Chapter 55 What Does Her Child Have to Do with Me
Sophia really wanted to say: William, get real! I'm not pregnant with your child.
But the sharp pain in her stomach was too intense, and her raised hand fell weakly.
The exhaustion from the past two days left her with no strength, and she faintly passed out.
She felt herself falling into a cool embrace, and vaguely heard an anxious, tense voice—it sounded like William's.
"Professor Johnson, you're finally awake!"
Amelia had been staying by Sophia's side the whole time. Seeing her wake up, she let out a huge sigh of relief. There were also several doctors in white coats in the room.
The concern in their eyes was genuine.
"Professor Johnson, you scared me to death. I thought you were going to die young. You haven't taught me your special acupuncture techniques yet, so you can't..."
"Stop! Say one more word, and when Professor Johnson gets better, she'll twist your head off and use it as a soccer ball!"
The man being talked about shrank his neck. "Will she sew it back on after kicking it around? Make sure to sew it on nicely."
Sophia fell silent.
Her eyes swept around the room—no sign of William.
She couldn't quite describe what she was feeling.
Seeing this, Amelia explained, "Professor Johnson, Mr. Smith carried you to this room. He's downstairs now with the two children."
Sophia tried to sit up, supporting herself on the bed.
The others rushed over to help, chattering away with words of concern, afraid something else might happen to her.
"Sophia, I know you're worried, but don't rush. Even your iron body is worn out—my small frame definitely can't handle it."
The playful young man from earlier came over with a grin.
"So how about giving me two days off to rest?"
Before Sophia could even respond.
He was already being dragged out by his senior colleagues for a "heart-to-heart talk."
"We agreed not to hit the face!"
"Ah! I'm handsome, charming, and debonair..."
Compared to the lively atmosphere in this room.
On the other side, William stood on the balcony, gazing into the distance.
Behind him, James and Michael were still sleeping.
Thinking of how weak Sophia had looked earlier, his heart felt like it had stopped—a nervousness he'd only ever experienced with her.
The sunlight in Seraphim was much more intense than in Empire City.
Just standing on the balcony for this short while, he already felt warmth spreading through his body.
Mountains stretched in the distance—he couldn't tell exactly where this place was.
But the environment was indeed very suitable for patients to recuperate.
Not far away, at the main entrance.
A black Bentley slowly approached.
The man he'd seen last night got out first, then bent down to lift a pink-clad Emily from the car.
Emily trusted him, was close to him.
When he picked her up, her little legs kicked in the air.
Even without hearing any sound, just from the bright smile on Emily's face, you could tell she really liked him.
Monkey carried her toward the lab.
As soon as he got out of the car, he sensed a sharp, scrutinizing gaze on him. He looked up and made eye contact with the man on the distant balcony.
Emily hugged his neck, pointing at the lab entrance, urging him to hurry.
"Mr. Watson, find Mommy."
Monkey came back to his senses, looking at her with eyes full of loving light.
"Okay, I'll take you to find Mommy."
Only after the figure below disappeared did William withdraw his gaze.
Inside the room, the twins had finished their lunch and medicine.
They were now sleeping peacefully.
There were guards from the Johnson family at the door. He asked them to watch James and Michael while he went upstairs to Sophia's room.
Amelia and the others had already left.
Sophia was eating.
Monkey came in carrying Emily. As soon as they entered, Emily struggled to get down, running to the bedside.
"Mommy..."
Emily pressed her hands against the bed, one foot on the ground, the other reaching toward the bed.
But she was too small to climb up.
She almost fell.
Both Sophia and Monkey tensed up, reaching out at the same time to lift her onto the bed.
Emily kicked off her shoes super fast and, wearing just her socks, threw herself into Sophia's arms for a hug.
Monkey took her half-eaten meal from the bed, his movements practiced and natural, looking at the mother and daughter with gentle, warm eyes.
"Emily, be good. Your mommy is sick and can't hold you the whole time. I'll take you back to your room to rest in a bit, okay?"
Emily nodded obediently and quickly climbed out of Sophia's embrace.
Sophia hugged and kissed her, her voice sweet. "It's fine. Emily isn't heavy—just right for Mommy to hold."
Emily patted her little belly and nodded.
Monkey smiled helplessly. "Sophia, you just love to spoil the kids."
All three of them had relaxed smiles on their faces, and in their eyes, the atmosphere was harmonious like a family.
Outside the door, a pair of cool, pine-like eyes, deep and unfathomable, took in everything through the not-quite-closed door.
He didn't enter. After confirming Sophia had woken up, he left.
Looking at his retreating figure, there was actually something desolate about it.
Emily had been on the plane for a long time and was soon taken by Amelia to Sophia's bedroom to wash up and rest.
Monkey went to find Rat to handle the remaining matters together.
Sophia changed from her hospital gown into casual clothes and headed downstairs to James and Michael's room.
The children were already awake, eating fruit.
Seeing her enter, James and Michael spoke at the same time: "Mommy!"
Sophia smiled and nodded.
William glanced up at her briefly, not stopping his fruit-peeling, the coldness around him a bit stronger than before.
She walked over and sat by James and Michael's beds.
"James, Michael, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
James shook his head. "Not uncomfortable."
He held up his little fork with fruit to her mouth, speaking proudly. "Mommy, Daddy cut the fruit. It's really sweet."
Michael also copied James, feeding her fruit.
Sophia didn't refuse James and Michael's kindness. She chatted with them for quite a while before asking William to step outside with her.
The room had a movie screen, and she put on a cartoon for James and Michael.
Only then did she go out to the hallway with William.
From where she stood, she could clearly see James and Michael's situation.
Seeing them lying quietly in bed watching cartoons, she turned to look at William beside her and told him seriously.
"The kindergarten is about to start summer vacation. I'll ask the teacher for leave for the remaining days, and during summer vacation, let the kids stay with me in Seraphim."
This was Sophia's carefully considered decision.
Alice lived at the Smith Mansion. If the two children returned to the Smith Mansion, they inevitably risked falling victim to a third attack.
Though she had skills, she was afraid she wouldn't reach the children in time.
Just thinking about it made her heart clench.
"William, you always say I target Alice, but have you ever thought about why?"
He looked up at her, waiting for her to continue.
"You've been called a genius since childhood. In academics and work, you're unstoppable, but in relationships, you're not smart—you're even slow."
William's brows and eyes carried a chill, his deep gaze like frost, staring steadily at her still-moving red lips.
"In your eyes, Alice is a pure, flawless dream girl. Whatever she does seems innocent to you, but have you ever considered?"
He asked hoarsely, "Considered what?"
"Love makes people have dark thoughts. We had a five-year marriage. James and Michael are my children with you."
"Those ugly inheritance disputes in our circle—have you seen too few of them? Zaid killing his father to seize power, Lloyd killing his brother to grab shares..."
She paused after each example, observing the emotions in his eyes—dark pupils as cold as winter stars, unfathomably deep.
"The Smith family is the top wealthy family, rich beyond measure. Even if Alice doesn't covet your wealth, what if it's for her future children?"
He frowned. "But what do her children have to do with me?"
Sophia was left speechless by his words.
"Don't tell me you still think there's nothing between you two, that it's all completely innocent?"
William looked at her, puzzled. "Yes, why not?"
Sophia fell silent.
Was he really this foolish, or was he playing dumb?
Just as the two stood in a silent standoff, Amelia rushed over, whispered a few words in her ear, and Sophia's expression suddenly changed.