Chapter 296 Playing the Emotion Card
"If you're not eating, then I won't eat either." Jake Hughes put his utensils down, looking adorably miffed.
Sophia's eyes fluttered.
She insisted, "I'm not that hungry."
Jake remarked, "If the kids knew you were getting this skinny, they'd be really worried."
Sophia bit her lip and wondered if she could even see the kids again. Gabriel had them under lock and key; she couldn't get in even if she turned into a mosquito.
"The trial isn't over; how do you know you'll lose custody?" Jake reminded.
He went to get an empty bowl, then divided his uneaten noodles, pushing half of them toward Sophia.
"I've worked out a plan with Lawyer Twist. Finish this bowl of noodles, and I'll tell you what it is."
Sophia picked up her utensils and quickly slurped down the noodles.
She impatiently said, "Tell me."
Jake finished his last bite.
Today's noodles didn't taste as good as usual—perhaps because the cook was in a foul mood.
He revealed, "We'll play the emotion card at the trial."
Jake shared the details of this approach with Sophia, and their conversation ran late.
After seeing Jake off, Sophia noticed it was half-past eleven and Caroline hadn't returned.
She gave her a call.
Caroline said over the phone, "I won't be coming home tonight."
Sophia replied, "Okay."
Caroline had been busy lately, claiming she was tied up with orphanage matters when questioned.
Downstairs, just steps after leaving, Jake noticed a familiar Bentley parked not far behind him through a car's rearview mirror.
With a slight curl of his lips, he continued walking.
Inside the car, Gabriel gripped the steering wheel tightly, his gaze fixed on Jake's gradually fading figure.
Alex did some digging for him and discovered that Sophia had deceived him once again; she didn't live at Flora Garden, but next door at Blue End.
Tonight, Emma was particularly fussy, and even Ethan, who usually ignored him, came to see him, while Sam adamantly expressed his desire for mommy.
He had no choice but to seek out Sophia to talk. If she was willing to drop the lawsuit, he could forgive her secrecy and deceit for the kids' sake, and they could have a proper discussion about how to raise and spend time with the children.
Now, it seemed utterly unnecessary.
Sophia still had the nerve to rendezvous with some pretty boy, utterly unconcerned about the children.
Gabriel spun the car around and left Blue End behind.
As he drove, images played through his mind relentlessly, and Gabriel realized he couldn't stand the thought of the children calling another man "daddy" if they ended up with Sophia.
...
In the hospital, Caroline sat despondently on a chair outside the ward, staring blankly at the back of her own feet.
Ever since she could remember, she had been in the orphanage. The matron, who she called mom, told her she had been found by kind strangers and taken to the police station. The police had searched for her family for a long time without success and ultimately had to send her to the orphanage.
She was exceptionally cute as a child but alarmingly pale and still mute at the age of three.
People visiting the orphanage to adopt often passed her by, fearing she might have a serious illness.
As she grew older and under the matron's patient guidance and care, she finally learned to speak, and her skin acquired a hint of color. However, by the time prospective parents came calling again, she was older and had memories of her own, which made them worry about bonding with her.
Eventually, she didn't want to leave the orphanage at all.
Though not her biological mother, the matron was more than a mother to her. Always beaming with a can-do attitude, the matron was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Why had this disease struck her matron, she wondered? She was so kind, so good, having dedicated her entire life to the orphanage.
Why did good people seem to suffer so much, while the wicked roamed free? Tears dripped one by one onto her feet.
At this moment, she longed for someone to sit beside her, to listen to her, to offer a hug.
But Sophia was preparing for a legal battle, and Caroline didn't want to distract her at such a time.
That's why she hadn't dared to tell Sophia and hadn't mustered the courage to show up and pretend to be strong.
The alarm from the ward chimed again.
Caroline hastily wiped away her tears and rushed inside, followed by the nurse.
The alarm was sounded by a patient in the neighboring bed, trying to help.
The matron lay on the bed, curled up in agony, moaning continuously.
In just a few days since she was admitted to the hospital, the matron had become emaciated and aged a decade under the relentless assault of her illness.
Half an hour later, the hospital room finally quieted down, allowing everyone to resume their sleep. Caroline moved a chair to the bedside, and, resting her head on the edge of the bed, drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Caroline opened her eyes to find the director, whom she affectionately called Mom, gazing at her with a loving expression, tenderly stroking her hair. It was a gesture that brought back memories of her childhood whenever she was feeling sad or wronged, the matron would comfort her in the same way.
"Mom, are you feeling better?" Caroline asked.
"I'm much better now," the matron replied weakly.
"I'll go and get you something to eat. What would you like?" Caroline said, standing up.
The matron replied, "Just some plain porridge."
Caroline went out and came back with plain porridge.
After eating something, the matron gathered some strength and took hold of Caroline's hand. "I know the extent of my illness; there's no need to waste money on surgery."
Caroline was heartbroken. "It's not a waste at all, I have money," she insisted.
"I heard your tour got canceled," Matron said.
Caroline claimed, "I still have savings."
"You send money to the orphanage every year. How much more of your savings could you possibly have? Besides, as a violinist, you have to spend money on your image," the matron chided.
Caroline insisted, "I really do have some."
"Even if you do, keep it for yourself. Buy a house, make a home. Isn't that what you've always wanted?" the matron urged.
"I wanted to buy the house with Wyatt's family so I could live with you, Mom," Caroline explained.
The matron's eyes reddened.
She had raised many children, among them, Caroline made her immensely proud. She had worked hard, completed college on her own merit, gone abroad, and become an accomplished violinist.
Caroline was also kind, frequently sending money and buying things for the orphanage. She was devoted, ensuring not just her own well-being, but also that of the matron.
"My silly child," the matron murmured.
Leaning on the matron's shoulder, Caroline found solace.
In truth, she could not afford the surgery. Most of the money she earned each year went straight to the orphanage, which cared for many physically challenged children, and she did her best to improve their lives.
The remainder of her savings had nearly all been used up during her last trip back to the U.S.
Now, Caroline was financially stretched thin.
Seeking help, Caroline reached out to those who had also left the orphanage. Among them were some who were relatively well-off. Unfortunately, with wealth came a lack of compassion; when they found out about the matron's illness, they responded as if they were dealing with a beggar, dismissing the need with a mere few hundred dollars.
Caroline was left with no choice. After the matron fell asleep, she stepped out of the hospital room and called Ben Doolittle.
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