Chapter 267
Chapter 267
Gerald carried a cup of hot soup over and set it on the coffee table in front of Sophia.
Sophia didn't touch it. She kept her head down, building blocks with Milo.
After a while, Milo suddenly looked up.
"Mommy, do you like Daddy?"
The block in Sophia's hand froze mid-air.
Gerald spoke first. "Of course she does."
He sat down beside Sophia. "Mommy loves Daddy. Can't you tell, Milo?"
Sophia turned and shot him a glare.
Gerald's expression didn't change.
"So Milo needs to be a good boy and listen."
Milo broke into a wide grin.
Sophia lowered her eyes. Looking at Milo's bright, hopeful face, she swallowed the words "don't listen to your dad's nonsense" before they could leave her mouth.
---
Sophia stayed a few more nights. Days later, Milo was fully recovered, and Sophia and Gerald dropped him off at school together.
On the way back, Sophia planned to grab a cab to work. Gerald told her to ride with him—they needed to stop by the mall to pick up things for Milo's birthday.
The mention of Milo's birthday made her cave.
She pulled the car door open and climbed in. Then Gerald's phone rang. Claire.
Sophia was close enough to hear every word.
"Gerald, I feel awful. Will you come see me? Please?"
Sophia let out a sharp laugh and reached for the door handle.
Gerald caught her arm. "Where are you going?"
Sophia's smile was knife-thin. "Your girlfriend's calling. Better run along. I won't get in the way."
Gerald's voice stayed level. "She's not my girlfriend."
Sophia's eyes blazed. "She's your sweetheart, then. Goodbye."
She pushed at the door. Gerald ended the call and held her in place. "My sweetheart is someone else entirely."
Sophia thought of Milo, but she couldn't stop the bitter scoff. Even when it came to their son, Gerald had ditched him plenty of times to go running to Claire.
Gerald was the biggest hypocrite she'd ever known.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. "Once Milo's settled, I am divorcing you. Don't think one supply contract is enough to make me let her off the hook."
Gerald inhaled slowly. "If you're still upset, you can go confront her yourself. Face to face."
Sophia's smile turned cold. "Then let's go to the hospital."
---
Sophia dragged Gerald to the hospital.
They cut through the inpatient wing corridor. At the VIP room at the far end, Sophia let go of his hand, pushed the door open, and walked in.
Inside, Hazel sat at the bedside peeling an apple for Claire. Gemma occupied the sofa on the other side. Both looked up when the door swung open.
"What are you doing here?" Hazel's face darkened.
Sophia's gaze landed on Claire's bandaged face. A smile barely touched her lips. "Came to see if Claire managed to kill herself."
Claire went white.
Gemma shot to her feet. "Sophia! What kind of thing is that to say? She just had an accident and you come here with this? Have you no decency?"
Sophia turned to Gemma, her smile cooling by several degrees. "Decency? For a homewrecker? She throws herself at Gerald every chance she gets—'Gerald' this, 'Gerald' that—playing helpless, playing sweet. If that doesn't make you sick, fine. But I find it filthy."
Gemma's lips trembled with rage. "How—how dare you talk like that! Who's a homewrecker? Claire and Gerald grew up together! I know exactly what kind of person she is. Don't you dare slander her!"
"You know exactly what kind of person she is?" Sophia laughed. "Then tell me—she knows your son has a wife and still plasters herself to him. That's innocence? She knows I'm still married to him and calls and texts every day begging to meet. That's good manners? If you think someone like that deserves to marry into the Churchill family, then your family's standards are truly one of a kind."
Gemma's face cycled between green and white. "You... you're nothing but a shrew!"
"A shrew still outranks a mistress." Sophia swung her gaze to Hazel. "Mrs. Douglas, you look awfully comfortable sitting there peeling apples. If I'd raised a daughter who spent her days chasing other women's husbands, I'd be too ashamed to show my face in public. But here you are, keeping her company at her bedside. What is this—encouraging her affair and cleaning up her messes?"
Hazel's face flushed crimson. "Ms. Neville, don't push it!"
Claire's eyes brimmed with tears. She turned toward the figure in the doorway.
"Gerald..."
Gerald leaned against the doorframe. He hadn't moved once through all of it.
When he heard Claire call his name, his gaze shifted from Sophia to that tear-streaked face. His expression was flat.
"Alright. We're leaving."
He reached out, closed his hand around Sophia's wrist, and led her out of the room.
The instant the door shut behind them, the sound of porcelain shattering erupted from inside.
Sophia shook his hand off and walked fast.
Gerald caught up, falling into step beside her.
"Feel better?"
"No." Sophia didn't look back. "I wasn't done."
Gerald matched her pace. "Then we'll come back."
Sophia didn't respond.
---
The mall was blindingly bright.
Gerald led Sophia straight to the fourth floor. Out of the elevator, left turn, into a women's boutique.
"Pick whatever you like."
Sophia selected two pieces.
A sales associate hurried over. "Right this way to the fitting room, ma'am."
When she stepped out, Gerald was leaning against the counter scrolling his phone. He glanced up. Something flickered in his eyes.
"Looks good. Try the other one too."
Sophia said nothing and went back into the fitting room.
When she emerged again, Gerald was holding several shopping bags. Two more items with freshly removed tags sat on the counter.
"We'll take all of these."
He raised his hand and took a velvet box from the associate. He opened it—a rose-gold chain with a teardrop pendant.
Gerald lifted the necklace out and moved behind Sophia.
She shifted slightly, but he'd already reached up. The clasp settled against the back of her neck, his fingertips brushing her skin.
"Hold still."
Sophia stopped moving.
Gerald fastened the clasp and stepped back to look. "Beautiful."
Sophia touched the pendant. Cool metal against her collarbone.
"Let's go."
She didn't take it off. She picked up her bags and headed for the elevator.
Gerald followed, carrying the rest.
---
It was still light when they left the mall. Sophia checked her phone.
"Head to the school."
Gerald opened the car door. "Now? Dismissal's almost two hours away."
"He just got over being sick. I don't want a relapse." Sophia ducked into the passenger seat. "I'll feel better if we pick him up early."
Gerald walked around to the driver's side, buckled in. "Whatever you say. You name the time."
He gripped the steering wheel.
"Move in. Palatial Gardens has plenty of room. Milo needs you."
Sophia watched the scenery slide past the window. "There you go again, using Milo."
Gerald said nothing.
A long silence.
Then Sophia spoke. "...Fine. I'll move in."