Chapter 20 You Fierce Me
heard him agree.
James immediately hugged his dad and said, "Thanks, Dad."
He grabbed Sophia and Michael's hands and eagerly hopped into the Johnson family's car.
Sophia successfully took James and Michael away.
Alice stood behind, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
With James and Michael gone, she could have dinner alone with William. She planned to have her father get William drunk and then sleep with him. Once William experienced her, he would be hooked. She would keep him close, get pregnant, and no longer need to pretend to like James and Michael!
If she managed to get some photos taken, she would be one step closer to becoming the wife of the CEO of Peace Group!
"William, let's go back for dinner," Alice said, reaching out for him.
Just then, William's phone rang, and he avoided her hand.
After answering the call, William's face turned cold.
He turned to her and said, "Sorry, there's an issue at the office. You shouldn't have come today. I'll arrange for another driver to take you home."
She pouted, "William, you promised we'd have dinner at the Rivera's today."
William's gaze shifted briefly to the car Sophia had just left in, his eyes deep and unreadable.
He replied politely, "Alice, if your dad needs something, contact my secretary directly. You've helped me before, so I'll assist where I can."
With that, he got into his car and drove off.
The onlookers gradually dispersed.
Alice heard them praising Sophia's beauty and how perfect she was with William, making her furious. A crazy thought crossed her mind again.
Sophia, you forced me into this!
Only if you and your children disappear can he truly belong to me!
Alice took out her phone and called one of her father's men, "Mr. Duke Rogers, it's Alice..."
On the way home, Sophia asked James about interesting things at kindergarten.
James started chatting, and the mother and son enjoyed a rare, warm moment, while Michael remained silent.
Sophia ignored Michael's frequent looks of resentment and gave all her attention and care to James.
As soon as they arrived home, they saw Emily lying on the couch by the living room window. Her eyes lit up when she saw them return!
Before they could enter, Emily, wearing her fluffy slippers, ran to the door and hugged James and Michael tightly.
"Mom, James, Michael!"
James immediately hugged her back, "Emily!"
Michael seemed a bit surprised, "Emily."
Sophia patted Emily's head, "Emily, take James and Michael to wash their hands. Dinner's ready soon."
Emily, with a big heart, didn't mind Michael's previous attitude and took both of them to wash their hands.
Sophia watched the three siblings' backs, smiling brightly, wishing this moment could be their everyday life.
Sophia had hired a chef with a hefty sum, and dinner consisted of dishes the three kids loved. After eating, they immediately went to the toy room.
The floor was covered with new toys.
Sophia changed into casual clothes and played with them.
Time passed.
Sophia noticed the new Polaroid camera on the table and asked the housekeeper to take some family photos.
Sophia sat in the middle with Emily in her arms, James and Michael beside her.
"One, two, three!"
They finished two packs of film.
When the photos developed, everyone noticed William was there, standing behind them, with the maid hesitating to speak.
Maid: It's not that I don't want to say anything, but this man is intimidating!
William was still in his black suit from the afternoon, exuding an air of superiority.
In the first few photos, William's eyes showed a hint of surprise, but in the later ones, he stood at the door with a cold expression.
Sophia realized that William's figure appeared in all the photos!
While their expressions and actions changed, he remained like a statue, stern and unsmiling.
James saw William in the photos and immediately looked towards the door, shouting excitedly, "Dad!"
William walked in, "I'm here to take you all home."
Emily snuggled in Sophia's arms, silently watching William, not saying a word.
The photos lay scattered on the carpet. James and Michael pulled him to sit down, enthusiastically showing him the pictures.
Michael pointed at William in the photos, "Dad, look, you're in these too."
Then he frowned, "But Dad, you look so serious."
James glanced at Sophia and whispered, "Dad, take some photos with us."
Michael quickly joined in, his eyes bright. "Yeah, Dad, we haven't taken pictures together in a long time. I want to take photos with Dad, Mom, James, and Emily."
Sophia suddenly looked up, touched by Michael's words, "What did you just call me?"
William was about to speak when Sophia stopped him. "Don't say anything."
Surprisingly, he listened.
Michael looked down, embarrassed, not knowing why he had suddenly called her that.
Emily looked at Sophia and Michael, then climbed up from the carpet and reached out to William, "Hug."
William hesitated, and then Emily was in his arms.
Though she was over a year old, she was small and light. William's eyes showed complex emotions.
Emily genuinely liked William's scent, which felt fatherly. She covered his mouth with her clean little hand.
She made a shushing gesture, "Don't talk."
William remained silent.
Michael stood awkwardly beside James, who patted his hand, "Michael, I can't wait for you to call her Mom."
Emily clapped her hands, "Call her Mom."
Michael looked at Sophia, feeling something indescribable inside, and softly called her Mom.
Sophia's heart stirred, but she didn't respond immediately.
Michael waited for her reaction.
"Okay." Her voice was a bit stiff.
To William, this scene was ironic. He hid his emotions, about to take James and Michael away, when the camera clicked.
The housekeeper smiled awkwardly, "I was testing the new film."
James pulled Michael back to sit beside Sophia and said to the photographer, "Sir, please take a few more photos of us."
Sophia wanted to refuse. She didn't want to take pictures with William. She didn't realize earlier, but now she did.
James pleaded, "Mom, just one more pack, please?"
They hadn't had a family photo in a long time, James thought.
Sophia relented.
William remained silent, implicitly agreeing.
One pack of film was quickly used up.
Emily looked at the new photos and pointed at William's face, complaining, "He's not smiling, ugly."
It was the first time someone called William ugly. He looked at the bold Emily.
Emily met his gaze fearlessly.
James and Michael also thought their dad was too serious. Seeing Emily making funny faces to make William smile, they joined in.
The three kids surrounded William, trying their best to make him laugh.
Sophia saw William looking awkward and embarrassed for the first time.
The scene was humorous and funny.
William and Sophia's eyes met, his body stiffened slightly, and he handed Emily to her, "Take your daughter."
Sophia reached out and saw Emily's eyes redden. She quickly hugged her, "Emily, why are you crying?"
Emily didn't know either.
She hugged William's neck, feeling wronged, "Mom, he scolded me."
Tears fell instantly.
William felt the wetness on his hand, his heart trembled, and he awkwardly softened his voice, "I didn't scold you."