Chapter 272: Recognizing the Bad Guy Daddy?
Tiffany was resting at home and, upon seeing the news about the Lancaster Group laboratory catching fire, she hurried to work. She was worried about Gabriel; her messages went unanswered, calls weren't picked up, and he was rarely seen around the office.
When she finally saw him return to the office, Sophia went in right after. Tiffany didn't know what they talked about, but Sophia didn't seem in good spirits when she came out, sparking a flicker of doubt in Tiffany's mind.
Tapping softly on the president's office door, she heard a firm "Come in!"
"Gabriel, are you okay?" Tiffany walked in with a look of concern.
Gabriel answered without looking up from signing documents, "I'm fine."
"Does your back still hurt?"
"It doesn't."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Handle your own tasks, since you've come to work, focus on that."
Tiffany pouted unhappily, "I will do my job well, but you shouldn't overdo it either; I'd be worried."
Gabriel remained silent.
"I've been learning to cook recently. I'm planning to make you nutritious soups every day to help you heal faster."
Seeing her naïve expression, Gabriel asked, "Remembered anything lately?"
Tiffany shook her head, "No."
"Make sure you go back to the hospital for a check-up on time."
"I will."
"If there's nothing else, you can go."
Tiffany stepped out obediently, sensing Gabriel's concern for her and feeling uplifted by it. Maybe amnesia wasn't so bad after all; it allowed her to express her love for Gabriel more boldly.
They say a woman's pursuit of a man is as thin as gauze – easily penetrated. She was confident she'd win Gabriel over soon and make him fall for the person she is now.
On the weekend, Sophia packed up Ethan and Emma's things.
"Mommy, are we going on a trip?" Emma was thrilled; it had been a long time since their last vacation. The last trip had been to a resort with Sam. With a giggle, Emma suggested, "Let's take Sam with us too!"
Sophia was packing clothes for the children when she said gently, "We're not going on vacation; your great-grandmother misses you and wants you to spend a few days with her."
"Mama is sending us to the Lancaster family?" Ethan's eyes widened in surprise.
Staying at the Lancaster family's home for a few days could lead to their estranged father finding out, couldn't it?
Did Mama want them to get to know their no-good dad?
What was Mama thinking?
Ethan didn't understand and clutched uneasily at Sophia's clothes.
Emma was also perplexed.
Sophia's heart ached because she knew what sending Ethan and Emma to the old family home implied.
She might lose Ethan and Emma forever.
With Gabriel's temperament, if he found out she had hidden the existence of Ethan and Emma, he would definitely get furious, then take them away, leaving her never to see them again.
Yet she profoundly understood that when true danger approached, she couldn't guarantee the children's safety one hundred percent.
Sophia suppressed her sorrow, sat down, and looked tenderly at her two children.
"Don't worry, it's just to visit your great-grandma for a few days. Mama will visit you every day."
"I don't want to leave Mama," Emma hugged her mother tightly.
"Neither do I," Ethan shook his head.
"Don't you two want to see your great-grandma?"
"We want great-grandma, and we want Mama too."
Sophia embraced both children, feeling like crying, but the tears wouldn't come.
Her phone rang at that moment; it was a call from Stark Arya.
"Sophia, do you have time today?"
"Is there anything you need, Mrs. Arya?"
"I was hoping you could help us look at some houses."
"Look at houses?"
"We're planning to buy a house but aren't too good at judging them. Why don't you bring the kids over to take a look? I've heard that a house the kids don't cry in is a good house."
Sophia couldn't help but smile through her tears.
"Okay, please send me the address."
Sophia finished packing the remaining clothes into their luggage, feeling reluctant to part with her children.
The kids liked to sleep cuddling up to her; sending them to the old family home could be unsettling for them.
Sophia steeled her heart and messaged her grandmother-in-law, telling her she would bring the children over in the evening.
Mrs. Lancaster thought Sophia had finally come around to the idea of moving back into the family home with the kids to resume her role as Mrs. Lancaster and was so delighted she immediately instructed the staff to clean the rooms.
Half an hour later, Sophia was looking at houses with Stark Arya and Colin, with her two children in tow.
"Sophia, what do you think of this place?"
The house had great ventilation, plenty of sunlight, large space, and many rooms. It was quite nice.
"What about the one we just saw?"
"The layout was nice, but the lighting was insufficient."
"Ethan, Emma, which one do you guys like?"
Ethan and Emma answered in unison, "This one."
Stark Arya turned to the real estate agent and said, "We'll take this one."
"Mrs. Arya, don't you want to look around some more? You haven't asked Mr. Colin what he thinks."
"No need to look further, Colin's opinion isn't important."
The opinions of you and the kids are what matter since you'll be the ones living here.
Stark Arya felt a surge of joy and immediately bought the house with cash, and then went to check out the interior design options.
Colin thought his mother had brought Sophia along to get some advice on choosing a house, and seeing the close relationship that developed between his mother and Sophia, he felt relieved.
Sophia, however, found it a bit strange. Why did they consult her opinion on both the house and the interior design?
It was almost as if they were buying the house for her.
Sophia was startled by the thought.
Could it be? Surely not.
That would be too presumptuous.
Her relationship with Mr. Colin was at best friendship, and besides, Mr. Colin had never confessed any feelings, and Mrs. Arya had never said anything explicit.
She shouldn't flatter herself.
Mrs. Arya must be simply valuing her opinion.
After all, Mrs. Arya had complimented her taste before.
From buying the house to finalizing the interior design, everything was settled in an afternoon, a speed that was astonishing.
"It's been a long day, how about I treat you to something delicious?" Stark Arya said, looking at the two children with affection.
"That sounds great!"
They drove to the restaurant, which was not too crowded, offering an elegant ambiance perfect for a date.
Stark Arya took on the responsibility of caring for the two kids, making sure to leave room for Sophia and her son to talk and get to know each other better.
The pair indeed enjoyed their conversation.
"Grandma, I want to go to the restroom," Emma piped up, hopping off her chair.
"I'll take you," said Grandma.
"I can go by myself," Emma declared, showing her independence.
Ethan thought about the unusual behavior of his mom lately.
"I want to go too."
"Let's all go then. I could use a little trip myself," said Stark Arya with a chuckle, knowing that leaving the pair alone might spark a little romance.
Sophia's bodyguard was sitting nearby, keeping an occasional eye on the scene. Seeing that the kids were just heading to the restroom within view, he stayed seated and did not move.
Ethan entered the men's restroom alone, while Arya Stark took Emma into the ladies' room.
Suddenly, it seemed as if the stall door was being blocked from the outside.
Arya Stark felt a jolt of panic.
"Why won't the door open? Can anyone outside open it?" she called out.
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