Julian Grant remained silent, biting his tongue.

Skye Sutton, on the other hand, grew even more conceited. "If you ask me, the Grant family should be thanking us wives. If it weren’t for us worrying ourselves sick to keep you men from going astray, you’d probably have been investigated countless times by now."

Old Mrs. Grant couldn’t bear to watch Skye’s aggressive posturing any longer. She waved a hand, signaling for Mrs. Donovan to help her upstairs.

As she left, she gripped Sophia Shaw’s hand tightly. "Faye, please listen to Grandma this once. Just stay the night."

"Alright."

’It was an offer she couldn’t refuse, so she might as well stay.’

Everyone knew what Skye Sutton was like and didn’t want to embarrass Julian Grant, so they all dispersed to other parts of the house.

The room quickly fell silent.

Cedric Grant had already been taken to his designated room.

Away from everyone’s eyes, Sophia Shaw walked up to Vincent Grant and reached for Bun. "Give her to me."

Vincent Grant dodged her.

"Grandma is still watching. Are you really going to make a scene in front of her?"

Sophia Shaw looked back.

She saw a figure standing at Old Mrs. Grant’s window.

Even though the person stood straight, their back was visibly stooped with age.

A pang of sorrow struck her heart, and she temporarily gave up the idea of taking Bun.

"Vincent." Miles Grant came up from behind. His expression softened slightly when he saw Vincent holding Bun. "I’d like to have a word with you."

Sophia Shaw couldn’t wait for him to leave and quickly reached for Bun again.

Vincent Grant shifted to one side, avoiding her again.

Sophia could only call out to the little girl, "Cherie, come with Mommy."

The little one snuggled her face into Vincent Grant’s chest, her chubby little hands clutching his arm, refusing to let go.

Daddy’s arms were so big and wide. She liked them.

The bonds of blood are unbreakable. Even though it was the first time Vincent had ever held her, Bun adored it.

Seeing how attached Bun was to Vincent, Miles Grant breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"This is good."

’As long as the child is attached to her father, their relationship won’t fall apart.’

Sophia Shaw looked at Bun’s adoring face, and a wave of guilt washed over her.

’The little one has never once been doted on by her father since the day she was born...’

Her cold, hard heart finally softened with guilt for her daughter, and Sophia didn’t press the issue.

Vincent Grant walked off with Miles Grant, still holding Bun.

Sophia Shaw returned to her room.

Eleanor Crawford was playing with Cedric Grant.

When she saw Sophia, she stood up with a smile. "Are you tired? I’m feeling a little lonely and was hoping to chat with you. I’m not bothering you, am I?"

"Not at all."

Cedric Grant played with his toys by himself while Sophia Shaw and Eleanor Crawford watched from a distance.

"Faye, I’m actually quite envious of you. You have both a son and a daughter."

"If I could have a child, I’d be willing to pay any price."

Sophia wasn’t very familiar with Eleanor, but she knew that Eleanor had lost a child.

And after that, she was unable to have any more.

She felt a pang of sympathy.

But she was never good at consoling people, so she could only press her lips together in silence.

Eleanor gently took her hand. "Faye, honestly, deep down, I also want you to get a divorce. You’ve been wronged too much by being with Vincent."

"But I was just observing, and it seems Vincent isn’t completely without feelings for you. He depends on you."

’Depends on me?’

’She had never felt that before.’

’Vincent was on his best behavior tonight only because he was afraid that any sign of trouble in their relationship would anger Old Mrs. Grant and Julian Grant, which would in turn affect Joanna Sherman.’

Sophia pursed her lips and said nothing.

Eleanor knew she hadn’t been persuaded and sighed softly. "You saw it too. Bun is so clingy with Vincent. That’s the natural bond of blood. Do you really want to deprive her of a father’s love?"

Sophia could ignore Eleanor’s other points, but Bun was a scar on her heart that ached at the slightest touch.

Bun had been through so much suffering since she was born.

Sophia had always felt she owed her daughter so much.

Eleanor released her hand. "Faye, I won’t pressure you. I just want to ask, if Vincent were willing to truly be with you, would you be willing to give him another chance?"

"Mom, Auntie, what are you guys talking about?"

Seeing the two of them whispering, Cedric felt uneasy and ran over to ask.

Eleanor bent down and patted his shoulder. "Cedric, do you want to live with your mom forever?"

"Of course I do!"

Cedric answered without a second thought.

