Chapter 3 A Meal, Is It Worth It
Seeing Michael's reluctance, Sophia felt a pang in her heart and wanted to take Emily and leave.
James, standing behind, looked sad. Emily would sweetly call him "big brother" and even give him candy; he genuinely liked her.
He stole a glance at Sophia, wanting to speak but too afraid, lowering his head in disappointment. He couldn't help but wonder, "Is Mom abandoning Michael and me because she has Emily now?"
But he and Michael were good kids, too.
William noticed the sadness in James's eyes and called out to Sophia.
"Sophia, we need to talk."
Sophia shook her head, refusing. "There's nothing to talk about. My husband will be back soon, so please leave."
William's sharp brows furrowed, his face turning grim as he stared at her cold expression. His handsome jawline tightened, and his words cut like a blade.
"Sophia, you really don't waste any time!"
"You broke up with your first love and married me immediately. After our divorce, you rushed into another marriage and now have a daughter. You're a master of time management!"
Sophia's anger flared at his words, but she suppressed her emotions. "So what?"
Not wanting to argue further and fearing her emotions would get the better of her, Sophia urged, "We agreed you'd stay one night. Please keep your promise and leave with your sons."
William clenched his teeth. "Sophia, James and Michael are your children, too. Are you abandoning them just because you have a daughter now?"
Seeing the situation escalating, Tony quickly stepped in to explain that they had no place to go. The road was flooded, and they couldn't leave the village.
"This is your problem, not mine."
"Tony, take your boss and leave, or I'll call the police."
Just then, her friend called. The coldness on her face melted away instantly, and her voice softened as she asked when they would return.
"Sweetheart, when are you coming back?"
"Of course I miss you, and so does Emily. Okay, I'll have someone pick you up."
Sophia's gentle conversation with the caller was a stark contrast to her earlier harshness.
William's body swayed with pain and hatred, and the world around him went black.
"Mr. Smith!" Tony exclaimed.
William collapsed from a high fever!
"Mr. Smith has been working non-stop on the Redwood Resort project. He was already unwell, and last night he stayed up all night because James and Michael had fevers," Tony explained.
Hearing about the Redwood Resort, a sharp glint flashed in Sophia's eyes. So, the competitor Monkey mentioned was William.
After a while, William lay on the guest bed in fresh pajamas Tony had put on him, looking pale and weak—something Sophia had never seen before.
Tony gave him medicine and, seeing his pale face, couldn't bring himself to kick them out into the rainy night. She sighed, "You can stay for now."
Tony's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
William slept through the night, waking up in the guest room. He frowned and heard Tony getting up from the fold-out bed to check on him.
"Mr. Smith, you're finally awake!"
"Where are James and Michael?"
"They're sleeping in the kids' room upstairs."
"And... her?"
"Mrs. Smith is resting with Emily."
"Don't call her Mrs. Smith. She doesn't deserve it."
William felt weak, the illness hitting him hard after years of good health.
Tony helped him up. "Mr. Smith, there's some oatmeal in the kitchen. I'll get you a bowl?"
Having eaten nothing but breakfast, William was indeed hungry.
After eating, he went upstairs to check on James and Michael. The door to their room wasn't fully closed, and he could see the two boys sleeping soundly, each holding a giant stuffed toy.
Across from the kids' room was Sophia's room.
That door wasn't fully closed either.
Thinking about Sophia's new marriage and daughter, William's hand clenched into a fist, and he left with a stern face.
Once the shadow outside the door disappeared, Sophia opened her eyes, her tense body slowly relaxing.
The next morning.
Emily was still asleep, and Sophia, who hadn't slept well, went downstairs to make coffee.
She opened the master bedroom's surveillance on her phone to keep an eye on Emily.
After spending two days with Emily, James liked her more and more. Michael, though still conflicted, was charmed by her cuteness.
They sneaked into Sophia's room, waiting obediently by the bed for her to wake up.
Tony had already woken up.
As soon as he stepped out, he smelled the rich aroma of coffee and saw Sophia making some. He asked for a cup too.
When William came out dressed, he saw the two of them drinking coffee. Tony grinned, "Mr. Smith, Sophia makes the best coffee I've ever had. It's so rich and fragrant."
William glanced at them, his expression calm. "Is that so? What's so great about it?"
Tony's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly finished his coffee. "Mr. Smith, I'll go check today's situation."
The rain had lessened compared to the past few days, but the forecast showed rain for the next week. As long as the stone bridge remained flooded, they couldn't leave the village.
William's perfect features were still a bit pale, but his tall, elegant posture and noble aura made every step look like a walk in a painting.
William walked over to Sophia, glancing at her coffee cup. He sneered, "Five years of marriage, and I never knew you could make coffee."
Sophia was looking at the surveillance on her phone, seeing that Emily was awake.
Her little hand held one finger each of James and Michael, smiling and inviting them to join her in bed.
Hearing William's comment, she turned and scoffed, "I didn't need you to know."
Seeing the scene on her phone, with no adults around, Michael didn't seem to dislike Emily as much and even brought his favorite Transformer toy for her to play with.
Sophia put down her coffee and started to go upstairs, but William grabbed her wrist, his feverish temperature still high.
"Sophia, don't you feel guilty when you see James and Michael?"
"After disappearing for over two years, holding your daughter, do you remember you're also James and Michael's mother?"
"They're just six-year-old kids. Did you ever think they need their mother's love too?"
The Johnson family had been wealthy for over twenty years and were close friends with the Smith family. Sophia and William had been engaged since birth.
When the Johnson family went bankrupt and moved away, the engagement was postponed.
When Sophia turned eighteen, William's father, Henry Smith, found her at college in Empire City with the marriage contract. They got engaged, married after her graduation, and had children.
Sophia thought they would live a steady life, respecting their marriage even if there was no love.
But in just five years, William couldn't keep his promise.
"Guilty? Why should I feel guilty? The one who should feel guilty is you! William, did you think about being a father to your kids while you were with your mistress?"
"You're being unreasonable! It was just a meal. Was it worth all this?"
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Even now, he was defending Alice.
William's eyes darkened. "Sophia, Alice isn't the kind of woman you think she is. Misunderstand me all you want, but don't slander her."