Chapter 166 Birthday Cake
Sam earnestly refused and insisted, "I want to work with Ethan and Emma."
Sophia said, "But you don't know how."
Sam's expression was determined." I can learn."
Sophia didn't want to make an exception. In order for Sam to really fit in with the little family, truly integrate Sam into this little family, she had to let him do the same as Ethan and Emma. With that in mind, she no longer objected.
Caroline took on all the heavy chores, leaving only the lighter tasks for the three children, which was quite exhausting for her.
Indeed, they were serious about not letting Sophia do any chores; even the midday meal was arranged by Caroline.
Caroline had learned to cook at a very young age, but over the years, her cooking skills hadn't improved much, as usual, and the meals she produced were barely passable.
The three children all ate one bowl less than usual.
Caroline's face twisted in mock agony as she threw out the leftover food.
Despite the cramped quarters of their tiny apartment, the two adults and three kids lived together in harmony and joy.
In the largest private room of a grand restaurant of the town, Harrison cast a meaningful look at Gabriel.
"Dragging me out for drinks in broad daylight, are you heartbroken or something?"
Had Tiffany finally dumped him?
No, that couldn't be right. A person like Tiffany wouldn't dump a Lancaster; it would be the other way around.
Gabriel downed another glass of red wine and glanced at him impassively, remaining silent.
Harrison reluctantly picked up his glass, "I drank until I blacked out last night and haven't even recovered yet, now I have to drink with you again. If I drop dead, it's on you."
Gabriel downed another glass.
After a few drinks, the alcohol seemed to dissipate some of the gloom in his heart.
"Out with it, what's really going on?" Harrison rarely saw Gabriel in a mood to drink.
The last time he drank this much was around the time Sophia was thought to be "deceased."
"Do I come off as annoying?" Gabriel furrowed his brows.
At that, Harrison looked at him in shock and retorted, "Every woman looks at you in the same way as they look at money? Who would hate money?"
Gabriel: …
Gabriel pulled a jewelry box from his pocket.
"For me?" Harrison eyed Gabriel strangely.
Why was he suddenly giving him jewelry that women prefer?
"It's for Sophia."
Harrison suddenly understood why Lancaster had come to the restaurant at midday to drown his sorrows with alcohol—it was all because of Sophia.
No wonder he had asked such an odd question.
But Sophia was different from other women. It was only natural for her to dislike him—after all, he hadn't treated her well in the past, and then there was the mess with Tiffany.
"Why are you giving Sophia gifts? You want to chase after her?"
Gabriel hung his head, making it impossible to see his expression, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Today is her birthday; I bought it incidentally. Please help me give it to her, actually, just say it's from you."
Harrison curled his lip. Was Lancaster here drinking because he couldn't manage to give the gift himself?
He felt certain he had guessed the truth.
Gabriel drank two whole bottles of wine, and these two bottles wouldn't make him drunk. Considering he had important work to handle in the afternoon, he couldn't afford to let himself pass out. Harrison kept him company for a few drinks.
As they parted in the parking lot, Harrison couldn't hold back.
"Lancaster, you should really think it through—whether you like the Tiffany you're with now or the one from your memories."
He didn't know what Tiffany was like when Gabriel first met her, but as for now, was she with him because she loved him?
Gabriel got into the car, and after getting the address, the driver stepped on the accelerator.
Gabriel closed his eyes to rest, but all that came to mind was Harrison's words.
Following that thought, the more Gabriel contemplated, the more perplexed and confused he became.
He couldn't tell if his relationship with Tiffany was due to a promise or because he actually liked her.
Tiffany was still waiting in the apartment for Gabriel to come. By two o'clock in the afternoon, she hadn't seen him nor received a call or message.
Could it be that he wasn't coming today?
Finally, Tiffany couldn't stand it anymore and took the initiative to call him.
"Hello, Gabriel, where are you?"
"At the company," Gabriel replied succinctly.
"I'll come over."
"I'm very busy right now, I can't keep you company."
His voice was particularly cold, making Tiffany feel a chill in her heart, and she bit her lip hard.
"Alright then, I won't disturb you."
The phone call ended abruptly, and Tiffany's anticipation fell through. She punched the couch in frustration.
Never mind, she thought, Gabriel must be in a bad mood today. If he didn't come to see her, surely it was because he didn't want to pass on his foul mood to her. Maybe he would come tomorrow or the day after.
If all else fails, she could go to him.
Tiffany quickly rationalized the situation.
What's meant to be hers will be hers eventually.
...
In the afternoon, the three children set out to bake a cake together. Ethan and Emma had learned a bit about baking in preschool, but Sam was not as skilled, so he assisted and learned on the side.
When it came time to decorate with frosting, Emma decided to draw on top of the cake, although her artwork ended up looking quite unappealing.
"Emma, did you draw a pig?" Caroline asked.
"It's a tiger, Godmother! A tiger!" Emma was displeased. Did her drawing really look like a pig?
Caroline: ...
She then looked towards Ethan's work. "Is that a bird you've drawn, Ethan?"
"An eagle," Ethan replied calmly.
Well, one could barely make out that it was some sort of bird.
"And this is what Sam drew?" Caroline pointed to another section, eyes widening in shock. "Sam's drawing is really good."
Sam drew a superhero. Even without an array of colors, it was immediately recognizable; he had depicted Sophia as a superhero.
Emma's discontent returned, only to be replaced by pride as she lifted her chin haughtily. "Sam has a real talent for drawing, oh yes, he will be the most famous artist when he grows up."
Caroline gently pinched Emma's little cheek: "You still have the nerve to boast when you're the one who drew a tiger that looked like a pig."
Emma pouted: "I might not be good at drawing, but I am great at games."
"Why did you draw a tiger on your mommy’s birthday cake?" Caroline asked Emma.
"Because I thought mommy is even stronger than a tiger" Emma replied.
In the end, it was Caroline who neatly wrote "Happy Birthday" on the cake.
Sophia was reading in the study, occasionally hearing the children's playful noises from outside. This peaceful moment made her incredibly joyful.
Today was undoubtedly the happiest birthday she had ever had.
Her three children were all by her side, trying their best to make her happy.
If only... her parents were still here.
Sophia became melancholic for a while, thinking that during Christmas, she would take the three children to visit her parents’ graves; they had never seen their three grandchildren.
"Happy Birthday to you..." As the birthday song played, Sophia sat in the center, her delicate face illuminated by candlelight, looking even more exquisite.
Vincent, after finishing work, also rushed over to celebrate Sophia's birthday.
Sophia closed her eyes to make a wish.
She wished for her three children to grow up healthy and happy, hoped to secure Sam's custody, and longed to take the three kids abroad for a joyful life.
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