Chapter 327

Chapter 327

She didn't believe him.

The moment she heard Sophie's voice, Emily felt a strange sense of inevitability wash over her.

In her heart, she'd always believed Alexander could never truly let go of Sophie.

That was the thorn in her heart, the root of why she couldn't face his supposed regrets and attempts at making amends.

She lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions within. "Some things don't need to be investigated thoroughly. Besides, this hardly matters. The Foster family and the Laurent family have been intertwined for years, and they move in the same social circles. How could they not run into each other?"

Alexander found her words oddly familiar.

Wasn't this essentially what he'd told Emily when she had first tentatively suggested he keep his distance from Sophie?

If only he had agreed immediately then, would they have ended up here?

One misstep truly had led to countless others.

He looked at the cooling, sobering soup. "I understand. I'll be more careful in the future."

She made a small sound of acknowledgment and stood up, walking toward the stairs.

Halfway up, she noticed he was still sitting there and couldn't help looking back.

Alexander, sensing her gaze, took a sip of the sobering soup. "I'll leave after I finish this. I won't overstay my welcome."

His deep voice paired with his dejected silhouette made him look particularly forlorn.

Emily pressed her lips together. "That's not what I meant. I was just thinking that since you've been drinking, it might not be safe for you to drive. You should stay."

With that, she continued upstairs.

"Alright."

Alexander answered automatically, drinking half the sobering soup before realizing what she'd said.

He whipped his head around. "What did you say?"

But the staircase was already empty of Emily's presence.

Still, her words made him smile despite himself.

She still cared about him, didn't she?

The next morning when Emily woke up, Alexander was already in the living room having breakfast with the children.

"I want strawberry jam! Sweet and pink—perfect for a little princess!" Jasmine declared.

"Okay. Please eat up," Alexander replied.

Alexander, never known for his patience, seemed to grant Jasmine's every wish without hesitation.

Beside them, Maurice gave a small huff, though it wasn't clear if it was jealousy or dissatisfaction. "Blueberry jam is better. It's good for your eyes. I like blueberries!"

"Then Maurice, you can have bread with blueberry jam," Alexander said, spreading jam on a slice of bread and passing it to him.

The smile on his face was subtle but warm, as if no request from these children could ever annoy him.

If Emily hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed such a gentle expression could appear on his face.

For the first time, Emily regretted not telling Alexander about her pregnancy immediately. 

If he had known, would he truly have stayed by her side and tried to be a good father?

But using children to keep a man's heart... what would that make the children?

She shook her head, refusing to continue such absurd thoughts.

"Mommy!" Jasmine spotted her and immediately waved her small hand. "Alexander made it super tasty. Let him make you some too!"

"I want porridge, so I'll skip the bread," Emily smiled as she approached them, her expression tender.

The household staff, clearly perceptive, immediately brought out warmed porridge and toast, adding, "Mr. Foster specifically arranged this, Mrs. Foster. Please try it."

Previously, apart from Eleanor, everyone seemed to be saying they weren't compatible and should separate.

Now that she'd given up hope, suddenly everyone was surrounding them, trying to push them back together.

Life truly took unexpected turns.

Emily lowered her head and began eating.

Her silence seemed to quiet the previously lively dining area.

Noticing the change in atmosphere, she looked up. "What's wrong?"

Jasmine blinked her watery eyes. "Mommy, are you unhappy? You're not saying anything, and now we're all afraid to talk."

"Yeah," Maurice added, "My teacher says mommies set the mood at the table."

Did she really have that power?

Emily doubted it.

When she used to eat with Alexander, wasn't it always his mood that dictated the atmosphere?

Her eyebrow arched slightly as she poured milk for each of them. "Eat properly. Too much talking might make you choke. Once you're full, I'll take you to kindergarten."

"No need!" both children answered in unison, making her pause with a questioning look.

"I promised to take them," Alexander, who hadn't spoken since Emily appeared, finally said.

Sensing something was off, he quickly added, "If you think that's inappropriate..."

"It's okay," Emily cut in.

Last night, the children had cried and fussed when Alexander hadn't returned to tell them a story, leaving her feeling sympathetic.

If she prevented him now, who knew what drama might unfold.

"You're helping out, and I'm grateful. I'll head straight to the lab after breakfast. I'm entrusting them to you," she continued eating, adding, "You two need to behave and not cause trouble, okay?"

The table regained its cheerful atmosphere, though Alexander's gaze at Emily remained complex.

After watching Alexander leave with the children, Emily got into her car to head to Foster Pharmaceuticals.

But her good mood was quickly spoiled when, through the car window, she spotted Sophie standing at the entrance.

Did some people truly not realize how unwelcome they were?

Sensing her gaze, Cherie asked, "Ms. Ward, would you like me to send her away?"

"No need. If she wants to stand there in the cold, let her. Just don't let her disturb me."

If someone enjoyed punishing themselves by standing in the cold, why should she interfere?

Emily exited the car and walked directly toward the building. Sophie immediately rushed after her. "Emily..."

Before she could get close, Cherie blocked her path. "Ms. Ward doesn't wish to be disturbed. Please respect that."

Cherie had never been one to speak softly, and her tone was far from polite—something Sophie clearly couldn't tolerate.

"How dare you speak to me that way?" she demanded.

"If you weren't trying to bother Ms. Ward, I wouldn't be addressing you at all," Cherie replied evenly.

Sophie's anger flared. "Who do you think you are? I could have Alexander fire you!"

Previously, she had been accustomed to using Alexander's name to intimidate others. Even after yesterday's events, the habit remained.

But Cherie wasn't like those she had previously threatened; her expression didn't change in the slightest.

"Until Mr. Foster fires me, I won't let you approach Ms. Ward."

"You..."

Realizing that further delay would mean Emily would be inside, Sophie shouted after her: "Emily, you don't really think you've won, do you? I'm his savior—he can never truly let me go! And what about how you're treating me? Have you thought about what Mom would think?"

She saw Emily's steps falter, and her face brightened.

"Don't forget, we're half-sisters with the same mother. If you won't see me, will you not see Mom either? Or are you going to let everyone know you're a heartless person who doesn't even respect her birth mother?"