Chapter 96 Emily Probably Likes You
This hit William right where it hurt.
What Sophia cared about most were the three children.
Blood ties had become the connection that many divorced couples couldn't let go of or sever.
Noticing William's gaze, Tony quickly added, "You and Mrs. Smith have James and Michael."
"As long as James and Michael are around, Mr. Smith will have countless reasons to get close to Mrs. Smith."
"And Emily probably... likes... you..."
Tony's emotions grew more intense as he spoke, but his voice got weaker toward the end.
He paused to sneak a look at William's reaction, only to find him with his eyes closed, seemingly actually listening.
William's eyelids lowered, silent and unresponsive.
But Tony sensed a "keep going" message from this. He quickly compared William and Raymond's various qualities in his mind, nervously swallowing before stating the next "winning point."
"Raymond does look decent, but Mr. Smith, you're a hundred, a thousand times better looking than him. That's also a breakthrough point."
William opened his half-closed eyes and cast a deep, indifferent glance his way.
The surrounding noise seemed to disappear in an instant.
William closed his eyes again to rest, yet his heart felt like invisible threads were constantly winding and pulling, bringing a barely noticeable itch.
The car fell completely silent, and Tony stopped talking.
But when they reached the company parking garage, Tony heard heavenly words before getting out.
"Tony, your year-end bonus is doubled."
Over the next few days, every time Sophia went to pick up James and Michael, she ran into William.
William wouldn't say anything, just stand beside her when James and Michael were about to leave school.
Then, get invited back to the Johnson Villa with them.
But he was self-aware, only escorting the children to the Johnson Villa entrance before leaving in the Smith family's car.
Over time, James and Michael noticed something was off, and their emotions became somewhat sensitive.
This day, William escorted them to the Johnson Villa as usual.
After he left, James couldn't help looking at Sophia and asking, "Mom, do you not like Dad?"
Michael was also different from his usual lively self, looking at her with clean, bright eyes.
"James, Michael." Sophia crouched down to look at James and Michael, her voice gentle. "The relationship between Mom and Dad can't be described with 'like.'"
James pressed his lips together and looked up at her. "Mom, are you going to be like the women on TV and say we'll understand when we grow up?"
He lowered his eyes and muttered, "We're still kids, but we can understand."
Looking at James and Michael's stubborn figures, Sophia silently sighed to herself.
She held their hands as they walked home, patiently answering, "Mom knows you're sensible and smart, but things between Mom and Dad are a bit complicated."
Since the hotel video incident, Sophia hadn't eaten at the same table with William or let him into the Johnson Villa.
Children this age were particularly sensitive, and as a mother, she felt guilty.
So, because of James and Michael, she had inevitably been lenient with William, creating the illusion of a family living together.
Now, it was time to set things straight.
Emily hadn't gone with her to pick up James and Michael today and was currently playing with the nanny upstairs in the study.
Taking this opportunity, Sophia tried to explain the reasons for her cold relationship with William in terms that James and Michael could understand.
Who knew Michael would suddenly ask her, "Mom, are you dating Raymond?"
James and Michael seemed very focused on her relationship with Raymond.
Sophia was stunned by his question, then explained, "Mom and Raymond are just friends."
James also leaned over, looking at her curiously. "Will Mom date other men in the future?"
Sophia touched their hair with a gentle smile, not saying much. "No one can say for sure about the future."
In any case, James and Michael were appeased.
That evening, after they fell asleep, Sophia went to the study and closed the door, her face turning cold.
She left messages for Rat and Monkey to investigate who had been talking nonsense in front of James and Michael.
The next night, outside a certain club.
George Hall, who had just strutted out looking drunk, wanted to relieve himself in a nearby alley. His zipper had barely come down when someone threw a sack over him and dragged him deep into the alley. His painful wails continued for a long time without stopping.
When he finally woke up in the dark alley, another group with sacks was waiting for him.
This time, they directly destroyed his tool for being a pervert!
"Did you hear? Johnny's dad got destroyed last night!"
"Serves him right! All these years, he's relied on his family's influence to harm plenty of good girls."
"Johnny's just like his dad. He said in front of my son that divorced moms are all cheaters and sluts. Made me so mad I beat him good!"
"My kid too, learned bad things from him..."
Sophia listened to the surrounding discussions with indifference.
Without children around, she always had a cold face, like bamboo leaves with morning dew, emanating a cool, elegant, faint fragrance.
William arrived late today because of a meeting, holding a bouquet of Ecuadorian roses.
Looking at the bouquet thrust in front of her, Sophia was stunned.
She looked at him strangely. "What are you doing? I don't want them!"
The veins on William's neck were already tight; his powerful gaze focused on her face. "Raymond can give them, but I can't?"
Giving flowers was already a showy thing, especially from a cool, noble, handsome man like William.
"James and Michael asked me this morning if I really hate you."
Sophia hadn't expected James and Michael to ask him the same question.
She frowned. "What does that have to do with you giving flowers?"
William appeared unmoved, but his eyes were already turbulent. He said with a stern face, "They think you accept flowers from Raymond but not from me because you don't like me."
Sophia answered without thinking, "Well, I don't like you."
William said nothing.
His eyes were as thick as an abyss, grinding his back teeth. "James and Michael are at a sensitive age; they overthink easily."
"I'm also doing this for the kids. You take the flowers, and we'll pretend in front of them later; otherwise, they'll overthink."
Sophia felt it was unnecessary, but William's next words rooted her to the spot, and she coldly accepted the flowers he handed over.
Her instinct told her something was off, but the school bell that rang immediately after didn't give her time to think about it.