Chapter 308 Lost
The atmosphere was heavy as Caroline took the three children inside, with Gabriel wanting to follow but being stopped by Vincent at the door.
Gabriel peered inside from the entrance and could only see Sophia lying lifeless on the hospital bed from a distance.
Vincent shut the door, leaving Gabriel and Alex standing at the entrance, resembling students being punished by a teacher.
Alex spoke up, "Boss."
Gabriel remained motionless, lips tightly pursed, fists clenched, not uttering a word.
Alex wanted to say something, but it seemed inappropriate at the moment.
Alex seemed to see fear in the boss's eyes.
Regret, guilt, fear, and despair engulfed Gabriel as he stared fixedly at the door of the ward.
Time passed unnoticed until the door opened, and Caroline emerged.
Seeing Gabriel still there, a hint of surprise flashed across her face.
"How is Sophia?" Gabriel asked hoarsely.
Caroline mockingly replied, "It's useless for you to pretend to care about Sophia now."
Thinking of the barely surviving Sophia, Caroline's eyes, filled with tears, were brimming with anger.
Caroline truly wanted to slap Gabriel a few times to vent her anger for Sophia.
Caroline ranted, "Gabriel, if you had an ounce of conscience, you wouldn't have tried to take the children from Sophia.
"These children were born after Sophia's nine months of hard work.
"When we were abroad, the first time I saw Sophia, she was so thin, with one child crying incessantly due to a stuffy nose. Sophia was carrying one in the front and one on her back, walking around to soothe the children.
"During a typhoon, with Emma having a high fever that wouldn't subside, all of us advised Sophia to stay at home to physically cool the child, but she insisted on taking the child to the hospital, almost being blown away by the typhoon.
"If it weren't for her persistence, Emma's high fever at that time would have surely left lasting effects.
"When we were broke, Sophia fell ill but didn't dare to buy medicine, saving money to buy birthday cakes for the children.
"For the children, Sophia could do anything she couldn't possibly accomplish, even sacrificing her own life.
"Gabriel, while Sophia was struggling to survive abroad with the children, you, as a father, were absent, not doing anything for the children.
"Sam was by your side, diagnosed with autism, and was almost killed by someone.
"You simply don't deserve to be a father; you should grow old alone, never to receive love."
Caroline vented all her pent-up anger word by word.
She scolded Gabriel harshly.
Caroline asked, "What right do you have now to see Xiaoxiao and care about Xiaoxiao?"
She added, "You better leave quickly; even if Sophia wakes up, she wouldn't want to see you."
Gabriel stood there, silently listening to Caroline's words.
Every word uttered by Caroline was absorbed by Gabriel and firmly imprinted in his heart.
He realized how dark Sophia's days were abroad.
There were even secrets about Sophia's difficult childbirth.
Gabriel felt extremely distressed.
Gabriel stated, "I know it's too late for me to say anything now; I won't leave."
Gabriel moved aside a bit, not blocking Caroline's path.
Caroline was angry; she didn't expect Gabriel to have such thick skin.
'Well, without a thick skin, how could he become the richest man?' Caroline thought sarcastically.
Sophia remained unconscious, her heartbeat occasionally weak, occasionally normal, while Ethan, Emma, and Sam spoke to her by her bedside.
Emma cried bitterly, while Ethan remained much calmer.
Even the usually silent Sam softly called out "Mommy" several times.
Mrs. Lancaster, standing by, was somewhat excited.
Her Sam finally spoke.
But Sophia...
"Please wake up soon, listen to Sam calling you, Ethan and Emma also need you," Madam pleaded and wiped away her tears silently.
Madam wheeled herself out, sighing when she saw Gabriel standing aside.
"Come with me," Madam sternly commanded.
Gabriel walked behind Madam, pushing her to a nearby spot.
"Gabriel, you've gone too far!" Madam reprimanded him with a serious face, even patting the wheelchair armrest heavily.
Gabriel, like a child who had done wrong, stood in front of Madam with his head bowed.
Seeing Gabriel like this, Madam's heart softened a bit.
Madam remarked, "When Sophia told me she liked you back then, do you know how happy I was? Sophia cooked for you every day to make you like her, waiting for you to come home every night, and even hand-made clothes for you.
"Sophia heard that you had poor sleep quality, so she made a set of especially comfortable pajamas for you, personally testing various scents to find the most sleep-inducing one for you.
"Sophia cared deeply for you, loved you deeply, while you repeatedly ignored her.
"Gabriel, you've truly lost someone who loved you the most."
Madam sighed again, turned the wheelchair, and left Gabriel to contemplate.
Gabriel smiled bitterly.
He knew about Sophia's affection for him back then, the things she did, seemingly small but full of care and love.
He didn't repeatedly ignore her.
At that time, he just couldn't face Sophia's affection because he remembered the girl who saved him; he didn't want to betray her.
So Gabriel tried hard not to respond to Sophia.
Gabriel squatted down, holding his head.
His head hurt.
But his heart hurt even more.
He felt deeply regretful.
All the events of these years replayed in his mind several times.
Suddenly, Gabriel realized how far off track he had gone.
He punched the wall, his knuckles immediately bleeding.
He truly was a jerk!
...
Sophia had a long, long dream.
In the dream, Sophia lived with the children in Country M. The three children were intelligent and sensible, with Emma still mischievous and causing trouble, Ethan protecting his sister outside and complaining to Mommy at home, and Sam slowly overcoming his autism under their guidance, able to communicate normally.
Sophia wanted this kind of life, where she earned just enough to live without worries.
As the children grew up gradually, they excelled in their respective fields, becoming exceptionally talented individuals.
Sophia wished to continue living in this dream.
She didn't want to wake up.
In the dream, Sophia wouldn't lose her children.
Sophia's lips curved slightly upwards into a faint smile.
But there was an annoying voice that kept calling her, disturbing her.
The voice was somewhat familiar.
It was Gabriel's voice.
Late at night, Gabriel sat by Sophia's bedside, holding her hand, head bowed, a clear tear falling on Sophia's hand. At that moment, Sophia's fingers twitched slightly.
Gabriel spoke to her repeatedly, "Sophia, live, you must live for me.
"Ethan, Emma, and Sam need you.
"You want children; stay alive, I won't stop you from seeing the children.
"I promise you, you can interact with the children however you want.
"I don't know what you've been through.
"I was wrong. Give me a chance to make amends.
"As long as you live, I'll do anything you ask.
"Sophia, can you hear me?"
Gabriel's voice was filled with sadness.
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