Chapter 69 Sophia Was Neglected
That night, Evelyn and Olivia didn't drink much. After a few sips, they headed to bed.
The next morning, Olivia followed her usual routine of taking Bianca to school. Unexpectedly, she ran into Michael at the entrance.
Michael stood there in a black suit, tall and imposing, exuding a cold, unapproachable aura that blended with the chilly air.
Olivia pretended not to see him.
Michael blocked her path and said coldly, "Didn't you see me standing here?"
Olivia's tone was equally frosty, "We have nothing to talk about unless you're here to discuss the divorce."
Michael's forehead twitched, his eyes filled with icy anger. "I'm still Bianca's father. I have the right to be involved in her education. Today, I'm here to inspect her school to see if it's suitable for her."
Olivia scoffed, "Where was this concern before? Do you really need to inspect the school now?"
If he truly cared, he would have noticed Bianca's changes and determined the school's suitability long ago.
His current actions, even if they came from a place of guilt and a desire to make amends, felt insincere.
As they spoke, Benjamin came out to greet Bianca.
When Benjamin saw Michael, he merely raised an eyebrow, then turned to Olivia and greeted her.
"Good morning, Ms. Garcia, and good morning, Bianca."
Bianca politely responded, "Good morning, Mr. White."
Benjamin smiled at her sweet voice and reached out to take her hand.
But Michael was quicker, picking Bianca up and saying, "You must be Mr. White. I'm Bianca's father, and I'm here to check out the school. I assume you don't mind parents visiting?"
His tone carried an unmistakable air of authority.
Olivia frowned, about to intervene, but Benjamin calmly smiled and said, "Of course not. We always welcome parents to visit."
Michael responded coolly, "Good."
Without waiting for a reaction from Benjamin or Olivia, Michael walked inside with Bianca in his arms.
Olivia watched his tall figure, her expression darkening.
Benjamin noticed and softly reassured her, "Ms.. Garcia, don't worry. I'm here."
Then he, too, entered the school.
Olivia didn't want to engage with Michael any further. She had an appointment with Layla for treatment and decided to leave the matter to Benjamin.
As Michael toured the school, his gaze was critical.
Benjamin noticed but remained professional, providing detailed explanations.
After the tour, Michael was visibly dissatisfied. "The facilities here are decent, but the children's family backgrounds vary too much. It's not beneficial for Bianca's growth. I'm withdrawing her from this school. The Johnson family can find a better one for her!"
Benjamin smiled calmly, "Mr. Johnson, if you truly understood Bianca's condition, you'd know she needs an environment that supports her mental health and provides care, not a so-called elite education. Autism isn't something that can be cured quickly. It requires a long-term approach and a lot of patience."
Michael questioned coldly, "I can hire the best psychologists for her. Surely they're better than school teachers."
Benjamin smiled serenely, "Is that so? From what I've observed, Bianca's condition has improved since she joined our school. Before she enrolled, her autism was so severe that she couldn't communicate normally. Spending more money doesn't guarantee better results. Surely you understand that simple truth? Besides…"
He shifted his tone, slightly colder, "Ms. Garcia enrolled Bianca here. If there's to be a withdrawal, she needs to handle it."
Michael frowned, "I'm her father. I have rights too."
Benjamin remained firm, "Those are our school's rules and policies."
Michael was infuriated.
He coldly called Olivia, but couldn't get through.
Her number was clearly blocked.
Olivia was unaware of this. She was focused on treating Layla and hadn't checked her phone. When she finished, she saw the missed call notification.
Michael's calling was never good news.
As she suspected, Benjamin soon called to inform her, "Bianca's father wants to withdraw her from school. I didn't agree and told him you need to handle it personally."
Olivia was furious but grateful to Benjamin. "Thank you, Mr. White. I'm sorry for the trouble. Please ignore his request regarding Bianca's transfer."
Benjamin wasn't bothered.
As a psychologist, he could see through Michael's superficial concern for Bianca.
After the incident at the birthday party, he felt responsible as a teacher to not let Michael have his way.
