Chapter 83
Billy rushed forward, carefully climbing onto the bed to give his great–grandfather a gentle hug. “I made you a picture! See? ive us feeding the birdứt.
As they examined the drawing together, I sat
peace.
in
the visitor’s chair, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. Henry wasn’t here. We could have this moment in
William looked better today, some color returning to his cheeks, and he had even shaved.
“Sophia,” he called, patting the bed beside him. “Come closer. Let me look at you properly.”
I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, maintaining a respectful distance.
“You look tired,” he observed, his shrewd eyes missing
‘Not sleeping well?”
‘I’m fine, Grandpa, I assured him. “Just busy with work and
William nodded, though his expression remained skeptical. ‘My wife used to say that same thing. I’m fine, William, stop fussing. Right up until the day she collapsed from exhaustion.”
The mention of his late wife softened his features. Even after decades, he still spoke of her with such tenderness.
“We were married for forty–seven years,” he continued, his gaze distant. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. When you’ve found someone to share your life with, Sophia, you hold onto them with both hands.”
I looked away, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. William had always believed Henry and I could make our marriage work, never fully understanding the depth of our dysfunction.
“Grandpa- I began, but he cut me off with a wave of his hand.
‘I know, I know. You youngsters think the old man doesn’t understand modern relationships. But love isn’t modern or ancient, Sophia. It’s just love.”
As Billy entertained himself with a puzzle book the nurses had left, William leaned closer to me.
“Tell me honestly,” he said, his voice lowered. “Are you happy, living away from Henry?”
I considered the question carefully. “I’m… calmer,”
“hally answered. Less anxious. Billy’s happier too. He laughs more.”
William nodded slowly. “And Henry? Have you spoken to him?”
‘Not since I left.”
“You’re both so stubborn,” William sighed. “Just like my
fe and I in our early years. We had so much pride between us, we nearly ruined everything.
While we continued our conversation, I didn’t notice the family butler slip away from his post by the door. He moved silently through the corridor until he reached a large winter holly tree in the hospital atrium. Concealed behind its branches, he quickly dialed Henry’s number.
Henry glanced at his watch for the fifth time in as many Sophia–sat quietly in his desk drawer.
minutes. Three o’clock had passed. The expensive necklace–intended as a belated birthday gift for
Where was she? James had confirmed her interest in his schedule, but hours had passed with no sign of Sophia.
A terrible thought suddenly struck him.
What if she hadn’t been asking about his schedule because she planned to see him? What if she had been making sure he would be at the office… so she could avoid him?
His phone rang, the screen displaying the butler’s number. He snatched it up, barking, “What is it?”
1/2
Chapter 83
Sir, the butler’s voice was apologetically low, “I thought you should know that Mrs. Harding and young Master Billy are here at the hospital dinin William.”
Henry’s grip tightened on the phone. How long have they been there?”
About an hour, sir. They appear to be planning to stay for dinner.”
“I see,” Henry said coldly. “Thank you for informing me.”
He ended the call, his suspicions confirmed. Sophia hadn’t been planning to come to him at all. She’d been checking his schedule to ensure she could visit William without running into him.
She was deliberately avoiding him.
After their night together, after the birthday celebration, she was still running away.
He had been waiting here like a fool, expecting her to come back, when she’d actually been playing him all along.
He slammed the jewelry box shut.
If Sophia thought she could hide from him, she was sorely mistaken.
No one played games with Henry Harding without paying the price.
“James!” he shouted, his voice carrying through the office. “Get the car ready. Now.”
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