Chapter 141 Too Cute
Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the banquet.
On the surface, this banquet was supposed to be Holden's birthday party, but word had already gotten out that it was actually a matchmaking event Holden had specially arranged for William.
When she was part of the Smith family, Holden had taken good care of her, and the invitation specifically invited both her and Emily to attend the birthday party.
Sophia planned to drop off a gift and leave.
The Smith Manor was located in the most scenic spot in Empire City, with an independent banquet hall that could accommodate thousands of guests, and the lawn outside was decorated magnificently.
As evening lights came on, the brilliantly lit banquet hall was filled with handsome men and beautiful women. Melodious music flowed gently, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance. Every detail displayed the Smith family's luxury and taste.
When Sophia appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall holding Emily, everyone turned to look at them.
She wore a custom-made black velvet gown with an elegant style and bold cut that perfectly outlined her figure. A diamond necklace and earrings set with pink conch pearls became the finishing touch to the outfit.
Emily in her arms wore a pink princess dress that made her fair skin even more radiant, with delicate features and big eyes curiously surveying the scene.
Seeing so many people looking at her, she wasn't shy at all and gave everyone a sweet smile.
"Whose daughter is that? She's so adorable!"
"That woman looks familiar, like the Smith family's former granddaughter-in-law."
"Oh my God! They're so beautiful!"
Emily was pretty and cute, immediately winning over all the ladies present.
The driver delivered the gift to the registration area, then returned to the car to wait for them.
Martin, who was attending to guests, saw Sophia arrive and immediately came over to lead the way, saying respectfully, "Ms. Johnson, this way please."
Following Holden's earlier instructions, he first took them to the VIP lounge upstairs.
Sophia didn't see James and Michael at the scene, so she asked Martin, "Where are James and Michael?"
"James and Michael are in the main building; they'll come over later."
Emily stayed obediently nestled in Sophia's arms the whole time, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, especially lively.
After Martin brought them to the lounge, he went to get Holden.
Before long, Holden arrived.
He said cheerfully, "Sophia's here. I haven't seen you in so long, you've gotten even more beautiful."
Seeing Holden again, Sophia couldn't quite describe what she was feeling.
She smiled and replied, "Holden, you look as healthy as ever."
Holden said, "This is your daughter, right? Emily?"
Emily had been watching him since he came in, without a trace of fear in her eyes.
Without needing Sophia to remind her, Emily heard her name and immediately sat up straight on the sofa.
She nodded at him openly and said, "Hello, Grandpa."
The more Holden looked at Emily, the more he couldn't help but like her.
Emily's delicate face was full of smiles, her dimples appearing and disappearing, and her eyes were very pretty too.
"Emily, you should call me Great-grandpa."
Sophia saw the overflowing affection in Holden's eyes and felt a sinking feeling in her heart, sensing that he knew about Emily and William's relationship.
Emily tilted her head in confusion, her long, thick eyelashes making her eyes look even bigger and prettier.
She looked back at Sophia, and seeing Sophia nod, she called out "Great-grandpa" this time.
Hearing this, Holden smiled happily.
He walked over and sat down in the main seat on the sofa, reaching out his hand toward Emily, "Come, Emily, come here to me."
Seeing that Sophia didn't stop her, Emily obediently walked over to Holden's side.
She wasn't at all afraid of the sharp aura that had settled on him over the years. She habitually climbed onto the elder's lap and sat down, looking up with a smiling face and calling out "Great-grandpa" again.
Even James and Michael, who had grown up by his side, would stand obediently to the side whenever they saw Holden. None of them were as affectionate and dependent on him as Emily was.
"Good, good, good." Holden said "good" several times in a row, his heart melted by Emily's cuteness.
He looked at Sophia meaningfully and said, "It's been a long time since the Smith family had a baby girl."
In Holden's heart, he never acknowledged Melinda as a Smith family descendant.
Just then, Martin knocked and entered, followed by four maids, each carrying drinks that children liked, as well as various delicately shaped pastries.
The moment the door opened, Hannah, who had come specifically to gather information, happened to hear Holden's words.
She bit her bottom lip hard, hiding in a dark corner with a twisted expression. If it weren't for Holden's bias against them, she wouldn't have had such a hard time these years, almost unable to maintain even a surface appearance of prosperity!
Sophia had destroyed Tanner's reproductive organs, Holden didn't acknowledge her and Melinda, and Henry's heart had been seduced away by some vixen outside. Hannah blamed Sophia for all her old and new grievances.
Just then, she received an anonymous email. Seeing the content, her eyes lit up with a cold, sinister smile.
Inside the room, Holden had someone bring out the necklace he had custom-made for Emily.
He put it directly around Emily's neck, his eyes full of affection, "With the necklace on, Emily is even more beautiful."
Emily grabbed the necklace around her neck. It felt the same as the one Lucas had bought her, with jade in the middle too.
She thought about it - she had many such necklaces in her little cabinet, in green, pink, and many other colors. But that didn't stop her from loving this newest one, which had a pretty little bird on it.
Holden didn't yet know that the phoenix on it had been mistaken by Emily for an ordinary bird, when he heard her soft blessing.
Emily said, "Thank you, Grandpa. I wish you a thousand years of life."
She remembered what Sophia had told her - that's how you should bless elderly people, and you should use a bigger number.
Just two days ago, James had taught her the difference between one hundred and one thousand, and now she was putting it to use.
She blinked, looking at the already delighted Holden and thought: 'Great-grandpa must like this blessing, right?'
Sophia suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and said, "Holden, this gift is too valuable. Emily is still young, she can't accept it."
Hearing her words, Emily immediately tried to take off the necklace, but was stopped by Holden.
"Sophia, it's just a necklace. This is my blessing for the Smith family's child." His words clearly contained a test, and his eyes never left Sophia's face, wanting to see something on it.
Sophia looked at him calmly, her tone unhurried.
"Holden, Emily is my child and has nothing to do with the Smith family. If you don't believe me, you can have someone do a paternity test."
Holden looked at Sophia's composed demeanor, and his original certainty that Emily was a Smith family child became somewhat uncertain.
"Whether or not she's a Smith family child, she can still accept it."
He rubbed Emily's little head and said, "Emily, do you like this necklace? James and Michael each have one too."
Originally, Emily had heard Sophia's words and didn't want it anymore - after all, she had many, many at home. But hearing that James and Michael also had one, she couldn't help but light up.
Emily asked, "James has one?"
Holden nodded, "Yes, both James and Michael have one."
Because of Holden's birthday party, James and Michael had been brought to the Smith Manor early to stay.
Hearing that Sophia and Emily had arrived, the two boys couldn't wait to finish their tutoring, changed into little suits, and ran to find them.
"Great-grandpa."
"Mom, Emily!"
Not having seen them for a day or two, James and Michael really missed them. The two boys greeted Holden first when they entered, then came over to hold Emily's hands, wanting to take her to their toy room to play.
"Emily, be good and go play with James and Michael. I need to talk to your mom about something, and your mom will come find you in a bit, okay?" Holden said.
The children all looked at Sophia at the same time.
She saw that James and Michael both had servants with them, so she nodded at them, "James and Michael, hold Emily's hands."
If Sophia had known what would happen later, she absolutely, absolutely would not have let Emily leave her sight.
But unfortunately...