Chapter 19 With Dad, or Mom
Sophia didn't move forward.
Her phone buzzed softly. She glanced at the caller ID, and her already gentle expression softened even more.
"Hey, honey, when are you coming home?"
"You said that last time, too. Emily and I miss you."
She walked into the house.
The backseat window of the car rolled down just a bit.
William, sitting in the backseat, had an air of refined elegance.
The night breeze slipped into the car, carrying a low, dismissive chuckle.
By the time Sophia finished her shower and looked downstairs, the black Maybach was already gone.
She gazed at the starless night sky, her eyes filled with countless thoughts.
The lawyer suggested she focus on the kids.
The Smith family's power was well-known.
William had no other children besides James and Michael.
She, on the other hand, had Emily.
Legally, custody tends to favor the parent without other children.
This fact could lower her chances.
But if the kids were determined to stay with their mom, her chances would increase.
As a mother, she naturally wanted to watch her children grow up.
But if they preferred to be with their father...
Sophia's eyes darkened. In that case, she would ensure they had a future free from worries.
For instance: completely severing William's ability to have more children!
Once this custody battle began, one side would inevitably lose.
The next evening.
Sophia showed up at the kindergarten entrance, unexpectedly running into Alice and William.
William saw her, and the temperature around him dropped. Before his gaze could turn to her, she had already looked away towards the kindergarten entrance.
Today, Sophia was stunning, radiating a captivating aura.
Her smoky purple chiffon dress flowed to her ankles, her slender waist accentuated by a ribbon, and her hair was pinned to one side.
Elegant, noble.
This was a side of her William had never seen before.
Noticing William's increasingly focused gaze, Alice hurriedly said, "William, the kids are coming out."
Realizing his distraction, William lowered his long lashes, hiding all his emotions.
Up ahead, James held Michael's hand as they walked out. They immediately spotted William and quickened their pace, running towards him.
"Daddy!"
Sophia wasn't far from William.
As soon as James came out, he saw her, his eyes lighting up. He pulled Michael along and ran towards her, his steps eager and joyful.
"Mommy, why are you here?"
"Mommy came to pick you up from school. Don't you like it?" Sophia hugged James, ignoring Michael.
James shook his head and then nodded, embarrassedly rubbing his head. "I like it, I really like it when Mommy picks me up!"
Sophia smiled and patted his head. Michael stood by, stubbornly pursing his lips, his face full of grievance and disappointment.
James looked behind her, searching for Emily. "Mommy, isn't Emily here?"
Sophia said, "Emily is at home. Lyra and I bought you lots of new toys. Do you want to come home with me?"
James immediately replied, "Yes!"
After waiting for a long time without her asking him, Michael's eyes began to redden, his grievance deepening.
Sophia held James' hand and started to leave. He asked, "Mommy, isn't Michael coming with us?"
Michael also looked up at her, following his words.
Sophia replied, "He doesn't need to."
James hesitated, "But I want to eat with Michael and Emily. Mommy, can we bring Michael along?"
Facing James' hopeful gaze, Sophia found it hard to refuse. "You can ask him what he wants."
Michael turned his face away. "I'm not going."
Michael thought, "She doesn't consider me her child at all. She only cares about James and Emily!"
James tried to tempt Michael with toys, and Michael reluctantly agreed, though he had been waiting for Sophia to ask him all along.
But she still ignored him. Just thinking that she truly didn't want him made Michael feel like crying.
At that moment, William's cold voice came from behind, carrying a father's sternness and displeasure.
"James, Michael."
William, as always, wore a black tailored suit, looking like he had just come from a meeting.
His steady footsteps carried an authority and presence that made people look up to him involuntarily.
All three looked at him simultaneously.
Their similar features clearly marked them as family.
Alice raised a gift box. "James, Michael, I brought your favorite cupcakes!"
James politely declined. "Thanks, Ms. Rivera, but we don't like cupcakes anymore."
Alice's expression changed slightly. "Really? I'll bring something else next time then."
Whispers arose around them.
A single mom, and a dad with another woman.
This scene was familiar to many women.
"Which one's the ex-wife? Which one's the mistress?"
"I bet the one in the purple dress is the ex-wife."
"Could be. Let's keep watching."
William's gaze swept around, scaring the onlookers into lowering their heads, avoiding his eyes.
William's voice was low. "Where are you taking the kids?"
Sophia, holding James' hand, spoke calmly.
"You said I could see the kids anytime. Today, I want to take James home for dinner. I'll bring him back afterward."
William outright refused. "Not today."
Alice smiled smugly and added, "Ms. Johnson, William is bringing the kids to dinner at the Rivera family tonight. Please return the children to us."
Sophia suddenly laughed. "Return?"
Her smile faded, her gaze sharp. "Even if you want to be their stepmom, you have to marry William first."
William's face darkened at her words. "Sophia, can you speak properly?"
Sophia sneered inwardly.
When hadn't she spoken properly?
It's just that what she said always displeased him.
James tightened his grip on Sophia's hand, leaning closer to her. Michael also looked up at her.
Both of them remembered that morning in Rain Village.
Sophia ignored the smug and provocative look in Alice's eyes, and William's dark expression.
She softly asked James, "James, do you want to go to dinner with Daddy at the Rivera family, or come home with Mommy and Emily?"
James didn't hesitate. "I want to go home with Mommy."
Michael hoped she would ask him, but was disappointed again. Yet his body still instinctively leaned towards her.
Sophia noticed his small movements, but remained indifferent, neither pushing him away nor approaching him, like a stranger.
"You heard him? He wants to go home with me."
James looked at him and spoke up. "Daddy, you said we should bravely express our true feelings."
He firmly held Sophia's hand. "I want to have dinner with Mommy and Emily."
"But Michael and I still love you, don't be jealous."
William's child indeed, knowing to offer a sweet consolation after expressing his thoughts.
William's gaze focused on Sophia's eyes, but she only looked at the children, not sparing him a glance.
A wave of inexplicable oppression and irritation surged in his chest.
William was silent for a moment. "Alright."
Sophia looked at him in surprise, thinking it would take more effort.
Unexpectedly, William agreed.
Her gaze shifted to Alice beside him. Alice's face lit up with joy, looking up at him shyly.
Sophia instantly understood.
Her resolve grew even stronger.
William probably agreed because he had a date with Alice tonight.
If there's a first time, there will be a second.
Then the third, fourth time won't be far off.
Victory is within reach!