He had lived with his mother his whole life and had never imagined leaving her.

In fact, his mother hadn’t been home for a while, and he was already starting to miss her.

Eleanor was greatly relieved. "Faye, you should really think about my suggestion."

She didn’t force Sophia or demand an immediate answer.

After a short moment, she went downstairs.

Cedric took the initiative to pull on Sophia’s arm. "Mom, you haven’t played Magic Gold with me in a long time. I still haven’t leveled up."

Sophia used to play the Magic Gold game with Cedric often to train his logic and calculation skills.

Cedric was a quick learner and had already reached the fifth level. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Come to think of it, they hadn’t discussed Magic Gold together for almost a year.

Images of playing Magic Gold with Cedric, lying in bed telling stories, and having fun together flashed through Sophia’s mind, frame by frame.

They flashed through Cedric’s mind as well.

Cedric said softly, "Mom, I promise I’ll be nice to my little sister and listen to you from now on."

A lump formed in her throat.

Sophia swallowed her complex emotions and pulled him closer. "Come on, let’s play Magic Gold together."

By the time Vincent returned, Bun had fallen fast asleep in his arms.

Her little face was flushed, her small mouth pursed from time to time, and a smile graced her lips as she dreamed.

Sophia had finished playing Magic Gold with Cedric.

"I’ll take her." Sophia took Bun from his arms.

Cedric had already taken a shower. Seeing Sophia carrying Bun into the bedroom, he called out, "Mom, can I sleep with you and little sister?"

Sophia hesitated for a moment.

But she nodded. "Yes, you can."

Cedric happily ran into the room and lay down beside Bun.

He carefully reached out a hand to touch Bun’s face.

Sophia watched, her heart tightening and loosening, over and over.

She walked over and tucked the two of them in.

When she came back out, Vincent was still there.

It was a small suite with a modest living room.

Vincent occupied the sofa, his tall, lean figure conspicuously eye-catching.

He looked at Sophia.

Sophia avoided his gaze and headed for the bathroom. "We’ve taken the master bedroom. Please take the smaller room."

The smaller room had originally been prepared for Cedric.

A hand suddenly gripped her wrist.

"Sophia, my brother wants us to work things out."

Sophia turned her head to look at him.

Her clear, dark eyes held a faint trace of sarcasm. "Work things out how? By sharing you with Joanna Sherman?"

"There’s nothing between me and Joanna Sherman," Vincent said.

"Is that so?"

’How ridiculous.’

"If there’s nothing, would you work day and night without rest for her adopted child?"

"Would you even..."

’...ignore your own wife while she’s giving birth?’

Sophia couldn’t bring herself to say it.

She didn’t want to sound like a bitter, resentful wife.

Instead, she finished with, "Would you pour all your effort into establishing Zenith for her?"

"Helping her launch a rocket was a promise I made to her." Vincent looked down at his wife.

She was curvaceous yet delicate, possessing an indescribable, gentle charm.

The beauty mark near her eye, in particular, was enough to make a man’s throat go dry.

"As for helping her take care of the child, I wanted to..."

’...just to compensate her.’

Back then, his sleeping with Sophia had caused his relationship with Joanna to fall apart.

Deep down, Vincent had always felt he owed Joanna Sherman.

When she had offered to teach him how to take care of a child, he hadn’t objected.

"In any case, nothing that shouldn’t have happened has happened between us."

"’Nothing happening’ might just mean you’re unwilling to let her be saddled with an ugly reputation."

"After all, she’s your pristine snow lotus on a high mountain. You can’t bear to see her tainted by a single impurity!"

"Is that what you think of me?" Vincent was displeased.

"What am I supposed to think of you?" Sophia didn’t know.

His every word and action pointed to it.

’What else could she think?’

What Sophia understood even less was why he had suddenly gone back on his word after already agreeing to a divorce.

Sophia closed her eyes.

"Vincent, these six years with you have been so dull. Why don’t we..."

"Then who would be exciting?"

Her body was suddenly pushed back, pinned against the door.

"Levin Sawyer?"

Vincent’s breathing was heavy.

Sophia couldn’t understand why he had suddenly brought up Levin Sawyer.

She wanted to explain, but then felt it was unnecessary.

’Why should she have to explain?’

Sophia struggled a few times, trying to break free from his embrace.

The man’s strength was simply too great. She struggled until she was breathless, but he didn’t budge an inch.

His own breathing hadn’t even quickened.