Chapter 223: The Car Accident

Chapter 223: The Car Accident

Paula's sobs continued relentlessly.

Zachary's expression darkened, a vein pulsing at his temple. He snapped at her coldly, "What the hell are you trying to say?"

Whether she was planning to get pregnant or not—what did any of that have to do with him?

And why was she bringing this up in front of Sophia?

Paula acted as if she hadn't heard him at all.

She only continued to sob, her body trembling as she turned back to Sophia. "Sophia, please—you have to believe me. I would never interfere with you or your children. Without your permission, I swear I won't get pregnant."

Sophia almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

She let out a cold, bitter laugh, first fixing Zachary with a look dripping with sarcasm—so pointed it might as well have been a blade.

Then she turned her scorn toward Paula. "Why would your pregnancy have anything to do with me? Or do you actually know how morally questionable this is, and that's why you think you need my permission?"

She paused, glancing sideways at Zachary.

"Besides," she continued into the phone, her voice flat, "if Zachary has no problem with it, then fine. I respect your choices. Just stop dragging me into your mess."

The truth was, Sophia had long since accepted that Zachary and Paula would have children together someday. She'd mentally prepared herself for that reality.

And she didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

She and Zachary were going to divorce eventually.

The tangled, endless drama between them wasn't something she wanted anymore.

All she wanted was to take her children back to a simple, peaceful life—free from the toxic chaos surrounding Zachary and Paula.

She felt no possessiveness over him.

Her position in his life made it impossible for her to have any say in his romantic affairs. Rationally, Sophia knew she had no right—and no desire—to interfere.

So hearing that Paula was preparing for pregnancy was actually… good news.

She curved her lips into a faint smile and turned to Zachary. "You didn't need to hide this from me. Were you worried I wouldn't wish you well?"

Zachary's brow furrowed deeply. He'd clearly realized that Sophia had misunderstood something.

He barked into the phone, "Paula, make yourself clear. Who the hell are you planning a pregnancy with?"

On the other end of the line, Paula's face went pale with fear.

She knew she'd crossed a line—she'd pushed Zachary too far this time.

But still…

She clenched her fists. Why should I stand by and watch Sophia and her kids monopolize all of Zachary's attention while I'm left with nothing?

She refused to accept it. That resentment had been burning inside her since the very first moment she'd laid eyes on Sophia.

She needed something from Zachary—some reassurance, some proof that she still mattered.

Right now, he was refusing to give her any kind of commitment, instead remaining entangled with Sophia in this infuriating ambiguity.

If she didn't push things forward now, she'd be forced to watch helplessly as Sophia waltzed back into his life for good—while she herself was cast aside.

Paula wasn't about to sit back and let that happen.

Even if it meant risking Zachary's fury—even if it meant mutual destruction—she was going to fight for herself one last time.

So she bit her lip, pretending not to understand the anger in his tone.

Instead, she turned back to Sophia, her voice breaking. "Sophia, please—don't worry. I would never come between you and Zachary. I know now that you don't want me to get pregnant, so I won't do anything that might hurt your relationship with him."

Paula's cries sounded fragile and heartbroken.

But on the other end of the phone, her face was twisted with malice, her beautiful eyes burning with venomous hatred.

Even if Zachary was furious with her now, she was determined to make Sophia give up on him completely.

Besides…

Paula glanced down at the information she'd secretly dug up, her lips curling into a dark, triumphant smile.

It was the flight information for Sophia's departure—the one that would take her and the children far away.

Once Sophia boarded that plane, everything would change.

This is my stage now.

It didn't matter if Zachary was angry with her. Once Sophia and those two brats were out of the picture, she'd have him all to herself again.

She'd held onto him for years after Sophia left the first time. She could do it again.

The priority now was to make sure Sophia left as soon as possible. So Paula went all in.

She declared loudly, voice trembling, "If my pregnancy affects your relationship with Zachary, then even if I do get pregnant—I'll terminate it. I swear I won't let it come between you two."

Sophia's brow furrowed sharply, her expression turning cold. "Why are you saying things like this? Isn't having a child your choice? Why are you trying to hold me hostage with your decisions?"

She hated the way Paula played the victim—as if Sophia were some kind of villain, ruthlessly pressuring her.

But Sophia didn't care whether Paula got pregnant or not. Why would she need Paula to make promises like this?

It was nauseating. That was all.

Paula hadn't expected Sophia to be so uncooperative. She froze for a moment, scrambling internally for a new approach.

Sophia's voice cut through the silence, cold and final. "You know perfectly well that Mr. Spencer and I are in the process of divorcing. Whatever he does—whoever he ends up with—has nothing to do with me."

She continued sharply, "I've told you this countless times. This is the last time I'm saying it: I don't want to be involved in your business, and I don't need any promises from you."

Paula was left speechless, managing only broken sobs.

Internally, she was cursing Sophia a thousand times over.

How dare she refuse to play along? How dare she humiliate me like this?

Her eyes darted wildly as she searched for a way out.

Still sobbing pitifully, she whimpered, "Sophia, please don't misunderstand—I would never try to manipulate you. I just… I just…"

Her voice cut off abruptly.

Before Sophia could react, the sound of screeching tires tore through the phone.

Then came shouting. The crash of metal against metal. The chaotic roar of a collision.

And Paula's short, sharp scream.

The line erupted into chaos.

Sophia's face drained of color. Instinctively, she looked toward Zachary, her expression pale with shock.

It was a reflexive, human reaction—a natural response to someone in danger.

Sophia's panic overrode everything else. She forgot about the argument, forgot about her anger.

She set down the phone and immediately turned to gather Julia and Simon into her arms, her voice gentle but urgent. "Don't be scared, sweethearts. Mommy's right here with you."

Julia and Simon hadn't heard the entire conversation.

But they could sense that something was terribly wrong.

They stood frozen in place, their wide, confused eyes turning toward Zachary.