Chapter 152
I was surprised, and also felt a sense of loss.
I never expected that after all these years of entanglement with James, it would end like this.
"Sophia?" Liliana called out when I didn't respond.
I snapped back to attention: "I'm listening."
"The doctor said we can't upset him, so Grandma didn't let us tell him about you."
I acknowledged: "Grandma did the right thing."
Liliana: "But recently, he had work on your side and ran into you. He seems suspicious and had someone investigate you."
My heart tightened slightly: "Did he find anything?"
"Don't worry, Grandma made sure he couldn't find any information about you." Liliana paused for a long time before continuing, "Sophia, if possible, please don't let him see you or get close to you."
"He can't handle any stress right now. I'm afraid if he sees you and remembers those memories, he won't be able to bear it, and something will happen..." Liliana's voice choked up, "I'm sorry, Sophia."
"Don't worry, I understand. You don't need to apologize to me." I sighed, "Even though we're no longer husband and wife, there's no way I would harm him."
Liliana thought I had misunderstood and quickly explained: "Sophia, that's not what I meant..."
"Liliana, you don't need to explain. I know. Everyone is doing this for his own good, and I want what's best for him too."
I used to fight with James, argue with him, resent him, and hate him, but I've truly let go now.
To me, he's just the biological father of the baby in my belly, nothing more.
"That's good. Sophia, once I finish this busy period and summer vacation starts, I'll come visit you."
I agreed, thinking to myself how fast time flies—three months had already passed.
The baby's due date is in September. Just five more months until I can meet my child.
Thinking about the baby, my eyes unconsciously lifted with joy.
In the following days, I went to work as usual.
I'm now working in jewelry design. I transformed my once beloved hobby into my livelihood.
After coming abroad, I thought about the baby in my belly and figured staring at a computer all day wasn't good, so I opened my own design studio.
Because my designs are unique, I get plenty of orders.
I recently took on a big project; this order is domestic.
I initially didn't want to take it, but after thinking it over, I realized I hadn't done anything wrong—why should I hide like this?
Besides, why should I turn down money?
Who knows how much it'll cost to raise this baby once it's born? Saving more money can't hurt.
After taking on this project, I had several brainstorming sessions with a few designers.
I rubbed my aching head as I went downstairs to head home, when I suddenly felt like someone was watching me from behind.
I stayed calm, then suddenly turned around to look, but saw nothing.
How strange.
These past few days, going to and from work, I kept feeling like someone was following me, secretly watching me. That gaze felt sticky and uncomfortable.
Once I pretended to walk forward, then suddenly turned into a small alley and stayed there for a while.
The person following me got anxious—I could hear their hurried footsteps approaching, but soon the footsteps faded away.
I got worried and ran out, but I couldn't even catch a glimpse of the person's back.
I told Andrew about this, and he suggested I commute with colleagues so we could look out for each other.
But that feeling of being watched persisted, impossible to shake off.
Fortunately, I'm flying back domestically tomorrow to coordinate work. I'll be back home for about a week. Maybe if that creepy stalker doesn't see me for that long, they'll give up.
I bought a ticket and flew back to my home country.
James's POV:
When I woke up again, I was in a hotel suite.
The private doctor had already examined me, saying I had passed out because my emotions were too intense, causing the hematoma in my skull to enlarge and compress the nerves.
I leaned against the headboard, my mind clearer than ever.
Something's not right.
That woman named Sophia must have some connection to me.
Otherwise, how could I explain why my heart races when I see her, while also feeling inexplicably sad?
"Investigate again." I instructed Bodhi beside me, "Use every resource available. I want to know more about Sophia."
I paused and added, "This time I want to see something different. You understand what I mean?"
Bodhi respectfully replied: "Yes, Mr. Smith."
However, the investigation results were still pretty much the same as before.
Sophia's life trajectory and mine were like two parallel lines that had never intersected.
But I still felt something was wrong, as if an invisible hand had completely erased certain key traces, or deliberately sealed them away where I couldn't reach them.
I irritably swept the pile of documents onto the floor.
This feeling of knowing something is important but not being able to grasp it was driving me crazy.
Since I couldn't find anything through investigation, I could only personally verify my suspicions.
I found where she works and secretly watched her come and go every day.
Every time I saw her, I felt heart palpitations and headaches, but also a strange, almost greedy sense of satisfaction.
I must be going crazy.
Once I followed her, and she seemed to notice. She deliberately turned into a small alley to wait for me. Luckily, I realized in time and hid, or she would have discovered me.
But then I thought—I'm not doing anything bad, just trying to get close to her and learn more about her. Why am I being so sneaky?
Just as I was debating whether to approach her the next day and introduce myself, she didn't come to work. For several days in a row, she didn't show up.
How could this be?
Did she discover me?
With an uneasy heart, I went to ask people at her studio. They said Sophia was just on a business trip.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
When I asked where Sophia had gone on her business trip, I learned she had returned home country.
"Are you looking for Ms. Brown? She'll be back in a couple of days. You can come find her then."
I acknowledged: "Thank you."
I was overjoyed and immediately wanted to return home country, but unfortunately, due to heavy rain, the flight was delayed and then canceled.
The rainstorm lasted two days. On the third day, the weather cleared, and flights resumed.
I had Bodhi immediately book a ticket, and I flew back home.
As soon as I returned, I had Bodhi track her whereabouts, but we couldn't find her anywhere. She was like a drop of water thrown into the ocean, vanishing without a trace.
At a business partner's reception, I was drinking the red wine in my glass with little interest, my eyes unconsciously staring ahead.
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind me.
"Mr. Smith, I've been looking for you. So here you are." The person smiled and struck up a conversation with me. "Mr. Smith, let me introduce you to the head of the design studio we're working with."
I turned around and saw the person I'd been thinking about day and night.
Sophia also didn't expect to run into me here. She looked shocked.
I looked at her and smiled slightly, extending my hand proactively: "Hello, I'm James Smith. It's nice to meet you, Sophia."
Sophia's eyes suddenly widened.