Chapter 35 I Won't Let Your Man Get Close to My Son
Emily called him "Daddy"?
James's words hit William like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless.
He recalled Emily calling him "Daddy" back in Rain Village.
"Daddy, Louis gave me this toy, and he invited James and me to visit Seraphim during the holidays."
Michael's face lit up with joy, his eyes sparkling with excitement, just like William's once did.
William's voice was a bit rough. "Do you guys really like their family?"
James and Michael nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, we do."
They were so wrapped up in the fun they'd had with Sophia that they didn't notice the change in William's expression.
James and Michael's birthday was coming up.
Every year, William took them to the old family home to celebrate with their grandparents, enjoying a big family dinner.
But this year, Sophia was back.
They clearly wanted to celebrate their birthday with Sophia and Emily instead.
"James, your grandparents have already planned a birthday party for you. If you don't go, they'll be really disappointed."
William suggested, "Maybe you could invite Mom and Emily to celebrate at the old family home."
But James shook his head.
He hadn't forgotten how his grandmother had badmouthed his mom behind her back, acting all sweet and gentle in front of his dad.
"Dad, can Michael and I have lunch with Mom and Emily, and then go back to the old family home for dinner with Grandpa and Grandma?"
William was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, James."
The night before James and Michael's birthday.
Sophia had the backyard decorated with a toy theme that James and Michael loved and invited Lyra, who was on vacation, to join the celebration.
Two days earlier, Elodie had found out about James and Michael's birthday and immediately flew over with her husband and kids, ready for an impromptu trip.
James, Michael, and Louis got along great. With Louis there, James and Michael were even happier and didn't mind his company.
Sophia hadn't expected William to stay.
Sophia spoke calmly, "Mr. Smith, I'll take the kids back to the Smith family home at the agreed time. You can go now."
William's gaze shifted to Ralph in the distance, his eyes cold and intense, like a storm brewing.
"Why did you invite him to James and Michael's birthday party?"
James and Michael had already gone to play with Emily and Louis. The yard was filled with toys that Lyra had brought, all birthday gifts for James and Michael.
Ralph's family had also prepared gifts. Louis presented them on behalf of his family, and the three kids, despite having met only once before, were as close as siblings, laughing and playing together.
"James, I'm scared."
"Michael, you can ride the toy car."
"Louis..."
Emily sat in the toy car, surrounded by her three protective brothers, their faces bright with smiles as they played with her.
Elodie, having learned that Lyra was Sophia's good friend and an actress, had looked up her work online.
She was surprised to find that she had seen one of Lyra's movies, although Lyra's appearance in the film was so plain and heavily made up that she couldn't connect it to the vibrant beauty before her.
Elodie liked Sophia, and consequently, she liked Lyra too. She even recommended Lyra to her director friends.
"There's a movie starting production soon, and they're auditioning for actors. I think you'd be perfect for the third female lead."
Lyra hadn't expected to meet the world-renowned screenwriter Elodie at her friend's son's birthday party, nor to receive the contact information of a famous international director.
Her outgoing personality made her express her gratitude openly.
"Thank you, Elodie! Sophia, I love you so much!"
Hearing Lyra's shout, Emily blinked her big eyes and mimicked her, cupping her hands around her mouth.
"Mommy, Emily loves you too!"
James and Michael exchanged a glance and joined in, "Mommy, we love you too!"
Louis, though not fluent in their language, thought it was part of the game and copied James and Michael.
"Mommy, I love you too!"
Elodie and Ralph understood, but since Sophia had saved Louis's life, they didn't find his words inappropriate.
But this scene meant something different to William.
His face darkened.
His deep, handsome eyes didn't miss any of Sophia's emotions. When she smiled and waved at them, his gaze turned icy, his voice dropping several degrees.
"Sophia, you haven't answered me."
"What's wrong with inviting friends to celebrate my sons' birthday?"
Her smile vanished at the sight of William's coldness.
Sophia's expression turned indifferent, finding his question unreasonable.
"William, go do your own thing."
Whether it was work or being with Alice, as long as he stayed out of her sight.
Noticing her disdain, William felt the air being stolen from around him, his hand veins bulging as he suppressed his anger, even ignoring the vibration of his phone in his pocket.
"Are you being this blatant now?"
Blatant?
Facing William's misunderstanding, Sophia didn't want to explain.
She turned to walk towards the children.
After a few steps, she heard footsteps behind her.
William hadn't left; he was following her.
"Sophia, I won't let your man get close to my sons!"
James and Michael were happy.
Especially Michael, who had picked up Emily's way of acting cute, hugged William's leg, and looked up at him.
"Daddy, will you stay and celebrate our birthday with us?"
James, holding Emily's hand as she got off the toy car, looked at Sophia with anticipation. He wanted to celebrate with both his parents.
But he asked Sophia, not William.
"Mommy, can Daddy stay and celebrate our birthday with us?"
William and Michael both turned to Sophia, whose eyes sparkled with excitement, "Mommy, can he?"
Faced with her children's hopeful eyes, Sophia couldn't refuse.
She nodded.
Michael immediately grabbed William's hand, "Finally, we can celebrate our birthday with both Daddy and Mommy."
His words were innocent, but they struck a chord.
Sophia and William's hearts tightened simultaneously.
They exchanged a glance and looked away.
Meanwhile, Elodie and Lyra were preparing food, and Ralph was manning the grill.
The Johnson Villa's backyard was huge.
Besides the camping tent with the birthday theme, there were many children's play facilities, all specially prepared for the kids.
Ralph's eyes lit up when he saw William and pulled him to help with the grilling.
He was a typical Seraphim native, friendly and unreserved, chatting about his wife and son.
William's hand paused as he turned the skewer, his skin glowing in the sunlight, his god-like features radiant.
"Do you love your wife and son?" William's question was stiff.
Ralph nodded, his face full of warmth, "Of course!"
"My wife and son are the most wonderful, beautiful things in the world. I can't imagine living without them."
He looked at William in confusion, "Don't you love your wife and sons?"
William was momentarily speechless.
At that moment, the sound of Alice's crying came from the Johnson Villa's entrance, calling out William's name, her voice full of tears.
"William, please save me—"