Sophie watched as a woman, who looked uncannily like her, sauntered into the room in ck stilettos. She shared Sophie''s delicate features, the same porcin skin, and their smiles were eerily simr. Right now, she was rocking an elegant ck pencil dress, with a


    slim brown leather belt hugging her waist, every move she made radiating a kind of regal poise.


    "Ms. Sophie," the woman said, reaching out with a hand and wearing a smile that was a mirror image of Sophie''s.


    Sophie wasn''t having it. It felt like staring into her own reflection. Instead of shaking hands, she turned her icy gaze toward James and demanded, "James, care to exin?"


    James barely nced at her, his tone nonchnt, "The truth is staring you in the face."


    "What truth? James, you can''t just parade around a lookalike and think you can fool us!"


    "Yeah! Why drag this imposter into ourpany? Spill it, now!"


    The room buzzed with rising murmurs, and the partners, sensing a shift in the air, leaned in with curiosity.


    "The truth is, I''m the real Sophie," the woman dered with a faint smile, her eyes sweeping the room. "I was kidnapped as a child and taken overseas. I managed to escape, and my adoptive father took me in. I''ve spent years searching for my biological parents, and now... I''ve finally found them."


    "James, did you hire someone to spin a yarn?" Sophie sneered. "This story sounds like it''s barely holding together."


    "My name is ire now," the woman said, her voice steady. "I''m the adopted daughter of the Lewis family abroad. Check it out if you don''t believe me."N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    ire spoke as if she wereying down undeniable facts.


    One of the shareholders stepped up, "You say you''re the true heir to the Russell family, but where''s your proof? Why should we just take your word, or James''?" "Exactly! You''re up to something! We''re not buying what you or James are selling!"


    ire, unfazed by the skepticism, walked up to Sophie and said, "The kidnappers had a stand-in for my parents, making them think I was back. But that stand-in was just a near lookalike..."  en


    ire''s eyes locked onto Sophie, silently suggesting that she was the stand-in. Sophie''s face turned stony.


    "When I was about seven or eight, I was kidnapped," ire continued. "A double wouldn''t have memories from before that. I wonder, can MS.


    Sophie here recall anything from before she was seven or eight?"


    ire''s words were calm, as if she was certain Sophie wouldn''t remember.


    The room went silent.


    "Ms. Sophie..."


    Even Tricia, standing by her side, stole a nce at Sophie.


    Seeing Sophie''s silent, icy expression, the crowd sensed she truly couldn''t recall anything from those early years.


    Still skeptical, Karter stepped


    forward, So what? It''s normal for kids to forget early childhood! How does that prove you''re the rea


    deal?"


    Then, ire slowly revealed a gemstone ne, its clear blue sparkle catching the light.


    When Sophieid eyes on the ne, a flicker of recognition crossed her face.