to save her dignity when she was her father’s mistress. ‘What dignity did she have?’ Though, she dared not voice that sentiment.

Furthermore, Hylda’s reasoning did hold a certain validity. Sophia had brought up working at the family company in the past, but Albert always found a way to divert the conversation.

“I secretly stored some of your father’s sperm at the hospital. Even if I don’t give birth, I can pursue artificial insemination. Since your father yearns for a son, I think it doesn’t matter who bears the child as long as I adopt him. You can continue living without financial worries if that happens. You’ll also be able to get a part of the estate when your father is no longer around.”

Sophia could not counter Hylda’s logic. Suddenly, she felt that her mom’s actions were justified, and her tone sounded a lot softer. “I didn’t mean it that way, Mom. It’s just that the evidence Stella provided is overwhelmingly convincing. It’ll be hard to refute her points,” she said.

Hylda had a strategy in mind. “What about that lawyer’s statement? He mentioned that they would ensure the students were properly cared for. How does Stella plan to do that? Is she taking over the school herself? Does she want to be involved in the education sector for clout?”

Sophia thought about it, and an idea sparked in her mind. “I’ll write an article right away.”

“Make sure not to disclose any personal information,” Hylda warned her.

“I know. Ethan will help me take care of that.”

Early the following morning, rumors began circulating from an unknown source that Stella was intending to assume control of the kindergarten. It first began circulating on WhatsApp and Twitter, then quickly spreading to the internet. By daybreak, the rumor had evolved from a mere suggestion to a well-constructed narrative, complete with intricate details.