Chapter 42 Eating the Same Strawberry
Tony wanted to say something to make her stay, but Sophia walked out without looking back.
William cracked the door open slightly, watching her retreating figure with a deepening frown.
Tony returned to the hospital room, relieved to see William napping on the couch. At least he hadn't heard the conversation.
Downstairs, Sophia's driver was already waiting by the curb.
She got into the car, reflecting on the day's events.
The last client she had Monkey meet was Bruce Roberts, Raymond's father. Bruce had turned to the ZN lab for help after finding his long-lost son, Raymond.
Since she was in Empire City, she decided to visit the hospital.
Raymond's health had been poor since college. He worked multiple jobs to support himself, sending most of his earnings back home. His constant lack of proper nutrition left him frail and pale.
Despite his condition, he was incredibly handsome, known as the most attractive guy on campus.
Bruce had finally found his biological son, only for this to happen. His hair had turned half gray from the stress.
Sophia had agreed to help, so she was determined to save him.
Sophia spent time playing with Emily at home before picking up James and Michael.
Unexpectedly, she saw William as soon as she got out of the car.
This time, he was alone, standing by the car, watching the children trickle out of school.
James and Michael were dressed in the vibrant, cheerful clothes Sophia had customized for them. They ran toward Emily with smiles.
"Emily!"
Holding three rare fruit-flavored candy skewers, Emily looked up at their voices and waved the treats.
"Here, James, Michael, these are for you."
James and Michael each took a skewer of the fruit candy.
Emily had one more for herself, waiting for James and Michael to join her.
As the kids enjoyed their treats, they heard William's cold, disapproving voice, "Is this what you give the kids to eat?"
Sophia was unwrapping candy for Emily.
Her face turned cold at William's comment. She looked at him with an expression as still as a dead lake.
James and Michael paused, unsure whether to continue eating, glancing at their mother.
Sophia's gaze softened as she looked at them.
She ruffled their hair and said, "It's okay. Just eat a little. We'll brush our teeth later."
Emily ignored William's comment.
She carefully took a bite of her strawberry candy, her eyes lighting up.
"So sweet!"
She held the tip of her strawberry candy toward James, inviting him to taste it with a lively expression.
After James took a small bite, she offered it to Michael, who took a bite without waiting.
Michael's eyes sparkled. "It is really sweet!"
The three kids quickly finished the strawberry together.
James and Michael shared their candy with Emily, and she happily tasted each skewer.
When Emily offered the second strawberry to Sophia, William was about to speak.
He watched as Sophia's red lips gently touched the candy's sugary coating, her white teeth taking a delicate bite. A memory flashed in his mind, causing his throat to tighten.
William felt a sudden dryness in his mouth.
He looked away, avoiding the sight of Sophia and Emily's interaction.
His gaze landed on James and Michael. In the Smith family, he never allowed them to eat sugary treats, fearing cavities.
Sophia took a small bite and handed the candy back to Emily.
The candy was homemade by their chef, using the finest ingredients.
To suit the kids' tastes, each skewer had only three pieces of fruit, lightly coated with a thin layer of sugar, giving a satisfying crunch without being overly sweet.
Sophia called James and Michael to the car, not noticing Emily tugging at William's pants.
William crouched down, and his lips touched the sweet, sticky candy. His eyes flickered as he glanced at Sophia.
The candy was the same one she had bitten earlier.
Emily, though not fond of William, remembered her mother's lesson about sharing.
Everyone had tasted the candy, so she reluctantly offered it to him.
"Take a bite."
She demonstrated with her mouth wide open.
The sweet aroma of the candy mixed with the strawberry's freshness filled his senses. William bit into the candy.
Emily pulled the skewer away without any fuss.
She glanced at Sophia, who hadn't noticed, then puffed her cheeks at William, warning him sternly, "Don't bully Mom."
William remained silent.
With the last strawberry skewer in hand, Emily happily skipped back to Sophia, waiting to be picked up.
Sophia was slightly surprised to see William biting into the strawberry.
She looked down and saw that Emily's skewer had only one piece left.
It was clear that the piece in William's mouth was the one Sophia had bitten.
William didn't like sweets, especially something as sugary as candy.
But at that moment, he found the taste surprisingly pleasant, the bitterness from the hospital visit washed away by the sweet candy.
However, the thought of Raymond in the nearby hospital room brought back his stern expression.
The kids got into the car.
Sophia took the opportunity to speak with William under a nearby tree, away from the children.
"William," she said seriously, "the kids will stay with me for now."
William immediately refused.
He stared at her for a long moment before adding, "I've enrolled them in calligraphy and chess classes. They'll have teachers at home after school and other activities on weekends."
"They're only six," Sophia reminded him.
When William was six, he was already known for his calligraphy.
He didn't share this with Sophia.
Seeing his silence, Sophia didn't beat around the bush.
"You can take them back, but you need to get rid of the harmful influences in your home."
William understood immediately. "Alice..."
"James and Michael are my children. As their mother, I don't want them getting poisoned again. Is that wrong?"
Her eyes glistened with tears, her voice trembling with emotion.
The memory of their days in the ZN lab, their bodies trembling with fear, haunted her.
Sophia turned away, fighting back tears.
Once composed, she faced him again, her gaze resolute, her words striking deep.
"William, listen to me."
"I will not let my children live with a murderer."
"Never!"