Chapter 69 William Receives the Laboratory Ward
The probing look and distrust in Sophia's eyes pissed William off.
But he wasn't an impulsive fool either.
His voice sounded like it had been soaked in ice water, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. "What's wrong with the report?"
Sophia didn't say anything. She walked over to examine him.
She had felt something was off with William's physical condition before.
But because of the custody battle over the two children, she had no energy to spare.
Besides, Peace Group owned a private hospital, and the Smith family had their own personal doctor, so Sophia didn't pay much attention.
Who would have thought...
After finishing the examination, Sophia asked him gravely, "Besides not sleeping all night, have you been experiencing heart palpitations, sweating, hand tremors, blurred vision in severe cases, and..."
She paused for two seconds before continuing, "Physical reactions that are especially strong at night, losing control around women like a beast in heat?"
The earlier symptoms matched, but that last part... William denied it.
Sophia examined and confirmed everything again.
She had to seriously warn him, "William, your blood sample shows data suggesting the 'Y virus.'"
At the mention of this virus, both their faces grew equally grave.
This was a virus that came from the Aetheria brothel, first appearing in those unfortunate girls.
The top ten labs and hospitals globally had all received samples of the "Y virus."
Sophia's lab was no exception.
So far, no one had found a solution.
People infected with the "Y virus" would eventually become beasts of "desire," until they completely lost their sanity.
The gravity on Sophia's face was obvious, and her eyes were serious as she looked at him. "William, until we determine your condition, don't have contact with the children."
Despite clearly hearing the gravity and seriousness in her voice, William's expression remained unchanged.
He lazily lifted his eyelids, his lips carrying a casual air.
"Okay, whatever you say."
Sophia looked down at the data again and called through the intercom, asking Amelia to take William to Lab One for a new examination.
When Amelia heard "Lab One," her expression immediately changed.
The equipment in Lab One was a custom design Sophia had created specifically for her daughter Emily.
There was only one in the entire world.
She never expected the first person to use it would be William.
Sophia personally operated the machine to give William a full body examination.
The results would take half a day.
She first had someone arrange a hospital room for William. Everything would wait until the test data came out.
When other people in the lab heard she had used Lab One today, they all came over to ask about the situation.
Sophia explained William's condition, and everyone's expressions became grave.
"Sophia, don't worry. The sample is already being analyzed. I believe we'll be able to find a solution soon. Everything will be fine."
"Yeah, the current data only suggests the 'Y virus.' It might not be for sure."
It wasn't so much worry about William—Sophia just had a bad feeling in her heart.
"Either way, let's wait for the data. Let's focus on studying the samples these next few days."
"The sooner we find a solution, the fewer people will have to suffer."
This world was strange.
It seemed suffering always fell on those who were already suffering.
William was admitted to the lab's private ward under Sophia's personal care.
When she arrived, William was still in a meeting with his earphones on.
"Mr. Smith, Ms. Rivera has asked many times when you'll come see her."
William's voice was cold, tinged with exhaustion. "Tell her the deal is over. This is the last time I'm helping her."
Back then, Alice took a knife to the stomach, saving Michael, causing irreversible damage to her uterus.
She probably would never be able to get pregnant or become a mother in this lifetime.
For this, William had promised her three conditions.
During that time, Sophia wasn't in a good state, so he took it upon himself not to tell her about the attack on the two children.
That night two years ago.
William came home from work early but didn't find Sophia at home.
So he took James and Michael directly to the reserved Western restaurant for dinner, where they happened to run into Alice.
She proposed her first condition: help the bankrupt Rivera family get through their crisis.
William thought about it. This condition was harmless enough, so he agreed directly.
For the past two years, the Rivera family's business had basically been scraps divided from Peace Group.
He had Tony immediately handle the rumors and press releases claiming he was giving business to the Rivera family because he liked Alice.
But somehow, the rumors only grew worse.
Later, Alice used the fact that she could never have children as a reason to propose treating James and Michael as her own children.
Although William refused with the reason "they have their own mother."
But seeing how much Michael liked Alice, he didn't stop her from getting close to the two children.
After all, the children lacked maternal love, and he thought Alice's intentions were good.
As for bailing Alice out and providing her with some entertainment industry resources, that was the second condition he agreed to.
Now, it was the last condition... to fully heal her disfigured face.
Now that all three conditions had been fulfilled, William felt he didn't owe Alice anything anymore.
He felt these things were what he should do, and since he and Sophia didn't really open up to each other after marriage, both kept things to themselves.
So he hadn't told Sophia about these matters.
At this moment, looking at Sophia examining him, a hint of contemplation appeared in William's deep eyes.
The hair on her forehead fell forward, and William instinctively reached out to tuck it behind her ear.
Sophia's expression was clearly displeased. She stepped back with a cold face.
"If Mr. Smith's hands can't behave, they should be cut off!"
William fell silent.
A morning passed, and William's rushed test results came out.
Seeing the latest data from William's detailed examination, Sophia's anxious heart finally settled.
Thank goodness, it wasn't the "Y virus"!
The lab was short-staffed, so she let Tony in to take care of William.
The latter looked at William sleeping "peacefully" on the hospital bed, his face full of relief: Finally able to sleep!
Sophia was afraid James and Michael would worry too much and affect their eating and sleeping if they knew William was sick, so she didn't tell them their father was in the lab's hospital room. She also reminded William to be careful not to let the children find out.
And what happened?
After learning that James and Michael went to Raymond again to solve math puzzles, and that Sophia would chat with Raymond for a bit each time she picked up the kids, he deliberately showed up at the hospital room door with Tony.
Seeing William, the two children were both happy and worried.
"Dad, why are you wearing the same clothes as Raymond?"
"Dad, are you sick too?"
Only Sophia, holding Emily in her arms, looked at the man before her with a dark expression.
Could his surprised look be any more fake?