After hanging up with Benjamin, Olivia left the White Villa and headed to the research institute.
In the evening, she went to pick up Bianca from school as planned.
Bianca was cheerful, sharing school stories on the way home.
When they arrived, Evelyn had a surprise waiting. "I found a house for you. I tried to get the lowest price from the developer, but it turns out a homeowner is moving abroad and urgently selling a newly renovated place at a great price, right next door! I checked it out, and the style should suit you. Want to see it?"
Olivia agreed, and soon Evelyn and Olivia took Bianca to see the house next door.
It was a pleasant surprise.
The penthouse had several rooms, great lighting, and a beautiful view. It could be modified into a study, Bianca's art and music rooms, and even a room for Lightning!
Olivia was very satisfied and immediately asked Evelyn about the price. "How much is it?"
Evelyn smiled, "It was originally over ten million dollars, but now it's selling for ten million! Much lower than the original price!"
Olivia didn't hesitate, "I'll take it!"
The fees from Daniel's referrals, her military medical work, and the recent payment from the White family were just enough to cover it.
"Great. I'll handle the paperwork. You just need to sign."
"Alright."
Olivia trusted Evelyn completely with the arrangements.
The next day, being a weekend, Bianca didn't have school. Evelyn and Olivia brought in professionals to check the new house's environmental safety.
Once confirmed, they went to a home goods store to pick out furniture and essentials.
After paying the deposit and scheduling delivery, they returned home.
After dinner, Olivia received a call from Yara. "Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Johnson asked me to come over to take care of Ms. Johnson. Can you give me the address?"
Olivia frowned. What was Michael up to now?
She was about to refuse, but Yara quickly added, "Mrs. Johnson, my salary is paid by Mr. Johnson. If I don't take care of Ms. Johnson, I'll lose my job. Could you please let me come over? I promise to take good care of Ms. Johnson!"
Olivia's heart softened. Yara had been a dedicated caregiver and was very good to Bianca.
Having her around wouldn't be a bad idea, especially if Olivia got busy. She could pay Yara's salary herself to avoid dealing with Michael.
She replied, "Alright, you can come."
Yara was thrilled and arrived early the next morning with her belongings.
When she saw Bianca, she was quite emotional. "Ms. Johnson, I've missed you so much."
Bianca was also happy to see her.
After all, Yara had cared for her for nearly four years, and there was a bond.
After their reunion, Yara went to clean the new house.
Over the next few days, the furniture arrived, and they were finally ready to move in.
To celebrate moving into the new home, Olivia asked Yara to prepare a nice meal and invited Evelyn over for a small gathering.
Yara got to work immediately, and Olivia tended to the plants on the balcony, creating a lively green space even in winter.
It felt like the start of a beautiful new chapter.
At the Johnson Group, Michael was distracted despite his busy schedule.
Sophia came in to report, "The medical research lab is ready. Do you want to check it out?"
Michael, uninterested, replied, "No need. You handle it."
Sophia felt a pang of disappointment. She had noticed Michael's coldness since the birthday party incident. He hadn't visited Aiden at the hospital, despite Aiden asking about him constantly.
She had hinted at it several times, but Michael seemed oblivious.
Feeling anxious, Sophia approached him and took his hand, "Michael, Aiden misses you. Can you come with me tonight to see him? He'd be so happy!"
Michael pulled his hand away and said indifferently, "Maybe another time. I have something to do first."
He grabbed his coat and left, leaving Sophia stunned.
For the first time, he was this cold to her.
Something was wrong.
Desperate for answers, Sophia asked Robert, "Does Michael have any appointments tonight?"
Robert hesitated but explained, "No, he's probably going to pick up Ms. Johnson from school. Mrs. Johnson… I mean, Ms. Smith, took her to school, and Mr. Johnson seemed concerned."
Sophia nodded, but her anxiety grew.
Since when did Michael care about Bianca? He had always been indifferent. Could Olivia's threat of divorce be affecting him?
Sophia, once confident, now felt uncertain, especially with Michael delaying the divorce. Why wouldn't he divorce Olivia if he didn't love her?