Chapter 406 Sarah's Relationship with the Moore Family 1
Over the years, Oliver had been unstoppable in the business world.
When had he ever suffered a setback?
But now, Isabella's words hit him hard, making his chest ache. Yet, he couldn't afford to offend the Moore family. Not only could he not lose his temper, but he also had to maintain his composure. "Then please, Mr. Moore, take your time and wait until the end of time."
Isabella smiled slightly. "Mr. Windsor, you're very confident! No wonder you're so successful with women. I suppose the women you deal with in social settings all fall for this."
It was a battle of wits, with neither side showing their hand.
How could Oliver not understand?
But he couldn't respond.
Because what Isabella said was true. He had indeed been a playboy for a long time, drifting between different women, enjoying the hedonistic lifestyle. He once thought it was compensation for his years in prison.
But now, he was tired of it.
He longed for the warmth of a family.
Isabella, satisfied with her words, left.
With this unexpected encounter, Oliver lost the mood to go inside the gallery.
He sat in his car and waited.
From daylight to dusk, and then deep into the night, Sarah finally emerged from the gallery.
Oliver's car was parked right at the entrance.
As soon as she came out, she saw him sitting in the driver's seat of the black Rolls-Royce, the window half-down, his elbow resting on the edge, a white cigarette between his long fingers.
In the night, he wore a crisp white shirt. His sharp features were strikingly handsome, and the way he looked at women could make their knees weak.
Sarah glanced at him and walked towards her own car.
Oliver opened his car door and, in a few strides, grabbed her slender wrist and pulled her into the Rolls-Royce.
Sarah was about to lose her temper, Oliver locked the car doors, turned to her, and directly asked, "What's going on with the Moore family? Why did Mrs. Moore come to see you?"
Sarah didn't look at him. Her voice was cold. "The gallery is open for business. How can I stop people from coming in? Besides, Oliver, what does this have to do with you? We're already separated and about to get divorced."
Oliver frowned. "I'm still your husband."
"Then consider yourself a widower!"
He was infuriated. But he didn't lose his temper. Instead, he reached for a thermos and opened it, saying to Sarah, "I had the housekeeper make some soup, it's good for you."
The car was silent.
They had been married for years, but this seemed like the first time they were acting like a normal couple, with the husband picking up the wife from work and offering a warm snack, chatting together.
But these were like a dream.
Even if it was real, it wasn't what Sarah wanted anymore.
She said no.
She asked him to let her go, looking out the window, her face slightly pale and her voice tinged with fatigue. "Oliver... really, can we just be normal?"
He stared into her eyes, asking, "Did you get the painting and the card? Sarah, everything I wrote there is true. I really want to start over with you, to spend my life with you. No more hatred, no more other women... just you and me, and Jacob and Nicole. If you want, Claire can come too. Sarah, we can live wherever you want."
"It's too late!" Sarah leaned back in her seat, her eyes glistening with tears.
She said, "Oliver, no matter how good it sounds, it's too late! We all know the story Crying wolf, right?"
She gripped the door handle. "Let me out! I promised Jacob I'd buy him a small cake. He's waiting for me at home and won't sleep until I get back."
Oliver's Adam's apple bobbed.
He understood what Sarah meant. If he didn't let her go now, he wouldn't just be a bad husband, he'd be a bad father too.
In the end, he let Sarah go.
Sarah made sure to buy the small cake, when she returned to the apartment, Jacob wasn't in the living room. Sarah thought he had fallen asleep, but Claire came out of the bedroom, looking worried. "Jacob seems to be sick. He's a bit feverish and can't sleep well."
Sarah dropped the cake and hurried to the bedroom.
Nicole was asleep.
Jacob, feeling unwell, was curled up, holding onto Nicole's arm. His round eyes looked like a puppy's, and when he saw Sarah, he whimpered, "Mommy."
Sarah picked him up and felt his forehead. He was indeed a bit hot.
She said, "I'll take him to the hospital."
Claire, initially flustered, felt reassured. She grabbed some clothes for Jacob. She wanted to go to the hospital too, but there was another child at home.
Sarah thought for a moment and said, "We should hire a live-in housekeeper. There's enough room."
Claire agreed.
