Chapter 363 Seemed So Unnecessary
"Okay, we want to play volleyball. Do you want to join us?" Emma was immediately intrigued.
Jake went to get a volleyball.
"Sophia, who are you teaming up with?"
Sophia thought for a moment and replied, "I'll team up with Sam and Ethan. You team up with Emma. How about that?"
"Alright."
Jake held the ball and said, "I'm going to serve. Get ready to catch."
Emma jumped up and down excitedly.
Gabriel came back with a few cups of freshly squeezed juice and saw Jake and Sophia playing beach volleyball with the three kids!
He stopped and watched them having so much fun. Emma's laughter was melodious when Ethan was frustrated for missing the ball, and Sam wore a faintly happy smile.
At that moment, Gabriel's heart was hit hard.
His eyes felt dry and sore.
They looked like a happy family of five, so joyful and warm.
And he seemed so redundant!
No way!
He would never allow Jake to replace him as the father!
Gabriel smiled and walked over.
The volleyball accidentally flew over, and Gabriel caught it with one hand, holding the ball and looking at Jake.
"How about a match?"
Jake straightened up, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Sure."
Emma looked at Gabriel, then at Jake. She was excited; 'Daddy and Jake were going to compete!'
'Great, there is going to be a good show.'
The three kids sat on the side with their juice, watching the match.
Ethan thought, 'Does bad Daddy have a grudge against Jake?'
Sam thought, 'I want Daddy to win.'
Emma thought, 'So conflicted. Should I cheer for Jake or Daddy?'
The battle was about to begin.
Sophia held the camera, taking pictures of the three kids. She had no interest in the match between Gabriel and Jake.
Gabriel served the ball, hitting it over, and Jake caught it, hitting it back.
Back and forth they went, and suddenly, Gabriel hit hard, and Jake missed the ball.
"Go, Jake!" Emma cheered for Jake.
Ethan thought, 'Is Daddy afraid Jake will take Mommy away?'
Sam thought, 'Great, Daddy won a round.'
Sophia thought, 'My kids are so cute.'
Gabriel thought, 'Emma is actually cheering for my rival!'
In the next round, Jake smiled and made a clever move, and Gabriel lost a point.
Emma cheered for Gabriel, "Go, Daddy!"
Ethan thought, 'Jake also has a grudge against Daddy.'
Sam thought, 'I'm not happy. Daddy lost a round.'
Sophia thought, 'Take a few more pictures of my adorable kids.'
Gabriel thought, 'Emma is so sweet.'
After a few rounds, Gabriel was temporarily in the lead. He glanced coldly at Jake.
Jake served the ball calmly.
In the end, Gabriel won decisively. Holding the ball, he thought he had set an example for the kids, but when he turned around, the kids and even Sophia were nowhere to be seen.
Jake walked over with a faint smile.
"I'm honored to have made Mr. Lancaster feel threatened."
Gabriel shoved the ball into his hand.
"I just wanted to show you that you're not my match."
Jake's face darkened a bit.
Gabriel saw Sophia with the kids not far away and quickly chased after them.
Jake stood there, looking down at the ball in his hand.
"Gabriel, we'll see."
Ruth returned to Lancaster Manor today. The kids were out playing, and she felt lonely in the apartment, so she decided to stay at Lancaster Manor for a couple of days.
James handed Ruth the paternity test report he had retrieved.
Ruth didn't look at it but put the documents away, thinking it wouldn't be too late to check after the kids returned.
"I've investigated what you asked me to."
"And?" Ruth put down her coffee cup.
"Jake immigrated to the Country M with his family when he was five. His father is a local tycoon, quite famous there. Other than that, I couldn't find more information."
Ruth was a bit doubtful of her judgment. Could she have been mistaken?
But how could it be such a coincidence that Jake looked so much like that child from back then?
"Forget it; let's leave it at that for now."
"Yes, Ms. Lancaster."
In the evening, Sophia took the kids to a food street again.
"Mommy, I want that," Emma pointed at the crab cakes.
"Okay."
The food street was crowded, and Gabriel was worried the kids might get squeezed, so he held one child in each arm.
He held Emma and Sam, while Sophia held Ethan tightly.
Gabriel, the president of the Lancaster Group, would never come to such a crowded place for food, but since Emma liked it, he had to accept it.
Sophia took the crab cakes from the vendor and was about to pay when she realized she didn't have any money.
And her phone was dead.
"Use my card to pay," Gabriel said calmly, "It's in my pocket; you can take it yourself."
He was holding Sam with his left hand and Emma with his right, making it inconvenient to get his credit card.
Sophia had no choice but to reach for his card awkwardly.
Her hand touched his pants, and her fingertips trembled. She wanted to pull her hand back but eventually closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and quickly took out the card.
"Password?" she asked.
"The kids' birthdays."
Sophia felt a strange emotion. Her card password was also the kids' birthdays.
After paying, she tried to return the card to him.
"You keep it for now."
Sophia didn't refuse. After all, it was for buying things for the kids, and the money was spent on them.
The family of five was very attractive, and their appearance in the food street naturally made them the center of attention, especially with Gabriel holding two five-year-old kids.
A girl couldn't help but secretly take a photo of Gabriel and post it on social media.
Emma ate until she was full and finally fell asleep on Gabriel's shoulder.
Ethan and Sam were also a bit tired.
The family of five returned to the hotel, and Gabriel gently placed Emma on the bed.
"I'm right next door. If you need anything, just ring the bell," Gabriel reminded Sophia before leaving.
Sophia was clearly tired but couldn't fall asleep.
She couldn't stop thinking about Gabriel and Jake's match on the beach.
Their competition seemed so inexplicable, yet so unnecessary.
Sophia tapped her face and muttered to herself，
"Sophia, you can't be narcissistic. Gabriel wouldn't be jealous because of you! Have you forgotten how he hurt you back then?"
"Two years of marriage and his indifference, isn't that enough to make you see him clearly?"
"Your depression was also thanks to him and Tiffany."
"You almost lost the kids back then."
"Sophia, you can't let down your past self."
Late at night, Sophia slowly fell asleep.
The next morning, Gabriel woke up at six. He handled some business on his laptop, and around seven, he got a call from Lancaster Manor.
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