Chapter 39 Is Dad Moving in Too
When Sophia took her three kids to the amusement park, Elodie and Louis joined them, while Ralph stayed back at the hotel for a business meeting.
They tried every fun ride and attraction in the park, and by the time they left, both the adults and the kids were thoroughly entertained.
Just after saying goodbye to Elodie and her kids, Sophia received a call from Rat.
Alice had indeed been bailed out by the Smith family!
As the golden sunset bathed Sophia in its warm glow, she looked almost ethereal, wrapped in a divine and noble aura.
Other visitors around her were curious about her identity. She was a young, beautiful woman with smooth skin, looking like a fresh college graduate.
The adorable kids beside her, however, were calling her "Mom."
"Wow, this family is gorgeous!"
"All three kids are so good-looking. Their dad must be quite handsome, too. It's like they hit the genetic jackpot."
"I'm sneaking a picture for my wallpaper. I hope my baby turns out this cute!"
Sophia paid no attention to the whispers around her.
On the ride back to the Johnson Villa, Michael and Emily were already fast asleep.
James sat next to Sophia, holding her hand. "Mom, are Michael and I not going to Dad's tonight?"
Sophia looked at him. "No, from now on, James and Michael will stay with Emily and me. Is that okay?"
James's face lit up, but he hesitated. "What about Dad? Will he move in with us, too?"
Sophia didn't want to lie to him. She pulled him close, gently touching her cheek to his.
"James, your dad and I have separated. You and Michael lived with Dad for the past couple of years, and now you'll stay with Emily and me. Is that okay?"
James quickly understood what she meant.
Sophia kissed his cheek and patiently explained.
"When you and Michael miss Dad, you can call or video chat with him, and you can visit him for meals. I won't stop you."
He lifted his head from her embrace, his voice a bit muffled.
"I know. Mom and Dad got divorced."
"My classmate's parents are divorced too. He lives with his dad, and his mom visits him often."
Sophia had used the word "separated" to make it easier for the kids to understand, but they were smarter than she had anticipated.
James's eyes held a glimmer of hope. "Can't you and Dad get back together, like before?"
Before...
Sophia thought of those five years of a hidden marriage.
She stayed home raising the kids while he was out working and socializing.
Except for his intense and frequent demands at night, William was cold and distant during the day. He was like an ice block that never warmed up.
Being around him for too long was like getting frostbite.
She looked down at her child's disappointed face and hugged him tighter, her voice gentle and sincere in the car's quiet interior.
"Dad and I won't get back together. We each have our own lives now."
"James, even though your dad and I are separated, our love for you and Michael has never lessened."
"I love you both, and so does your dad."
"You will always be our precious children."
Her voice had a unique soothing quality that quickly calmed James's anxiety.
He looked up at her, a bit unsure, "Will you marry someone else?"
James remembered what his classmate had said.
His dad had remarried and had another son. All the toys went to the new son first, and only when he didn't want them could his classmate play with them.
His mom also remarried, and after having a baby, she visited him less frequently.
Now his classmate lived with his grandparents every day.
Seeing the worry in James's eyes and recalling his earlier words, Sophia immediately understood his concern.
She shook her head firmly.
"I won't marry anyone else. From now on, it will just be me, you, Michael, and Emily. Is that okay?"
James was relieved.
His dad had told them something similar.
No matter what, he would always be their dad, and their mom would always be their mom.
And there was sweet little Emily with them.
Thinking about seeing Emily every day lifted James's mood. He smiled and nodded at Sophia.
"I'm okay with that."
Sophia let out a slow breath.
She was confident that James would agree.
Now she needed to talk to playful Michael.
She glanced at Michael, who was sleeping soundly in his car seat, and planned to have a good talk with him later.
Back at the Johnson Villa, Sophia helped the three kids wash up and change into pajamas. After dinner, she played with them in the yard for a while.
She wasn't planning to send the kids back to the Smith Mansion tonight.
When the kids didn't come home, William called Sophia's phone from the house phone, knowing she would expect his call.
There was a long silence on the line.
Sophia didn't want to waste time on this.
She spoke first, "I told you, if you protect her, the kids stay with me."
William's voice was deep and cold, even more captivating in the night. His thin lips moved without any warmth.
He said flatly, "I don't agree."
Sophia had always been cold to him.
Perhaps James's words tonight had softened her heart, and her tone was gentler than usual when she spoke to William.
"William, you can't always push me around."
William's breath caught for a moment. It had been a long time since he'd heard her speak so gently.
Since she had asked for a divorce, their conversations had been either indifferent or filled with barbs.
William couldn't remember the last time they had a calm conversation. His eyes darkened, emotions flickering in his gaze.
His voice was hoarse. "When have I ever pushed you around?"
Noticing William's softened attitude, Sophia's eyes glinted. She looked at the stars in the night sky and continued her gentle approach.
She wanted to stir William's guilt.
It was difficult.
During those five years, she had experienced William's cold and indifferent nature. No matter what she did, he remained unmoved.
It made her feel defeated.
Sophia racked her brain, recalling moments from their hidden marriage.
Despite being together because of the marriage contract, there had been times when their relationship was good. The best period was the year the children were born.
He would come home early to be with her and the kids, reduce long business trips, and always return to the Smith Mansion after short trips, no matter how late.
He would dry her hair, eat with her, put the kids to bed, and even say sweet things to her.
Then, for reasons unknown, he reverted to his old ways, becoming cold, distant, and formal, like a stranger.
She would often wake up at night to find his side of the bed empty and cold.
Reflecting on that period, Sophia realized their marriage issues had started long ago, but she had ignored them.
After a long silence, William finally spoke first.
His voice was rough, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Her voice was tinged with the wistfulness of memories, bitter, "Two years ago, when you called me, I was in the hospital."