Chapter 204 This Dad is A Lost Cause!
When William stepped out of the prison, his expression was grim.
He had never realized that Alice had carried out so many underhanded deeds behind the scenes, nor did he know that Sophia had endured far more hardships than he had imagined.
And at the heart of it all was himself. The overcast sky and the misty air only deepened the weight of his mood.
The car eased its way into Crystal Lake Residences. In the distance, William caught sight of two people waiting at the gates of the Johnson Villa.
He immediately recognized the man—it was Raymond.
The post-rain air was crisp and refreshing. Sophia was slightly taken aback by his visit, but she didn’t refuse him entry.
She asked, "What's up?"
Raymond hadn’t intended to impose, but he feared that if he left now, he might never have the chance to see her again in his lifetime. After careful thought, he chose to come and bid farewell to Sophia, even if only as a college acquaintance.
Dressed down from his suit, he wore a crisp white shirt and casual trousers. His slim build and composed presence brought back memories of his college days.
Holding back the emotions swelling inside him, he spoke with calm composure, "I’m going abroad to advance my career." Since I’ll be away for several years, I wanted to come and bid you farewell.
Hearing Raymond speak, Sophia felt a sincere happiness for him.
The domestic market was already fairly stable, but international markets were fraught with challenges. For Raymond, taking on a new round of business battles abroad would be the perfect way to prove his abilities.
So much time had gone by that Sophia felt no desire to fault Raymond for Vincent’s errors. She gave a soft smile. "Wishing you all the best."
Having heard about her childhood and college years, Raymond felt a profound admiration for her strength and perseverance. Through all the trials and hardships she had faced, the confidence and brightness in her eyes remained unwavering.
will." He met her gaze, his smile calm but carrying a quiet, restrained power.
Raymond spread his arms, his eyes sincere. "Ms. Johnson, for good luck, could I have a hug?"
The scene brought back memories of their graduation at Harmony College years earlier. At that time, Sophia had answered, "Of course." And today, she responded the same way.
From the car parked a short distance away, William saw the two of them hug, and his hands immediately tightened into fists. In a cold voice, he told the driver, who had slowed the car, "Speed up."
The driver had witnessed the scene as well and couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for William. He stepped on the accelerator and drove past the entrance of the Johnson Villa, but unintentionally sounded the horn.
The driver quickly apologized, "Sorry, Mr. Smith!"
Sophia and Raymond’s hug lasted only a moment. Raymond remained courteous, not pulling her close—just a gentle embrace, and even the hand he placed on her back quickly pulled away.
Sophia had already spotted the black Maybach as it approached. When the horn sounded, her gaze shifted toward the back seat.
Even though the window remained closed, she could still sense a piercing stare fixed on her from behind the tinted glass. For Raymond, that brief embrace was already enough.
As he let go of Sophia, he happened to catch sight of Emily through the yard’s floor-to-ceiling window. Dressed in a lemon-yellow dress, she stared at them with eyes widened in shock.
Noticing his glance, Emily waved at him excitedly.
Raymond’s expression softened, and he returned her wave with a smile. "Emily is truly adorable."
Hearing that, Sophia turned back and saw Emily sprawled on the sofa, beaming with a wide grin.
Noticing both adults watching her, Emily quickly hopped off the sofa, grabbed a handful of her favorite candies, and dashed out.
"For you, Raymond." Her tiny hands were overflowing with her favorite candies, and she eagerly described each flavor to him.
Raymond knelt down and gratefully accepted her thoughtful gift.
Because he had a flight to catch, he didn’t linger. Before departing, he paused to take a long, lingering look at Sophia holding Emily in her arms.
On the drive to the airport, Raymond opened his wallet. Nestled in the center was a photo—a class picture from their college graduation.
But using some technical tricks, he had separated his and Sophia’s individual images from the group photo, creating a picture of just the two of them. Over the years, his wallets had become increasingly luxurious, yet this photo had never worn out.
It was his youthful, secret love—unchanged through time.
After Raymond left, Sophia carried Emily back upstairs to the study.
She kept busy with her work while Emily sketched at the little desk in the study. Each absorbed in their own activity, the scene felt exceptionally peaceful and harmonious.
In a nearby box lay several invitation cards, all of which she and William had crafted together earlier. The invitation was written entirely in William’s own handwriting, each character crafted with meticulous care, even more precisely than when he signed official papers.
Suddenly, raindrops started pattering against the window, catching Emily’s attention as she listened to the rain outside.
She dashed to the window, watching the rain with excitement, eager to put on her raincoat and boots to play outside.
She looked back at the busy Sophia, tugged at her pant leg to get her attention, and then ran to the yard to join Allan, eager to play alongside him.
The brand-new yellow duck raincoat, paired with matching boots, made her look utterly adorable.
From upstairs, Sophia watched Allan and the bodyguard keeping an eye on Emily, feeling a sense of relief. She then returned her attention to the computer, her expression serious once more.
It contained the latest information Rat had uncovered: [Sophia, the real Molly, is most likely already dead.]
He had also uncovered that the current "Molly" was not only Quinn’s mistress but was also supported by a network that specialized in leaking business secrets to rival companies.
That woman, Lilith, was indeed very clever, just as the village chief of Nguyenville had claimed—unfortunately, she had chosen to use her intelligence for criminal purposes.
After reviewing the documents, Sophia got ready to go downstairs and check on Emily. As she approached the window, she noticed William standing outside in the yard.
A short distance behind him, the fake Molly from the files was walking toward them. "Mr. Smith, I’ve brought the documents Tony requested," she said.
Molly didn't know why William had been so resistant to her approaching before. Today, learning she needed to deliver documents, she deliberately showed her face to Tony, saying everyone else was busy and she was willing to make the trip.
In addition, she had already realized from Tony’s furniture order that William was moving into the same residential complex as Sophia, even before he actually relocated.
Spotting her enemy’s daughter, the darker instincts in Molly flared immediately.
Children often sense hostility far more keenly than adults do.
As soon as Emily saw Molly approaching, a wave of discomfort washed over her. She immediately released "William" and hurried back into the yard to be with Allan.
As she ran, she complained internally: 'Oh no! This dad is a lost cause!'
William was happily playing with Emily when Molly’s voice cut through the air. He turned sharply, his face hard and unyielding.
Noticing the documents and the community access card in her hands, he realized he needed to have a serious talk with Tony.
"Drop the documents and leave." But just as he glimpsed Sophia stepping out of the house from the corner of his eye, he abruptly reconsidered. "Hold on."
William accepted the documents directly from Molly. Across the yard gate, her eyes locked with Sophia’s, and a sense of victory washed over her.
Even though her earlier scheme to have Tammy tarnish Sophia’s reputation had failed, the other side hadn’t found any evidence against her, had they?
Feeling a surge of smugness, Molly wore a practiced smile as Sophia neared and took the initiative to greet her. "Ms. Johnson, it’s been a long time."
Sophia met her eyes and said courteously, "Indeed, it’s been a long time. Ms. White, you remind me a lot of someone I once knew—her name was Lilith." Do you know her?"