Chapter 32 Do You Suspect the Smith Family
Ever since Sophia found out Alice had been targeting her, she had people dig into Alice's background, including the Rivera family backing her. What they unearthed was pretty shocking.
And as for that ZN lab Alice mentioned.
Sophia called her assistant to handle everything, then leaned back in the car's backseat, closing her eyes for a bit.
If she could find out all this stuff so easily, wouldn't William be able to, too?
Or maybe he knew but just didn't think she was that kind of person?
When she got home, Emily was already asleep.
Sophia got ready for bed and lay down beside Emily, her heart slowly calming down.
The next day brought some shocking news.
James and Michael had been hospitalized due to food poisoning.
When Sophia rushed to the hospital, William and Alice were already outside the room. William looked furious, radiating an intimidating aura. The kindergarten principal stood beside him, apologizing repeatedly.
James and Michael weren't the only ones affected, but their conditions were the worst.
"Mr. Smith, the kindergarten's food is freshly sourced and prepared daily. The cafeteria is monitored. We will fully cooperate with the police investigation."
The children at this prestigious kindergarten came from notable families, and the school had strict food management policies. This food poisoning incident baffled not only the parents but also the principal, who was more than a little panicked.
"The teachers and children all eat the same meals, and no one else is experiencing issues. There must be some misunderstanding."
"Mr. Smith, we will thoroughly investigate this incident and explain to you, your children, and the other parents."
The principal kept talking, but William's face stayed ice-cold.
Alice, meanwhile, wore a sympathetic expression and suggested the principal calm the other parents. The principal looked at her gratefully.
Sophia arrived in a rush, still in her loungewear and slippers, no makeup on.
She sat quietly on a cold bench in the hallway, staring at the operating room door.
After what felt like an eternity, the light above the operating room finally went out.
James and Michael were wheeled out by nurses, looking pale and still unconscious.
Sophia followed immediately.
When Alice tried to approach the children, Sophia stopped her.
Sophia frowned and reminded her, "Alice, your perfume is too strong. It'll irritate their noses and disturb their rest."
James and Michael had just come out of surgery and needed a non-irritating environment to rest.
Alice's strong rose perfume was overwhelming; even Sophia found it pungent, let alone the children.
William paused, sniffed the air, and turned to Alice at the door. "Alice, don't stay here."
Alice was unwilling. "William..."
She had carefully done her makeup and dressed in limited edition high heels before rushing over upon hearing about James and Michael.
Alice tearfully pleaded, "I'm worried about James and Michael. I've been caring for them like my own children these past two years. How can I leave now?"
She glanced at Sophia with teary eyes, feeling aggrieved. "Ms. Johnson is their mother. I get it if she feels threatened by how much James and Michael like me. But now that they're in the hospital, every extra hand helps. William, please don't send me away."
William glanced at Sophia, who had already entered the room, and politely told Alice, "We appreciate your concern. Please wait in the downstairs café. I'll have someone contact you when James and Michael wake up."
Alice nodded reluctantly, casting a resentful look at Sophia as she left. Their eyes met, and Sophia's cold, piercing gaze seemed to see right through the cause of the food poisoning, making Alice feel a surge of unease.
As soon as she entered the elevator, Alice made a call.
"Mr. Rogers, they won't find out about this, right?"
The confident voice on the other end eased her worries.
In the hospital room, Sophia gently touched James and Michael's pale cheeks. After a series of tests, she realized something was amiss. Her beautiful face darkened.
This wasn't ordinary food poisoning.
She glanced at William. His worry for James and Michael was genuine. Sophia hesitated about whether to tell him.
She decided to investigate herself. If Alice were involved, William might protect her.
Sophia sent a message to Rat, asking him to get the past week's surveillance footage from the kindergarten and inform her of any suspicious activity.
Additionally, she had people continue monitoring Alice and the Rivera family.
Her instincts told her Alice wasn't innocent.
The response was immediate.
Sophia and William each sat by one of the boys' beds. The room was silent, neither speaking a word.
As the anesthesia wore off, James and Michael slowly woke up.
James blinked in confusion. "Mommy, Mommy."
Sophia's eyes reddened. "James, I'm here."
Michael also woke up, weakly calling, "Daddy, Daddy..."
William touched his son's head. "I'm here."
They stayed with the children in the hospital for two days.
Other children had been discharged, but James and Michael's conditions hadn't improved.
Sophia approached William. "We need to talk."
She had consulted the doctor, who found extra trace elements in James and Michael's food compared to the other children.
"They aren't suffering from food poisoning. It's drug poisoning."
"The kindergarten incident might be a cover. You should investigate the food the Smith family provides."
William's eyes darkened with realization. "You suspect an insider in the Smith family?"
Sophia nodded seriously. "The poison isn't recent. It's chronic, at least five days. Only someone close could manage this."
"I haven't had James and Michael over for meals this week, so it didn't happen at my place. That leaves the Smith family and the kindergarten."
She had also checked William, who showed no signs of poisoning.
Sophia continued, "You and the kids eat breakfast and dinner together, but you're not poisoned."
"The kids eat lunch at the kindergarten with everyone else, but other kids recovered quickly. Only James and Michael didn't."
William understood. The only difference in their diet was the milk they drank every morning and evening.
"I'll handle this," William said, leaving the room with a grim expression.
He arranged for a broader investigation, while Sophia focused on Alice.
A specialized investigation is quicker than a broad one.
Rat's email confirmed Sophia's suspicions. Alice was behind it.
William returned, meeting Sophia's icy gaze.
She hadn't shared the email, wanting to see his reaction. She hoped he wouldn't disappoint James and Michael.
"Let me take James and Michael," she said.
William refused. "They're not well enough to leave the hospital."
Sophia stood, looking at him. "I can save them."
She bent down, tenderly kissing James and Michael's cheeks, her eyes full of pain.
"The poison will slowly destroy their organs. If it continues, they'll die from organ failure."