Chapter 37 Why Hate Her So Much
At that moment...
William's mind was consumed with thoughts of Sophia.
Sophia had always had a strong dislike for him. This was William's clear impression upon their recent encounter.
The grip on her wrist made Sophia uncomfortable, and William's words only added to the suffocating frustration in her chest.
She shoved him away, under a tree.
The move was so sudden.
William didn't react right away. By the time he realized what had happened, she had already pinned him against the tree trunk.
William's sharp and handsome features were like still, pristine pear blossoms, but his cold heart and demeanor wrapped him in layers of frost.
His eyes were dark, yet he forgot to push away her hand pressing against his chest. His usually calm gaze flickered with a dark intensity.
His tone was flat, but inside, a storm was brewing: "Why do you hate Alice so much? Just because of that dinner?"
Sophia didn't respond, her eyes coldly fixed on him.
William frowned, "Sophia, we've been married for five years, and I swear, I have never wronged you."
She laughed bitterly, "Really?"
The sarcasm in Sophia's eyes was unmistakable. William wanted to get to the bottom of it, but Alice's cries came from outside the courtyard.
Sophia took a step back, putting distance between them.
She gave him a calm smile, "Go protect your Alice. This time, I won't let her off so easily."
William glanced outside and slowly straightened up, his black shirt leaving a slight mark on the tree trunk.
A dark cloud seemed to hang over him and Sophia, especially after the recent issues with James and Michael.
"If this has anything to do with Alice, I won't stop you. I'll even help you."
"But..."
Sophia laughed out loud.
William's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes filled with confusion, "What's so funny?"
"You investigating Alice is your business. I'm investigating her for my own reasons. I've already found out the truth, so now it's time for action."
"As for your promises, keep them to yourself."
"William, you can protect her all you want. Let's see if your protection is stronger than the men I have on my side."
William coldly threw out a question, "Men?"
The wind lifted the strands of hair by Sophia's ear. Her slender fingers casually tucked them behind her ear, revealing her long neck.
Sophia smirked, "Yes, men."
Over the past two years, she had invested a lot of effort in building connections across various industries. While no single one of them might match William, she had the numbers.
A single stick might be strong, but it can't compare to a bundle.
Right?
William's whole body tensed, his deep eyes suppressing his inner rage, his voice tinged with resentment.
"Sophia, you really..."
Sophia laughed at herself, "Really, what?"
She continued, "Really... promiscuous? Unable to stay lonely?"
Hearing her self-deprecating words, William's face turned cold, his Adam's apple moved, and his deep eyes grew even darker.
He coldly lowered his gaze, "Don't insult yourself like that."
Such words, paired with William's exceptionally handsome face, might have made any other girl surrender immediately.
Sophia's position allowed her to see Alice collapsed outside the gate. Noticing that William hadn't realized Alice was unconscious, she deliberately stepped aside so he could see the woman lying on the ground.
"Mr. Smith, she's been silent for a while. If you don't take her to the hospital soon, the Grim Reaper might collect her before I get the chance."
William followed her gaze.
Only then did he notice Alice lying on the ground, faintly bleeding.
He called his driver to take Alice to the hospital.
Before leaving, he turned to Sophia one last time.
He called out to Sophia, "Don't mess with Alice for now. We made a promise to her."
Sophia scoffed lightly, "That was your promise. She helped you, not me."
She turned and left without looking back.
Before leaving, she instructed the bodyguards not to let William in the house when he came to drop off the kids.
William fell silent.
James saw Sophia returning alone from the front yard and curiously asked, "Mom, where's Dad?"
Sophia squatted down and gently ruffled his soft hair, her voice warm and soft, "He took someone to the hospital. He'll come to pick you up later."
James, always perceptive and sensitive, immediately connected it to the noise he had heard earlier.
He thought for a moment and said, "Is it Ms. Rivera?"
Sophia nodded, not hiding it from him.
James tightly held her hand, his eyes filled with concern.
"Mom..."
"James, this is an adult matter. Mom just wants you and your siblings to grow up happy."
She patted his shoulder and smiled, "Go play with Michael and Emily. Today, you three are the stars."
Just then, Emily called out to him.
James reluctantly left, silently promising himself that he would protect his mom in the future.
Sophia played with the three kids for a long time.
Lyra received a call from her agent about a role in a movie being taken by someone else and had to rush back to the office.
Elodie, still recovering, returned to the hotel with her family after spending a long time. They made plans to have dinner together when they were free.
Sophia agreed with a nod.
The three kids played all afternoon, sweating profusely.
Sophia took them to their rooms to bathe, change into pajamas, and nap with them for a while.
In the evening.
William arrived from the hospital to pick up the kids to take them back to the Smith family estate, but this time, his car couldn't enter the Johnson family courtyard.
William rolled down the window.
He instinctively dialed Sophia's number.
Busy signal.
He looked up at Sophia's bedroom, which was lit. Through the white curtains, he could see her helping the two boys get dressed.
James and Michael were changing into the new clothes Sophia had prepared for them.
Bright lemon yellow.
Unlike the simple black, white, and gray William usually arranged, it made them look cheerful and sunny.
Emily had already changed into matching overalls, wearing a white shirt with a Peter Pan collar, and sitting obediently on the sofa with her eyes covered.
"Mom, are James and Michael done changing?"
Sophia smiled and replied, "Yes, Emily. Look at how handsome James and Michael are."
Emily uncovered her eyes, saw the neatly dressed James and Michael, and smiled broadly, not holding back her praise.
"Handsome!"
"They're both so handsome!"
James and Michael blushed shyly.
They held Emily's hand and headed for the elevator, with Sophia following behind them, escorting them to the gate.
William leaned against the car door, his posture relaxed. His tense, handsome face softened slightly upon seeing the kids, showing a father's smile.
Seeing him, Emily let go of James and Michael's hands. Her joyful expression disappeared, and she turned to hold Sophia's hand.
Emily's voice was soft, "James, Michael, goodbye."
James and Michael also said their goodbyes, walking towards William but glancing back at Sophia and Emily before getting into the car, their reluctance evident.
Sophia smiled and waved goodbye to the kids. Her gaze accidentally met William's, and his usually cold eyes seemed a bit annoyed.
William met her gaze, but Sophia's eyes were cold and indifferent, showing no emotion, as if she were looking at a stranger.
Michael called him "Dad" twice, but William was lost in his thoughts and didn't hear.
Until...