Chapter 220 The Truth Behind the Lies

Chapter 220 Only One Father
At the mention of Paula, Zachary's expression froze.

He furrowed his brow, staring at Sophia. "Why do you keep fixating on Paula? Are you taking the children away just to spite her?"

"Spite her?"

His dismissive words ignited Sophia's fury. "You think wanting a healthy environment for my children is all about some petty rivalry with Paula?"

"That's absolutely ridiculous!"

Her eyes reddened with rage as she shoved Zachary away. Her pointing finger trembled, her face pale with anger.

She raged at him, "Zachary, you've gone too far!"

Zachary found her equally unreasonable.

He shot back, "Who's being unreasonable here? From the moment you disappeared with the children without a word until now, you've been making unilateral decisions. Whether it concerns the children or us—you've been selfishly doing whatever you want this entire time!"

Sophia let out a cold laugh, countering sharply, "I'm a free woman, and those are my children. I'll make the choices that are best for them!"

Zachary laughed just as coldly, his tone dripping with mockery. "And your idea of 'best for them' is dragging them around with no stability?"

She didn't hesitate. "That's still better than staying with you and being treated like they don't matter. You have no blood relation to them, and you clearly have no intention of truly caring for them—so stop trampling on their trust!"

When it came to herself, Sophia could hold back her hurt.

But thinking of how Julia and Simon had joyfully embraced Zachary as their father, only for him to treat them like disposable toys—summoned when convenient, discarded when not—her eyes reddened uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the injustice done to them.

She poured all her resentment onto Zachary. "You have no right to interfere with where my children go!"

Zachary gave a bitter laugh.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, jaw clenched tight, his expression hardening as he slowly closed his eyes.

He struggled to suppress the rage Sophia stirred in him and the tangled chaos of his thoughts.

Through gritted teeth, he said, "Perfect. Just perfect, Sophia... So in your eyes, I'm the one being used, is that it? You push me forward when you think the kids need a father figure, then shove me aside when you're done. Is that how it is?"

They had both endured each other's resentment these past days.

Now they were like two volcanoes erupting simultaneously, spewing all their pent-up frustration and fury at one another.

Sophia and Zachary glared at each other in cold silence.

She turned to leave, her parting words sharp. "Our leaving is none of your business."

But Zachary seized her arm, his laugh bitter. "Don't forget—we're still legally married. No matter who the children's biological father is, as long as you're my wife, I'm the only father they have on paper."

Sophia stared at him in shock. "What are you saying?"

"I've made myself perfectly clear," Zachary said coldly, his voice low and unyielding. "I will not allow you to take the children away."

He used every ounce of willpower to restrain his fury, masking the turmoil Sophia caused him with ice-cold composure.

His tone was uncompromising. "Legally, you don't have the authority to decide the children's fate alone. Neither you nor the children can leave without my consent."

"You—"

Sophia's eyes widened, her face flushing with outrage.

She was so furious her whole body trembled. Taking a deep breath, she finally couldn't hold back. "Zachary, have you lost your mind?!"

Zachary abruptly looked away from Sophia's shocked, disappointed eyes.

Maintaining his cold, domineering stance, his strong hands gripped her wrists like iron shackles.

He said with absolute finality, "As long as we remain married, I have every right to fight for custody. And you wouldn't want to lose that, would you?"

"Zachary!"

Sophia's voice shook with rage. "What gives you the right?!"

He ignored her fury, repeating firmly, "Sophia, you know I mean what I say."

Oh, Sophia knew all too well.

She pointed at him accusingly. "You're nothing but a shameless bully!"

How dare Zachary use the children to threaten her? He was despicable!

Yet Zachary was determined to exploit Sophia's devotion to the children to stop her from leaving. "Think carefully," he said. "Maintain the status quo, or make the children suffer with you."

She fell silent.

Not because his words swayed her, but because she realized Zachary had come here today determined to be unreasonable—there was no point arguing with him.

If that's how it was, Sophia wouldn't hold back either.

She realized she'd let him provoke her, speaking recklessly multiple times and letting him control the conversation.

But her original reason for wanting to leave with the children had simply been to avoid interfering in Zachary and Paula's relationship.

Once this clarity returned, Sophia's flushed face gradually cooled.

The fury in her eyes receded inch by inch, replaced by cold scrutiny and rejection when she looked at Zachary.

Inexplicably, Zachary's heart suddenly lurched.

Something felt like it was rapidly slipping beyond his control.

He hadn't identified what it was yet, but instinct made him desperate to prevent it. He grabbed Sophia again. "I'm warning you—leaving isn't a decision you can make alone."

But this time, Sophia didn't erupt in the anger Zachary expected.

She calmly pushed his hand away, her eyes clear as a winter moon, and curved her lips in a slight, cold smile.

Lifting her chin, she said, "So you're saying you don't intend to end our marriage? Then what about Paula? I don't mind being stuck in limbo—I have nothing to lose. But is the woman you love most willing to remain a mistress for the rest of her life?"

Paula would probably die of frustration if she knew.

At this thought, Sophia's anger suddenly dissipated. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for Zachary's reaction.

Zachary found this baffling.

He couldn't understand why Sophia kept bringing up Paula over and over.

He stepped closer, demanding, "What about you? You act like a porcupine around me, but what are you like with Lucas?"

Recalling the scene he'd witnessed at the restaurant—Sophia and Lucas so intimately close—a fire ignited in Zachary's chest.

He couldn't tell if this was disappointment in Sophia or disgust toward Lucas. It never occurred to him it might be jealousy.

He pressed her relentlessly. "You're so desperate to leave, so desperate to divorce me—is it because you want to be with Lucas as soon as possible? You want me to make room for him?"