Sarah took Jacob to the hospital alone. Jacob, half-awake, kept talking about his cake.
Sarah gently comforted, "When Jacob gets better, Mommy will buy a big cake."
Jacob nodded obediently.
At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed acute gastroenteritis, which was common among children recently. It wasn't too serious, and Jacob just needed to stay for observation for a day or two.
Sarah was relieved.
After completing the admission procedures, she carried Jacob to the ward. Jacob, feeling a bit better, wanted to walk on his own, but Sarah wouldn't let him.
She hugged Jacob, their faces close. "Jacob is still a baby!"
Jacob, being a boy, blushed with embarrassment.
It was cold at night, but with Jacob, Sarah felt warm.
By the bench, a gentle man leaned against it.
Nicholas wore a white shirt with a cardigan. He leaned on the bench, reading a book, the soft light casting a long shadow.
Sarah recognized him.
Still holding Jacob, she was visibly startled.
Nicholas looked up, his clear eyes fixed on Sarah.
After a moment, he softly asked, "Is Jacob sick?"
He was too enthusiastic.
Sarah had no choice but to nod. "Yes, he has a bit of gastroenteritis. Mr. Moore, I need to take Jacob to the ward."
Nicholas smiled. "Just call me Nicholas."
He put down his book and stood up. "I'll walk you there. The road in the children's ward was a bit dark."
Sarah wanted to refuse.
But Nicholas seemed oblivious to her reluctance. He took her handbag. "Let's go together."
She had requested a VIP room, with no other patients.
When they arrived, the nurse had already brought the IV. Seeing them, she warmly patted Jacob's head and then looked at Sarah and Nicholas, smiling. "The little boy looks just like his uncle!"
Sarah was stunned.
Nicholas smiled faintly. "The nurse thinks we're siblings, saying we look alike."
Sarah thought he was joking and didn't take it seriously.
Soon, the nurse set up Jacob's IV.
Nicholas showed no intention of leaving.
He chatted with Jacob, who clearly liked him.
Halfway through the IV, Jacob finally fell asleep.
The room was silent.
Sarah was about to speak, but Nicholas spoke first. He looked at Sarah and softly asked, "Aren't you curious why I'm at the hospital?"
"Why?"
Her question lacked sincerity, making Nicholas chuckle.
But he wasn't angry. He walked to the window, looking at the sight outside, and after a long pause, he spoke quietly. "I had a blood disorder and underwent a bone marrow transplant at 16. Through the Moore family's connections, I found out the donor was from this city, just three years older than me."
Turning around, Nicholas's face was especially handsome in the night.
He looked at Sarah intently and continued softly, "I wanted to find her and thank her. Later, I did find her and learned her name... But when I went to her place, her brother had moved her away."
"Ms. Miller, I don't force fate. I didn't look for her again." He continued, "But these past two years, I've often thought, in a city, the chance of a bone marrow match is one in ten thousand. Maybe, we were related by blood."
Sarah sat on the couch, her face pale.
Nicholas's gaze was sincere. He asked, "Ms. Miller, what do you think?"
"I don't know." she trembled.
Nicholas kept looking at her, not moving an inch.
He murmured, as if to himself, "A family like the Moore's shouldn't have complications, especially since my grandfather hasn't stepped down yet. But that person is living a hard life. I think if she could return to the Moore family, her situation would be completely different."
Sarah's face grew paler.
Nicholas stopped there. He took out a beautifully crafted card from his book and handed it to Sarah, speaking with refined politeness. "My mother's birthday is next month. I hope you can come to our home, and bring Jacob too."
Sarah took the card. She didn't speak. In the past, she would never have accepted such an invitation.
But Nicholas had said so much, and his meaning was clear.
Sarah looked at him.
Nicholas had a serene and gentle demeanor, cultivated over time, much like her past self.
He smiled slightly. "Don't feel pressured."
With that, he walked to the bed, gently touched Jacob's face, and prepared to leave.
Jacob woke up. Half-awake, he looked at Nicholas.
Nicholas hugged him and softly said, "I have to go."
Jacob didn't want him to leave, but he was very obedient. "Come back tomorrow."
Nicholas nodded lightly.
"I'll definitely come tomorrow," he said.