Chapter 712: The Motive Is Obvious

Chapter 712: Chapter 708: The Motive Is Obvious

“Dad, remember what I told you. If you don’t want to sleep at the station again tonight, you’d better be on your best behavior in a minute.”

“I know, I know. Let’s just get inside. It’s freezing out here.”

The office building’s lobby was bustling with people. It was the morning rush, and everyone coming and going was dressed professionally, walking with a hurried pace. Still, they would cast a sideways glance at the pair.

“It’s this late and they’re just getting to work?” Leopold Hughes asked curiously.

Tanya Hughes ignored him, as she was starting to feel a little nervous herself.

They took the elevator to the 31st floor. The moment the doors opened, they were greeted by the enormous reception desk of Locke Entertainment. The entire floor was Locke Entertainment’s office space.

The receptionist spotted them in the elevator instantly and shot a look at the security guard standing to the side.

Leopold and Tanya Hughes were stopped the moment they stepped out of the elevator.

“You two, please leave. You can’t come in.”

The father and daughter were stunned. ‘They haven’t even said anything, and they’re already being stopped?’

They had no idea that Connie had already blacklisted them, labeling them as individuals forbidden from entering the company. Everyone in the company had received their photos.

These two guards had been posted here specifically to wait for them.

“I-I’m here to see Lily Sterling!” Provoked by their attitude, Leopold started yelling at the top of his lungs. “I’m her dad! You know Lily Sterling, right? The superstar!”

Posters of the company’s artists lined the surrounding walls, with a giant poster of Lily Sterling in the most prominent position. Seeing it, an agitated Leopold pointed at the poster and shouted, “Lily Sterling! That’s her! My daughter!”

But the guard just looked at him, expressionless, and issued a warning. “Please leave on your own. If you insist on forcing your way in, we have the right to remove you by force.”

“Force my—”

Leopold was about to throw a tantrum, but Tanya forcefully held him back. She looked at the guard and said, “We’re not here to cause trouble. We just want to see Lily Sterling and say a few words to her. We’ll leave right after.”

Leopold finally remembered that he had completely forgotten his daughter’s warning and chimed in with a placating smile. “Right, right, right. We’ll just say a few words and be on our way. How about you let us in, huh?”

The guard remained expressionless. “Please leave.”

“What is wrong with you? Don’t you understand plain English? Are you a robot or something?!” Leopold exploded again.

Meanwhile, the receptionist had already notified Connie, telling her that, as expected, the two had shown up at the company.

Connie pushed the door open from the inside and saw Leopold arguing and yelling at the security guard. Her expression immediately hardened.

As she approached, the two guards saw her and silently stepped aside.

Seeing this, Leopold’s eyes lit up. “You must be a manager here, right? I’m Lily Sterling’s father. I’m here to—”

“Your identity has yet to be confirmed, so please watch your words,” Connie said coldly. As she spoke, she glanced at Tanya Hughes beside him and sighed internally. ‘The resemblance is uncanny!’

“What’s there to confirm? I’m her dad, that’s a fact! Look at her sister here. Isn’t she the spitting image of that big photo on the wall?”

“A striking resemblance proves nothing. If we had to deal with everyone who shows up claiming to be related to a star just because they look alike, how would we ever get any work done? If you want to prove it, bring legally valid evidence. Otherwise, we’ll have you forcibly removed for causing a public disturbance.”

“We can do that! No problem! Just give me some of Lily Sterling’s hair, or a toothbrush, or something. How else am I supposed to do it?”

“That’s your problem. We have no obligation to cooperate.”

A paternity test is a civil matter. As long as no crime is involved, a citizen cannot be forced to undergo testing.

In other words, as long as Lily was unwilling, they had no right to force her.

No test, no proof!

“You’re clearly just playing dirty! If you won’t cooperate—”

Leopold was practically jumping with rage, his face flushed red, but he was cut off mid-sentence when the elevator doors behind him suddenly opened.

Connie was visibly startled by the person in the elevator, an expression that made Tanya Hughes instinctively turn her head.

Inside the elevator stood Lily Sterling, dressed in a black wool coat with her hair tied in a simple ponytail.

Her expression was a mixture of calm and cold indifference—a side of her that even Connie had never seen before.

“Lily Sterling?”

Tanya was also taken aback by Lily’s sudden appearance and quickly tugged on her father’s arm. “Dad, it’s Lily Sterling.”

Lily Sterling walked slowly out of the elevator. Connie pushed Leopold aside and rushed to her side. “Lily, what are you doing here?”

“Connie, I’m here to handle my own private matter,” Lily said, her expression unchanged.

Connie was a little worried. She leaned in and whispered, “The company’s here for you. I’m here for you. They can’t make any real trouble.”

“Connie, this is different from other things. It needs a resolution.” Lily looked toward Leopold and Tanya Hughes. Her heart didn’t stir in the slightest when she looked at Leopold’s face, but seeing Tanya’s, she felt a flicker of emotion.

The resemblance was just too strong. Seeing her this close, it was even more striking than yesterday.

But it was only for a moment. Lily’s expression smoothed over, and she indicated for the two of them to follow her. “Come with me.”

Leopold’s face immediately lit up with joy. “Good, good, good. Good girl.”

As he spoke, he started to walk toward Lily, but a guard darted forward to block him. “Keep your distance.”

Leopold pouted reluctantly, but he tolerated it, thinking that just being able to meet with Lily meant he had a chance.

As they entered the main office area, everyone inside turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Beau watched from a distance, his face a mask of anger. When he saw Lily lead the two of them and Connie into a meeting room, he quickly walked over as well.

Inside the meeting room, the five of them sat facing each other.

Lily Sterling sat between Connie and Beau, her eyes lifting to meet the two people opposite them.

‘Judging from their clothes, their financial situation couldn’t be very good. After so many years of silence, they were suddenly willing to spend a great deal of time, effort, and money to come all the way to Lorcain to find her. Their motive was crystal clear.’

“Where are you from?” Lily asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was perfectly calm.

Leopold quickly replied, “Westermere River. Lily, you’re from Westermere River.”

“Westermere River?”

Tanya heard the doubt in her voice and quickly explained, “Our hometown is on the Westermere River, but we were both born in Veridia. Mom and Dad were working as migrant laborers in Veridia back then.”

“This is your sister. Look, see how much she looks like you?” Leopold quickly pulled Tanya forward for Lily to see.

Tanya added, “You might think the resemblance doesn’t prove anything, so we can do a paternity test.”

“Yes, yes, we can get it tested!”

The two of them looked at Lily, their eyes full of expectation.

But Lily replied icily, “There’s no need for a test. I believe you’re telling the truth.”

Hearing this, the father and daughter’s faces lit up with joy. But before they could celebrate, Lily spoke again. “Because whether you’re real or not, you’re still strangers to me.”