Chapter 218: Confrontation
Chapter 218: Confrontation
Sophia thought for a moment—she didn't really have anything urgent scheduled for today.
Since it probably wasn't anything important, she decided not to worry about the missed call.
After she and Lucas finished ordering, they chatted while eating, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
Little did they know that at that very moment, kindergarten director Dwayne was staring in frustration at his phone, unable to get through.
He sighed, "Julia and Simon's transfer paperwork is still missing one document. If the parent can't provide it, we can't process the transfer."
After trying several more times without success, Dwayne had no choice but to give up.
He reluctantly began searching through Julia and Simon's other files at the school, trying to find an alternative guardian contact.
And he actually found one.
When Zachary had previously brought the children to school activities, he'd left an emergency contact form with his phone number listed.
This time, the call went through immediately.
"Hello, is this a family member of Julia and Simon?" Dwayne asked directly.
Hearing himself referred to this way, Zachary felt a complex mix of emotions. The title felt strange to him.
But oddly enough, he didn't mind it.
"What's this about?" he asked.
"Well, Julia and Simon's mother submitted some paperwork today..." Dwayne explained the situation, then asked, "So could you provide the complete documentation, or help us reach Ms. Taylor?"
To his surprise, Zachary's brow furrowed deeply as he asked in shock, "Did you say transfer application?"
"Yes?" Dwayne was confused. "Wasn't this a decision yourdiscussed together?"
Zachary let out a cold laugh, feeling both furious and deeply disappointed.
He knew Sophia had been treating him coldly, but he hadn't realized she'd become so unreasonable as to try to flee the country again with the children without a word!
This phone call was like a lit fuse, completely igniting the already tense atmosphere between them. Zachary said coldly, "The transfer is a misunderstanding. I'll have the application withdrawn."
He hung up, his grip on the phone tightening inch by inch. His knuckles turned white, veins bulging.
Then he picked up the phone again and ordered, "Find Sophia's current location."
Meanwhile, Sophia remained completely unaware.
She and Lucas chatted for a while, both tactfully avoiding the topic of her departure, just enjoying friendly conversation like they had countless times before.
When it was time to leave, she stood up and took the initiative to say goodbye: "I probably won't have time to contact you for a while. Once I'm settled overseas, I'll let you know."
Lucas's expression was gentle: "Make sure to let me know you're safe when you arrive. I want to see how the little ones react."
"They'll definitely be thrilled to reunite with their old friends."
The two stood up and walked while talking.
Zachary had successfully tracked down Sophia's location. His aura was dark and forbidding as he pushed through the door without a word, scanning the area before his gaze landed heavily on Sophia, who was walking shoulder to shoulder with Lucas, her smile bright and carefree.
As they rounded a corner, Sophia didn't notice the puddle of water on the floor.
She was looking up, saying something to Lucas, when her foot slipped, and her face went pale as she pitched forward.
Sophia's pupils dilated in shock.
Lucas's expression also changed. He stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Sophia's waist while his other hand protected her back, pulling her entire body against his chest.
Their eyes met, both of them holding their breath.
Sophia was still shaken, her heart racing with lingering fear. Resting in Lucas's embrace, the pallor gradually returned to her cheeks.
Lucas seemed transfixed, gazing intently at Sophia in his arms. Where their bodies touched, his palm burned with heat that traveled deep into his bloodstream.
He was unusually rigid all over, his arms around Sophia's waist tightening and tightening again.
Sophia froze in place, time seeming suspended in this moment.
Until Zachary strode over and yanked Sophia from Lucas's embrace, shattering the silent atmosphere.
Sophia drew in a sharp breath, looking at Zachary in shock: "Why are you doing here?"
His face was dark as iron, his jaw clenched coldly, storm clouds gathering on his stern, forbidding features, concealing rolling fury.
Seeing Sophia's question, he demanded, "What, upset that I interrupted your private meeting?"
His palm gripped Sophia's arm like a vise, forcefully keeping her at his side.
Sophia found it completely baffling. After struggling unsuccessfully several times, she snapped back just as coldly: "Who I see is none of your business. Could you please not talk like that?"
"Sorry, am I interrupting something here? Your date, perhaps?" Zachary's voice dripped with sarcasm as he looked coldly at Lucas.
The confrontation between the two men made the atmosphere explosive. Lucas was also displeased: "Mr. Spencer, Sophia has no relationship with you whatsoever. We're meeting as friends, so please don't slander her."
Far from softening Zachary's attitude, this only enraged him further.
Zachary was furious to the point of cold laughter. He asked Sophia through gritted teeth, "You told him we have no relationship whatsoever, did you?"
Sophia frowned and continued struggling, looking at Zachary warily: "We haven't had any relationship for a long time. Let go!"
She paused, then said coldly, "Keep this up and I'm calling the police!"
Zachary scoffed, tightening his grip and forcefully keeping Sophia at his side as he looked down at her: "We're not divorced yet. You want to call the police? What's your reason?"
"Zachary! " Sophia interrupted before he could say anything more offensive: "Our divorce proceedings are already underway, and this marriage failed because of your misconduct. If you keep acting so unreasonably, I can call the police and file charges against you!"
She bit her lip and continued trying to pull her wrist free from Zachary's grip.
But his hold was tight as an iron clamp, and within moments he'd left a circle of bruises on Sophia's wrist.
Lucas's expression changed. Regardless of Zachary's increasingly hostile attitude, he stepped forward and grasped Sophia's wrist, warning Zachary: "Mr. Spencer, you're hurting her. Let her go!"
"Let her go?" Zachary asked Sophia ominously: "Don't you think you need to explain your behavior today first?"
He looked at Lucas with cold indifference, as if viewing an irrelevant object: "Mr. Brown, you're overstepping. This is a domestic dispute between Sophia and me. You have no right to interfere."
"Zachary! Shut up!" Sophia raged: "Let go!"
Zachary laughed coldly: "Isn't that exactly what this is? Don't forget, as long as we're not divorced, you're still my wife, and I'm still the children's legal guardian."