Chapter 173

Chapter 173

"She's probably just busy," Benjamin said, ruffling Harry's hair. "Let's head home and wait a bit, then come back to find your mom later."

"Okay."

Harry answered obediently and took Benjamin's hand, ready to head home. But they'd barely taken a few steps out the door when they heard a sound nearby.

It was the sound of something heavy hitting the ground, like something had been slammed down.

Harry's brow furrowed slightly. "Dad, did that sound come from Mom's room?"

Before Harry could say another word, Benjamin shot past like the wind and kicked Sophia's door open.

Sophia had rolled off the sofa onto the floor, curled up in a ball. Her face was pale, her body soaked in sweat, and she was clearly in terrible pain.

Benjamin rushed to her side. "What's wrong? I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

"No, it's fine. I just got my period. Just get me some painkillers."

Sophia forced herself to get those words out, then passed out in Benjamin's arms.

Benjamin wasn't buying it for a second. He scooped her up and took her straight to the hospital.

When Sophia woke up, it was already evening. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Harry's big, teary eyes staring at her. It was clear he'd been crying.

"Mom, you're finally awake. You scared me to death. You lost so much blood." Harry's voice broke as he spoke.

Benjamin walked over and patted Harry on the head. "Go cry somewhere else. Otherwise your mom's going to have to force herself to comfort you."

Harry sniffled, wiped his tears, and obediently went to sit on the sofa.

Benjamin raised the hospital bed and opened a thermos, ladling out a bowl of hot porridge for Sophia. "Drink something warm. The doctor said your stomach hurt so much because you drank something cold."

Sophia looked a little embarrassed. She reached out to take the bowl, but Benjamin moved it away. "I'll feed you."

"No need." Sophia answered without hesitation, took the spoon right out of his hand, and started eating on her own.

Seeing that, Benjamin understood. Sophia hadn't forgiven him yet. He didn't push it.

After finishing the porridge, Sophia's color improved quite a bit. The doctor came back, ran a few more checks, confirmed she was fine, and discharged her.

On the way home, Sophia suddenly remembered seeing Benjamin at her place. "How did you end up at my apartment today?" she asked.

"Mom, it's a surprise that me and Dad planned for you!" Harry raised his eyebrows at her with a knowing little grin.

"What kind of surprise?"

"You'll see when we get there, Mom."

Harry wasn't going to spill it, and Sophia didn't press further.

When the car pulled up in front of the apartment building, Sophia got out first. She watched Benjamin carry Harry out of the car and up the stairs. Then Benjamin took out a key and unlocked the door right next to hers. That's when it hit her.

"You two are the new neighbors next door?"

"Yep! Surprised, Mom? Did you see that coming?" Harry grabbed Sophia's hand, his voice bright and cheerful. "Dad said there's a bad guy who's been watching you, so we have to stay close to protect you."

"What about your Aunt Alice? Who's going to protect her?" The words slipped out before Sophia could stop them.

Harry froze for a moment, then his little head drooped. "Dad said Aunt Alice was working for the bad guy all along. She's been called back now."

"Mom, I didn't know Aunt Alice was with the bad guy before, that's why I liked her so much. But now that I know, I don't want to play with her ever again."

Sophia looked at him and couldn't help but smile a little.

That's just how kids are. Give them a piece of candy and they'll love you with everything they've got. But one simple explanation from a grown-up, and just like that, the love is gone. A child's feelings are like summer weather — they can change in an instant.

Sophia didn't say anything. She just ruffled Harry's hair. "It's getting late. I'm going home to rest."

With that, she opened her door and went inside. She hadn't said a single word to Benjamin the whole time, hadn't even glanced his way.

Over the next few days, Benjamin didn't show up in front of Sophia at all. Harry, on the other hand, would knock on her door every now and then and come over to hang out.

At mealtimes, the doorbell would ring. But every time Sophia opened the door, all she'd find was a container packed with food — and no one in sight.

Sophia knew Benjamin was the one dropping it off. She also knew why he wasn't showing his face.

Days passed like this, one after another, as if life between them could just go on this way — quiet and warm, like nothing was wrong.

Then one afternoon, Sophia had just walked Harry back to the apartment next door when Harry suddenly cried out.

"Mom, Dad's gone!" He came running over and held out a blue sticky note. "I found this on the table. There are a lot of words I can't read. Can you look and see what Dad said?"

Sophia took it and scanned it. The blue note had just one line, written in a loose, unhurried hand.

"Take care of Harry for me. Wait at home. Don't worry."

Sophia's grip on the note tightened. Her eyes flickered for just a moment.

Harry tugged at the hem of her shirt. "Mom, what did Dad say? Did the bad guy take him?"

"No." Sophia picked Harry up and headed back to her apartment. "Your dad went abroad for work. He'll probably be back in a while. You're staying with me until then."

"Really? So I get to sleep with Mom again? Yes! I'm going to cuddle you all night tonight!"

Harry had no idea what was going on, no sense of the danger lurking nearby. He threw his arms around Sophia's neck and planted a bunch of kisses on her face. Slowly, the worry in Sophia's eyes softened into a smile.

Over the next few days, Sophia took time off from Nicholas and kept Harry home from school too. They stayed in the apartment, and everything they needed was delivered to them.

Sophia also noticed, sharp as ever, that there were quite a few plainclothes bodyguards posted around — both at the building entrance and in the hallways.

She had a pretty good idea. These were probably the people Benjamin had left behind to protect them before he left.

The situation right now was like still water in a deep pool — calm on the surface, clear to the eye. But only those caught in the middle could feel the pull of the current beneath.