Chapter 4 He Is Your Lover, Right
Sophia thought her heart had healed over the past two years, that it wouldn't hurt anymore.
But his words still pierced her heart like needles.
She was furious!
"We're divorced, and I'm remarried, William. Please respect that."
Sophia shoved him away, heading upstairs to find Emily.
William grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Who is this guy you left your husband and kid for?"
She said she didn't trust him, but did he trust her?
Sophia shook off his hand and told him firmly.
"A man who's a hundred—no, a thousand times better than you!"
Sophia walked away quickly, and behind her, she heard the sound of William collapsing. His fever from the previous night had returned.
Despite their bitter parting, the rain hadn't stopped.
With Tony's help, they finally reached a verbal agreement.
They'd leave Rain Village once the stone bridge was passable. While staying at her house, they'd pay $100,000 a day for lodging and medical expenses.
They ended up staying for a week.
Emily was thrilled to have two new playmates, and her favorite part of each day was playing with James and Michael.
Michael, who had a childlike nature, was also drawn to Emily's cheerful personality under James's guidance.
Every morning, he would wake James up and drag him to Sophia's room to wait for Emily to wake up.
Meanwhile, William stayed in the guest room, constantly busy with various meetings.
He had just finished an international conference when he saw Emily, who was supposed to be napping upstairs, lying on the stairs.
Rubbing her eyes, she walked over to William, her eyes red, and reached out to him, "Hold me."
William stiffly picked Emily up.
The cook hurriedly pushed the door open, informing him that Sophia had gone out to treat the elderly in the village.
She had that skill?
Before leaving, Sophia had asked the temporary maid, Tammy Sullivan, to look after Emily. But Tammy had gone home to collect her laundry, leaving Emily to climb down the stairs by herself.
William's eyes narrowed coldly, his powerful presence accompanying his scrutinizing gaze. "Do you realize how dangerous this is?"
Leaving a child barely over a year old alone at home could lead to all sorts of dangers.
Tammy intended to explain herself and let the matter pass, not expecting William to be so angry; she hurriedly defended herself.
"I remembered I hadn't collected my laundry and was worried about the rain. My house is right next door. I thought I'd be quick, but Emily woke up faster than I expected."
Sensing his anger, Emily kissed his cheek, mimicking James's voice.
Emily: "Daddy, don't be mad."
Emily was just learning words and didn't even understand what "daddy" meant.
William's grip on Emily tightened, his mind racing with thoughts more intense than any business project.
Could it be possible that Emily was his child?
No, it couldn't be. He had always used contraception, and the timeline didn't match.
Two hours later.
Sophia returned from treating the elderly in the village, disinfecting at the door. The prolonged rain had exacerbated their chronic conditions, and treating them had taken a long time.
As she entered the house, she saw Emily in William's arms, Tammy standing helplessly nearby, and Tammy quickly apologizing when she saw her.
After hearing Tammy's explanation, Sophia frowned. "Tammy, I asked you to stay by her bedside without leaving."
She had even paid her extra for it.
Tammy had never seen Sophia so cold. She had always been quite polite to her before.
"Sophia, I saw Emily sleeping soundly, and my house is close, so I thought it wouldn't take long to collect my laundry. That's why I went."
"Emily's fine now, isn't she? During busy farming seasons, kids stay home alone in our village, and nothing's ever happened."
Tammy straightened up.
"Emily's dad is just overreacting! You don't know, he even criticized me earlier. I've worked here for a month without facing such grievances. Sophia, you owe me some compensation."
Sophia's gaze turned icy. "First, he's not Emily's dad. Second, we're in an employment relationship. Nothing happened this time, but what if something had?"
Tammy sensed her displeasure and got nervous.
Not just because Sophia paid well, but also because she occasionally sent her home with meat and vegetables.
Sophia's food supply was regularly delivered, including seafood and Kobe beef, things they had never tasted before.
"Sophia, I promise I won't make this mistake again. Please give me another chance."
She knew Sophia cared most about Emily and reached for her in William's arms. "Emily, come to me, sweetie."
William dodged, not letting her touch the child.
Seeing Tammy's dirty hands reaching for Emily, Sophia's gaze grew colder. She immediately took out Tammy's wages from her wallet.
"Tammy, you're fired. Don't come back."
Tammy was stunned. She had only left for a short while and hadn't caused any harm, yet she was being fired?
"Sophia, you're heartless, firing me just like that! No wonder your husband left you!"
Sophia pushed her out. "Get out! Don't let me see you again!"
She had lived in Rain Village with her family for a while when she was young, but left for school later.
After her divorce, unsure where to go, she had come to Rain Village with her child. At the time, her pregnancy wasn't showing, but later, rumors spread that she had been abandoned by a man.
After she unintentionally saved the village chief's life, people's attitudes toward her changed.
For their small village, medical resources were scarce.
Typically, they had to take long bus rides to the county for medical care, losing most of the day.
Since she arrived, people came to her for minor ailments.
With nothing left to lose, Tammy showed her true colors!
She clung to Sophia's gate, refusing to leave, cursing loudly.
"Sophia, if this man isn't your daughter's dad, then he's your lover, right?"
"I can tell his kids don't like you. You must have stolen someone else's husband! I knew a pretty woman like you, raising a daughter alone without a man, couldn't be good!"
"I've seen plenty of women like you, pretending to be kind but really being sluts. Your daughter will probably grow up to be just like you!"
Just as Tammy finished, Sophia slapped her three times!
"Watch your mouth."
William called two bodyguards, who immediately threw her out.
Tammy was stunned, but once she recovered, she sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum.
"They hit me! That adulterous couple bullied an old woman!"