Although Sophie Foster refused to admit it, the tears streaming down her face betrayed her. When she retreated to the iron-wrought courtyard wall, she suddenly wiped the tears from her face, sniffed stubbornly, and said, "The baby isn’t dead. You must have hidden her somewhere. I’m going to find her!"

Sophie Foster said this and headed toward the community gate, holding her head high to prevent herself from crying.

Watching Sophie Foster trying so hard to be strong, Nicholas Croft felt even more grief, and he quickly strode forward to grab Sophie Foster’s arm and pull her into his embrace.

His handsome face buried in her shoulder, the tears spilling from his eyes soaked Sophie Foster’s shoulder.

"Lara, don’t be like this. The baby... She’s dead. I saw it with my own eyes. She was hit by Hannah Hargrave driving a car..."

Sophie Foster pushed Nicholas Croft away once more, stepping back with bloodshot eyes gleaming with a murderous light, "Nicholas Croft! You bastard! You can’t even protect your own daughter; what kind of man are you!"

Sophie Foster shouted hoarsely, "It’s all because of you! You had to go provoke that bitch Hannah Hargrave! Now our baby is gone! Do you know that!" Sophie Foster slapped Nicholas Croft with each word, getting more agitated with every shout, while Nicholas Croft hung his head, allowing Sophie Foster to vent at him.

After yelling, Sophie Foster pushed Nicholas Croft aside, opened the car door, and sat in the driver’s seat, cursing as she stared ahead, "Hannah Hargrave, you bitch, you killed my baby. I won’t let you go!"

...

Watching the tears continuously flow from the eyes of the sleeping woman on the hospital bed, Nicholas Croft furrowed his brow even tighter, his voice choking more as he continued, "Lara, it’s all my fault. I didn’t protect you and the baby, giving Hannah Hargrave a chance..."

"...Bitch, return my baby!" A furious roar, and Sophie Foster abruptly awoke from a nightmare.

Looking at the man keeping vigil by the bed, she murmured with trembling lips, "Uncle, I dreamed... the baby was in trouble..."

"Lara, you’re awake? You’re really awake..." Nicholas Croft sat up on the bed and pulled Sophie Foster’s body into his embrace, speaking incoherently, tears of excitement brimming in his eyes.

"Cough, cough..." Sophie Foster was squeezed so tight she couldn’t catch her breath, coughing several times as she raised a hand to gently push him, "Uncle, school’s about to end. You should go pick her up from kindergarten."

Nicholas Croft...

Suddenly pushed Sophie Foster a little further away, holding her shoulders, and looked at her in astonishment.

"Lara, what did you just say?"

Seeing Nicholas Croft’s panicked and confused expression, Sophie Foster laughed, her face half wrapped in bandages, looking very weak as she smiled.

"Uncle, do you have amnesia? It’s already afternoon. School’s about to end. You need to go pick her up from kindergarten."

Seeing Nicholas Croft still staring blankly at her, Sophie Foster raised a hand to push him, so weak she hardly had any strength after lying in the hospital bed for so long.

"Uncle, hurry up. If you’re late, our little princess at home will be unhappy again."

Nicholas Croft wasn’t aware of what had happened in Sophie Foster’s dreams over the past few days. Watching her strange reaction, he nodded in agreement, "Um, you lie down first. I’ll go pick up the baby from kindergarten."

"No, I need to make dinner. The baby doesn’t like the dishes the nanny makes," Sophie Foster said as she was about to get out of bed when Nicholas Croft, just about to stop her, noticed the IV drip on her hand.

"Uncle, what’s wrong with me? When did I get the IV drip?"

"Oh, you’ve been feeling unwell these days. Fourth brother said a little nutrition would make you better." Noticing Sophie Foster’s odd behavior, Nicholas Croft casually made an excuse.