Chapter 9 Five Years of Marriage

The Smith Mansion, dining room.

William noticed James glancing at him repeatedly, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating. He put down his chopsticks and asked, "What's up?"

James looked a bit embarrassed but asked, "Dad, can I go play with Emily this weekend? I want to give her the new toy I bought."

William was about to sternly refuse, but seeing the hopeful look in his son's eyes, he swallowed his words. "Let the driver take you."

Michael looked up from his bowl. "Dad, I want to go too. You can take us."

Surprisingly, on Saturday morning, it was William and Alice who brought the two kids over.

Alice acted very much like the lady of the house.

She held Michael's hand and reached out for James's, but he refused.

Suppressing her displeasure, she forced a grateful smile at Sophia. "Sophia, thanks a lot for looking after my kids. William and I have a date, we'll pick them up afterward."

Her kids?

Sophia glanced at the Maybach's back seat and sneered internally: No wonder that jerk agreed to let the kids come over; he had a date with Alice.

Emily handed both drinks to James, refusing to give any to Michael because he was mean!

James gave one bottle to Michael.

Michael looked at Sophia and said, "I don't want to drink anything from a bad woman!"

"Michael, you can't talk to your mom like that."

Michael looked at Emily, who was being protected by Sophia, and stubbornly said, "She's not my mom."

Sophia's expression changed, and Emily quickly kissed her. "Mommy is good, I love Mommy."

Alice was pleased with Michael's words. She deliberately threw the drink James gave Michael into the trash and questioned Sophia.

"Michael is allergic to orange juice, don't you know that?"

"How can I trust you with the kids when you act like this!"

Her raised voice made William get out of the car to check.

Emily was scared, and Sophia patted her back. "Don't be afraid, Mommy's here."

William frowned. "What's going on?"

Alice, looking tearful, said fearfully, "William, Sophia is Michael's biological mother. How could she not know he's allergic to orange juice? If I hadn't reacted quickly, Michael would have drunk it."

William's scrutinizing gaze fell on Sophia.

Five years of a hidden marriage, she thought William would understand her character, even if he didn't love her.

She didn't expect his first reaction would be to doubt her after hearing Alice's words.

Sophia sneered. "Alice, Michael isn't allergic to orange juice. He just doesn't like anything sour, just like his dad."

She turned to William. "What are you looking at? Don't you know your own child? He says he's allergic because he knows you don't like him being picky."

Michael, hearing his long-standing lie exposed, dared not look at William and hid behind James.

Seeing Michael like this, William understood what was going on.

Sophia continued, "Besides, that was pumpkin juice."

She looked at Alice mockingly. "If your eyes are useless, donate them to someone who needs them. Stop falsely accusing people."

Alice pretended to cry again, looking at William with tears in her eyes.

William frowned. "Sophia, don't be so harsh."

"Alice is just concerned. She's been helping with the kids while you weren't around. As their mother, you should thank her."

What a jerk!

Sophia retorted, "You should donate your eyes too!"

Emily looked at her mom, then at William. She walked over, hugged his leg, and hit him with her chubby little hands.

"Bad man!"

William lifted her with both hands, his dark eyes falling on her small hands. Emily immediately started to cry.

Sophia rushed over to hold her, but William was quicker, holding Emily in his arms.

William's deep eyes met Sophia's. "Sophia, we need to talk."

She was about to say there was nothing to talk about when she saw his gaze fall on James and Michael.

Not wanting to leave the three kids alone in the living room, Sophia led William to the balcony connected to it.

Sophia: "Alright, spit it out."

William stated his purpose.

"The kids need their mother. You can see them anytime, but you can't corrupt them."

"Your misunderstanding of Alice is too deep. The kids like her. You're making it hard for them."

Sophia felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. She felt her five-year marriage to this man was worse than marrying a dog.

"William, you should talk to her. As long as she doesn't bark at me, I won't bother with her."

Her disdain for Alice was clear, and William coldly said, "Sophia, how did you become so aggressive?"

Half a month later, their second conversation ended in another fight.

Michael, learning he had to stay at her place, was adamant. "Dad, I don't want to stay here."

Sophia didn't stop him, letting him leave with William. Before leaving, Michael secretly looked back, feeling an indescribable sadness when he saw she wasn't looking at him.

At 8 PM, William hadn't come to pick up James yet. Sophia bathed James and Emily and settled them in the master bedroom.

Her bed was large, connected to a child's bed.

James lay next to Emily as she told them a bedtime story.

Before she finished, both James and Emily were asleep.

Sophia lay at the edge of the bed, her eyes gentle, wishing she could keep them with her.

William arrived at 10 PM, reeking of alcohol and the strong scent of Alice's favorite perfume.

During their hidden marriage, she often smelled it on him.

William's thin lips parted slightly. "I'm here to pick up James."

Sophia stepped back disdainfully. "William, didn't you say you wouldn't drink in front of the kids?"

He squinted his eyes. "Sophia, mind your own business. My matters are none of your concern."

She stepped aside to let him in.

Seeing James lying next to Emily, William stopped in his tracks.

"His clothes are new, washed, and dried. They're clean."

Sophia explained James's pajamas and was about to wake him when William softly stopped her.

"Let him sleep. I'll pick him up in the morning."

William left as quickly as he came, his steps slightly unsteady.

Sophia found him puzzling and went to the window. She saw a woman standing by the passenger door, hurrying to meet William.

The woman's clothes had changed.

In the morning, she wore a pure white dress, now a bright red one.

What kind of date required a change of clothes?

Sophia looked up at the starry night sky, her mind clearing in the night breeze.

People need to look forward.

The Empire City's night sky wasn't as beautiful as Rain Village's.

The next day, Emily woke up early, smiling when she saw James beside her.

James also woke up, turning to find himself in a soft, warm embrace.

He opened his eyes to see Sophia's face, stunned for a few seconds before realizing he had slept with his mom and Emily.

Sophia looked at James's sleepy expression, smiling as she ruffled his hair. "If you're not sleepy, get up and wash up."

James nodded.

She picked up Emily and took James to the bathroom.

They had plenty of children's toothbrushes. After squeezing toothpaste for James, she brushed Emily's teeth and washed her face.

Emily cooperated, closing her eyes before the towel came, then opening them again as a sweet, fragrant little darling.

Seeing the envy in James's eyes, Sophia put Emily on the little deer chair by the door, took a new towel, wrung it out, and wiped his face.

His eyes sparkled with undisguised joy.