Chapter 282 Support
Gabriel was horrified to discover that his son was very fond of that pretentious guy!
"I want Big Brother to hold me too." Emma, in his arms, also reached out toward Jake Hughes.
Gabriel felt a twinge of unease.
Jake set Ethan down and turned to pick up Emma, but Gabriel wouldn't let go.
Emma squirmed and furrowed her brow, "Ouch."
"Did you pull your wound? Stay still," Gabriel asked worriedly.
"Mean Daddy, let go. I want Big Brother to carry me," Emma protested.
Concerned about the possibility of Emma's wound tearing, Gabriel reluctantly released his hold.
Sophia smiled as she brought out the food she had prepared. Sam and Ethan had already eaten, and Emma sat on the bed eating, occasionally giggling at the stories told by Jake.
The hospital room was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
Everyone seemed happy, except for Gabriel, who was feeling quite disheartened.
His son and daughter were both fond of that pretty boy! He had a way with kids, and it seemed like they had shared many amusing moments, together.
Gabriel thought about the five years he had missed out on, and his expression darkened even more.
A sense of crisis stealthily crept in.
Emma's recovery was going rather well. In a couple of days, she would have her stitches removed and would be able to go home and recuperate.
Sophia and Jake Hughes spent an entire afternoon in the hospital room playing with their three kids, foregoing their naptime. Jake seemed to have boundless energy as he frolicked with the children.
To an onlooker, they appeared to be a perfect family of five, while Gabriel sat alone to the side, looking like a lonesome old man, wholly unable to join in.
It was a glaring sight, painfully so!
Gabriel couldn't help but want to break up this glaring scene.
He quietly stepped out and called over the doctors and nurses. The medical staff walked in with expressions that spoke volumes.
"Kelly, time to take your temperature."
Everyone made their way as the nurse took Emma's temperature and asked several questions.
The doctor, bracing himself, said, "The patient needs to rest quietly. Adults should not engage the child for long periods. It's not conducive to wound healing and might cause further tearing."
"Thank you, Doctor. We'll take note," Sophia responded.
It wasn't time yet for the evening temperature check, was it?
Jake glanced at his wristwatch. "It's getting late. Kelly, don't you need to go back and prepare Emma's nutritional meal?" he reminded.
"Yes," Sophia realized how quickly time had flown.
She said to Jake, "Let's go together."
"Ethan, Emma, Sam, be good and wait here for mommy," Sophia reminded the children.
"Okay," the three kids nodded in unison.
The bothersome visitor finally left, and Gabriel's spirits lifted momentarily. However, when he saw Sophia and Jake leave side by side, laughing and talking, his mood soured again.
"What's so great about that pretty boy, anyway!" Gabriel grumbled inwardly.
Jake had driven them there, as Sophia had knowingly played hooky.
Naturally, Jake drove them back as well.
"Kelly," he called out to her.
"Yes?" She had grown accustomed to that nickname and genuinely started to see Jake as a younger brother.
"Would you consider remarrying Gabriel for the kids' sake?" Jake had to ask the question that worried him the most.
Sophia loved the kids dearly and would do anything for them. He feared Sophia might remarry Gabriel to provide the children with a complete home.
"No," Sophia's response was decisive and firm.
Her heart was long dead, repeatedly, over and over, and it couldn't possibly be revived.
Jake's heart quietly exhaled in relief.
Sophia noticed his expression, "Why do you ask me that all of a sudden?"
He pretended, "Just worried about you getting hurt by another jerk."
She assured him, "Don't worry, I won't."
As much as she loved her children, she realized she ultimately couldn't give them a full family home — and that was where she felt she failed them the most.
Sophia was simmering a soup in the kitchen, wrapped in an apron adorned with cartoon characters, stirring the pot with a big ladle, her phone set aside to transmit the grave voice of her lawyer.
"One point that's working against you is your current employment with Lancaster Group. If Gabriel fires you, you'll be out of a job. From a judge's perspective, they tend to favor the party with a career and financial stability because that can provide a better environment for the children's growth," the lawyer informed.
"What do I need to do now?" Sophia asked.
"I suggest you gather your assets; the more you have, the better. Additionally, taking professional development courses at Fusion Dynamics Corporation can also strengthen your position," the lawyer advised.
Sophia agreed, "Okay."
After ending the call, Sophia mulled over her financial situation. Her savings had thinned down to a modest sum after purchasing a house the previous year. The remainder, after covering her monthly expenses, barely reached a couple of tens of thousands.
It was woefully inadequate.
Being unemployed would strip her of an essential bargaining chip.
Her phone chimed a few times. Sophia turned off the stove and picked up the device.
Colin: [I'm heading back to M country tomorrow.]
Sophia surprised: [So soon!]
Colin: [Urgent matters. I can't delay.]
Colin: [What's your plan now?]
Sophia pondered for a moment. Colin was no stranger to her.
Sophia: [I want to fight for custody of the kids.]
Colin: [Sophia, you're like a sister to me. In my heart, I've always seen you as one. I support you in this matter and, if needed, I can help you.]
Sophia felt touched. She could sense the warmth and closeness given by Colin and Mrs. Arya. She was willing to grow closer to them.
Colin: [Remember, the Jekyll family is your backup.]
Those words made her defenses crumble.
After her parents had passed, she lacked that kind of support.
The goodwill from Grandma Jekyll, Mrs. Arya, and Colin made her feel like she had many close relatives in this world.
All Sophia managed to send back were two words.
Sophia: [Thank you.]
Colin smiled at his phone; resolved to have his mother formally recognize Sophia as her goddaughter.
Being part of the Jekyll family would mean that anyone who dared bully Sophia would have to think twice.
During her spare free time, Sophia paid a visit to the old Lancaster family estate.
Mrs. Lancaster was taken aback when Sophia mentioned she needed to pick up some of her belongings.
"Why are you suddenly thinking of taking it away?"
"Grandma, I am no longer a part of the Lancaster family, and I should've taken those things with me a long time ago."
Mrs. Lancaster's lips moved, but she said nothing more. Could it be that there was truly no possibility for Sophia and Gabriel anymore?
Five years later, Sophia entered the room she had once lived in for the first time.
The room was immaculately clean, not a speck of dust in sight. Everything was arranged just as it had been in the past.
The faint mustiness in the air told her that this room had been unoccupied for a long time.
This had been her and Gabriel's bedroom, yet after getting married, she had almost always been the only one to live there.
The walls were bare, and not even a wedding photo hung.
How ironic.
Sophia found her little suitcase, opened it, and saw that all her things were still there. She had brought very few things with her when she had first arrived, only this suitcase. And now, she was also leaving with just this suitcase.
"Sophia," Mrs. Lancaster said, with a tone of reluctance.
Sophia assured her, "Don't worry, Grandma, I'll come back to see you."
After some maneuvering, Caroline finally found out why the Asian tour had been canceled.
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