Chapter 89 Tugging and Pulling
Sophia efficiently prepared three dishes and a soup. She had Sam sit next to her, and their two little treasures willingly let Sam's younger brother sit closest to mommy. They were unusually well-behaved today, without fighting for attention.
Sophia intentionally made the dishes milder today. Ethan and Emma were used to spicy food, but with Sam's younger brother present, Ethan and Emma knew he had just recovered from an illness and needed a milder diet, so they didn't have any objections.
Sophia was worried that they might not like the lighter flavors, but to her surprise, the two little ones had their usual hearty appetites and enjoyed every bite.
"Sam, you should eat too," Sophia served him a portion.
Sam nodded gently, picked up his chopsticks, and wanted to eat like Emma, taking big mouthfuls. But just as he stuffed a mouthful of rice in, Sophia stopped him.
"You can't eat like that," Sophia explained, remembering the doctor's words.
Sam looked at Emma, questioning why she could eat like that.
Sophia understood his gaze and gently explained, "Emma has been like this since she was little. Her stomach has adapted to her eating rhythm. But you're different. You've always been used to eating slowly, and if you suddenly eat too fast without proper chewing, your stomach can't handle it, which is why you got sick last time."
She explained it in simple terms, and Sam finally understood why he had a stomach ache last time and why Daddy always told him not to eat too quickly.
Sam disappointedly spat out half of the rice and started chewing slowly.
Sophia reached out and touched Sam's little head. Her voice became even softer, and her eyes were filled with love.
"Don't be unhappy because your body is weak. Compared to most children in this world, you are already luckier. Some are born unable to see or with missing limbs, and some spend their entire lives in hospitals."
Emma chimed in, "Yeah, you have to be happy."
The dryness in Sam's heart seemed to be replenished with warm spring water, gradually nourished. He looked at Sophia, as if understanding and not understanding.
Daddy also wanted him to be happy, but Daddy had never said these things to him. Neither had Mrs. Foster.
Sophia kissed Sam on the forehead.
"Don't think too much, little ones, just grow up simply and happily."
Sam pursed his lips, clearly in a good mood. He no longer dwelled on whether he could eat in big mouthfuls or not and started eating according to his own habits, chewing slowly and swallowing.
Sophia felt incredibly satisfied with her three well-behaved and adorable children.
She really wanted to take them away from all the noise, fly far away, and never come back.
Today seemed like a perfect opportunity!
There was a glimmer in Sophia's eyes.
Gabriel was going crazy on his end. The evening was getting darker, and with each passing second, Sam's danger increased.
Tiffany followed Gabriel, running around searching for someone, but she felt increasingly happy inside.
"Hello?" Gabriel answered the phone, his voice hoarse.
"I'll be right there."
After speaking, she immediately got into the car. Stepping on the gas pedal, the car sped off quickly. Tiffany couldn't catch up and watched as the car brushed past her, leaving her pale-faced and frozen in place.
Sophia didn't want to part with Sam just like that, so she took Sam for a walk near Gabriel's apartment.
"Sophia!"
Suddenly, a voice filled with anger came from behind. Sophia stopped in her tracks.
Gabriel swiftly walked over in three steps, pulled Sophia aside, and squatted down to hold Sam.
"Are you hurt?"
Sam shook his head, looking confused.
Gabriel's push almost made Sophia fall, but luckily there was a tree nearby. She furrowed her brow, feeling frustrated.
"What do you think you're doing, Gabriel?"
He shoved her as soon as he came over. What was wrong with this person?
"I should be asking you that, Sophia. What are you trying to do?" Gabriel suddenly looked up and stared at her, his eyes bloodshot and menacing like a terrifying demon.
This was the first time Sophia had seen such a frightening look. She was petrified, standing there at a loss for words.
After a few seconds, she forced herself to calm down. She hadn't done anything wrong, so why should she be afraid of him? What was there to fear?
Instead, it was him who hadn't protected Sam!
"Don't give me that 'I'll kill your whole family' look. Why did Sam suddenly get lost? You're the one who lost him. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself."
If it weren't for considering Sam's fear, she would have used this opportunity to leave with the three kids today.
Although Sam was willing to let her come closer, he hadn't fully accepted her as his mommy yet. He couldn't go anywhere with her like he could with Ethan and Emma.
So when Sam wanted to go back home, she could only send him back.
Little did she know that Gabriel would treat her like a despicable trafficker as soon as he appeared. Sophia couldn't help but laugh.
"You got lost?" Gabriel looked at the little one.
Sam nodded and used the rehearsed explanation: "I couldn't find my way back home, and then I ran into Aunt Sophia who brought me home and cooked for me."
Gabriel secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He thought Sophia might hide Sam and take him away, after all, he hadn't forgotten that Sophia still wanted custody of Sam.
A glint of cunning flashed in Gabriel's eyes. Luckily, she didn't do that, otherwise, he would make her completely lose the right to fight for Sam!
Sophia was still worried that Sam might mention Ethan and Emma, but thankfully, Sam didn't say anything.
Sam knew in his heart that he had to protect Ethan and Emma, so he apologized to his dad silently. He couldn't tell the truth.
Realizing his misunderstanding of Sophia, Gabriel stood up. His tall figure was elongated by the streetlight, and a sharp aura emanated from him.
"Sorry," a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, he rarely apologized to anyone, and Sophia was definitely the person who made him apologize the most. But he didn't want to say more to explain.
Sophia didn't want to accept his apology at all. It was as if she hadn't heard it. She looked gently at Sam and waved to him.
"I'm leaving, Sam. Goodbye."
Sam waved goodbye as well.
When Sophia turned around, she felt a slight stabbing pain in her back. She instinctively stopped in her tracks.
Gabriel immediately noticed something different about her.
"What's wrong with you?"
Sophia didn't want to acknowledge him and continued walking. But with each step, the pain in her back intensified. She sighed inwardly, suspecting that she had injured her back when she bumped into a tree just now.
"Stop!" Gabriel commanded.
Sophia involuntarily stopped and turned her head, her expression cold and indifferent.
"What else does Mr. Lancaster want?"
Gabriel furrowed his brow and approached her, grabbing her hand.
"Get in the car with me."
Sophia shook off his grip.
"I don't need to."
"If you want to keep arguing with me on the street and end up being carried into the car by me, then go ahead and 'not need' it."
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