Chapter 31 He Has a Wife and Child in Seraphim
"Do you think Alice did it?" Sophia asked, her face calm and composed.
William hesitated before answering, "But why would she? She doesn't have a reason, does she?"
Sophia's eyes narrowed, her voice icy. "What if she does?"
William paused, then said, "You really trust her, don't you?"
Sophia didn't wait for him to respond. She turned away, heading back inside. "I'll take the kids to the Smith Mansion on Sunday. Don't bother coming."
William stood in the yard, watching through the living room's large window as Sophia played with their three children. She was so gentle and nurturing with them, a stark contrast to the coldness she showed him.
For the next couple of weeks, Sophia coordinated with Tony whenever she picked up the kids from school. On weekends, the children decided whether they wanted to stay at the Smith Mansion or the Johnson Villa, and they would inform their father themselves.
With Sophia managing James and Michael's schedules, William had more time to focus on his work. He no longer had to rush back from business trips to be with the kids. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
Sophia was content, and the kids were happy. Only he...
In truth, William had always been emotionally distant and couldn't quite put his feelings into words.
At the moment, he was at a banquet, watching Sophia in a sleek black dress, smiling and chatting with the man beside her.
Sophia felt his gaze and deliberately turned her back to him. She was here to meet an important client, and Ralph Cook had come specifically to introduce her.
"Is everything okay, Sophia?" Ralph asked, noticing her distraction.
Sophia shook her head. "It's nothing."
After they mingled with the necessary people, they stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air. Ralph thanked her for the medicine she had sent for his wife.
"Sophia, my wife really wanted to thank you in person, but she's not well enough to travel. I'm thanking you on her behalf. You're a lifesaver for both of us. If you ever need anything, just let me know."
Sophia nodded. "I will."
Ralph sighed in relief. If it weren't for Sophia, his wife might not have survived the past year.
"When you have time, bring Emily to Seraphim. My son keeps talking about her. She even tried to sneak onto a plane to come here."
Sophia smiled, thinking of Ralph's polite and well-mannered son who had always been kind to Emily. "We'll visit when we can."
Ralph checked the time, realizing he needed to head back to his family. He offered to take Sophia home, but she declined.
"Ralph, go be with your family. My driver is waiting outside. I'll get home on my own."
Ralph left early, and Sophia didn't plan to stay much longer either.
As she picked up her bag to leave, William stepped in her way. His eyes were slightly unfocused from the drinks. "Is he your new husband?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Does it matter to you?"
She glanced at Alice, who was watching from a distance. Her gaze grew colder, her disgust for William intensifying.
She had found out.
The car accident back then was orchestrated by Alice.
If Emily hadn't suddenly had a high fever that day, prompting Sophia to arrange for a quick switch to a private jet to the lab, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
William couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. Just thinking about the information Tony had dug up made his head pound.
"Do you know he has a wife and kids in Seraphim?" William asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.
He couldn't comprehend why Sophia was with Ralph, just as he couldn't fathom why she was so adamant about divorcing him. His distrust cut deep, like a knife.
Sophia locked her gaze on his flawless face, her smile bitter and devoid of warmth.
Why had she been so devoted to this man? Was it just his captivating looks? She searched for an answer but found none.
A long silence stretched between them.
Sophia finally spoke, her tone icy, "So what? That's my business. What does it have to do with Mr. Smith?"
William stared at her, unable to believe his ears. "Sophia, do you hear yourself?"
Sophia nodded, her voice steady, "I'm clearer than ever."
She sensed Alice approaching and smiled, ready to pull out the last thorn in her heart.
"William, you have no right to control me."
She turned to leave, but William grabbed her wrist forcefully.
"Is this custody battle just to make my son an illegitimate stepchild for your new husband?" he snarled. "Sophia, how dare you!"
Sophia shook off his hand, rubbing her sore wrist, and looked at the furious man in front of her with casual disdain.
She tilted her head, puzzled. "William, I learned this from you."
"During our marriage, you dined with other women, gave them expensive gifts, and dismissed it all as 'pure friendship' to your wife."
"No responsibility, no guilt, just a facade of freedom and nonchalance, then you turn around and criticize your wife. You can do it, but I can't?"
William's face darkened with anger.
At that moment, Alice hurried over, looking worriedly at William, "William, are you okay? You don't look well."
With an outsider present, William turned away to calm down.
Alice, though clearly resentful of Sophia, maintained a gentle and understanding facade, as if she were the magnanimous original wife.
She spoke with a hint of coquettishness, "William, weren't you going to introduce me to Eugene Bailey and the professor from ZN Labs?"
"I just saw Eugene go upstairs. We should hurry."
ZN Labs? Sophia's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her emotions.
Alice was eager to pull William away from Sophia, but his focus remained on Sophia's face.
Sophia had also had a few drinks, not much, just enough to feel slightly tipsy.
She looked at Alice's two-faced behavior and felt utterly disgusted, as well as William's repeated lies. He was unfit to be a good partner.
In a moment of alcohol-induced boldness, she suddenly smiled seductively.
William was momentarily stunned, the faint scent from her calming him slightly, causing a brief moment of distraction.
Sophia stood on tiptoe, whispering in William's ear.
"William, is this your 'pure friendship'?"
"Or did I misunderstand, and you two have always had a... lip-to-lip friendship?"
She let out a mocking laugh, "I'd rather choose Ralph than you. Shouldn't you be the one reflecting on yourself?"
William's eyes widened, his blood boiling, as if he had been dropped from a plain to a high altitude, oxygen thinning, a splitting headache, veins bulging, making it hard to breathe.
He watched Sophia's resolute back, her steps firm and steady in high heels, merging with the image of her leaving the courthouse after their divorce.
Alice tried to support him, but William avoided her.
As long as Sophia wasn't in front of him, William could quickly regain his composure, returning to the cold and indifferent image others saw.
He distanced himself from Alice, "Let's go."