The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains
Chapter 166 Hayden Shows Goodwill

Sophia snapped back, "You think I wanted to lose him? This is all your fault! If you had taken care of Emily earlier, Michael would be mine by now!"

Evelyn was so furious she couldn't even speak, watching Sophia get more and more hysterical.

Just then, Hayden stormed in from outside the hospital room and slapped Sophia hard across the face. He had rushed over from the office, thinking Sophia was seriously ill and had been worried sick. But hearing her rant outside the door was the last thing he expected.

Hayden wasn't exactly fond of Emily, but he knew her current status in high society. Meanwhile, Sophia was just playing the sympathy card, hoping Michael would feel sorry for her. But what happened? Michael brushed her off and made it clear they were done.

When Hayden got wind of this, he, always the one to weigh pros and cons, thought about his own interests and those of Brown Corporation. If one daughter was useless, there was always the other. As long as his interests were safe, they were all good daughters to him.

Hayden scolded, "You're useless! Evelyn is right. If you can't even keep Michael's heart, then what's the point? It'd be better to let Emily come back. She's soft-hearted and might take care of us in our old age, and maybe even show you some mercy for my sake!"

Mercy? Hayden's words cut deep into Sophia's heart. She could never tolerate Emily coming back to the Brown Villa. They weren't sisters; they were enemies who couldn't coexist.

Sophia, seething with anger, said, "No way! Only one of us can stay in the Brown Villa!"

Evelyn felt helpless seeing Sophia so determined. But honestly, Emily wasn't her biological daughter. Even if she was successful now, she might not take care of her in old age. Sophia was her real daughter, but if she couldn't even win Michael's heart, how could she take care of her?

Evelyn said, "Then replace a way to get Michael! Sophia, you're my daughter! You're smart, there must be a way to fight back. If this keeps up, Emily and Michael will never get divorced!"

'Not getting divorced is a tough one. But do I really have what it takes to fight back?' Sophia wondered, feeling overwhelmed.

She had already used a lot of connections to retaliate against Veda. Now the kidnapper who had taken Veda was caught and could implicate her at any time. Attacking Emily now might be too risky. Sophia said, "You are my parents, not Emily's! If you want Michael as a son-in-law, then figure it out yourselves. Always wanting something for nothing, there's no such thing waiting for you!" Hayden said, "You..."

At that moment, Hayden finally saw Sophia's true colors. Despite all her promises, she couldn't even compare to Emily, let alone win Michael's heart.

After stewing over it for a while, a fuming Hayden stormed out of the hospital and, in his frustration, dialed Emily's number.

Without the second daughter to lean on, he figured he could at least play the pity card with the eldest, who always seemed to fall for it.

Emily picked up, "I don't have any money."

She was in the car with Michael, thinking she could finally catch a break when Hayden's call came through. Seeing "Dad" flash on her screen made her heart skip a beat.

But when she answered, hoping for something different, and heard Hayden asking for money, her heart sank.

To let Michael see the true colors of the Browns, she impatiently put the call on speaker and repeated, "I really don't have any money, not a single cent."

Hearing Emily's firm declaration, Michael, who was driving, instinctively glanced over.

Hayden shot back, "How can you have no money? Emily, have some pity on me. Brown Corporation's funds are really tight. All my money's gone to Sophia's hospital bills. I can't even afford decent clothes!"

Hayden was always good at spinning tales. He could always tug at Emily's heartstrings and get her support. That was how it had always been. By playing the weak and pitiful card, he gradually took control of Brown Corporation. But the Emily of today wasn't buying it.

Emily said, "I said I have no money, and I mean it. You gave all your money to Sophia for her hospital stay, so deal with it. Dad, I told you a long time ago. Give up Brown Corporation, and I'll give you a subsidiary."

"The subsidiary will be the most profitable company. You won't have to worry about anything. Isn't that the same? This is my way of caring for you. Be content."

To Michael, Emily's tone towards Hayden was as cold as if she were talking to a stranger.

No matter how many mistakes Hayden made, was it right for a daughter to speak to her father like this?

Before Michael could wrap his head around it, Emily coldly said into the phone, "Did I tell Sophia to commit suicide? Stop dumping all this on me. You three take care of yourselves. Sign the transfer contract for Brown Corporation, or we'll see each other in court."

With that, Emily hung up.

Michael, seeing her ironclad demeanor, couldn't hold back any longer. He sighed deeply, stepped on the brakes, and asked, "Do you have to talk to your dad like that?"

Emily couldn't help but laugh. She had seen people meddling in others' business, but never someone as clueless as Michael.

Knowing full well the strained relationship between her and the Brown family, he still chose this moment to stir the pot.

Emily retorted, "Do you not know why I talk to him like that?"

Michael said, "But he's still your dad. He's not Sophia. With your ability, you can support him now. Why reject him like this? I know you want Brown Corporation, and your father isn't refusing to give it to you!" Michael's words made Emily's heart sink deeper.

Sure enough, if the shoe wasn't on your foot, you didn't know how it pinched.

Just like Michael now, who kept advising her while standing on his moral high ground, condemning her.