Chapter 369
It was well past dinner time, but Henry still stood alone outside the hotel entrance, leaning against his car door, Cigarette nuits were scattereó around his feet.
That afternoon, Sophia had taken Billy and gotten into Alexander’s car, and they hadn’t returned until now.
He wasn’t worried that Sophia and Alexander would do anything Inappropriate–after all, Billy was with them.
But a sense of emptiness kept spreading through his heart.
Henry called Benjamin seeking advice.
“Relationship guru! Help me out,” he pleaded into the phone.
Benjamin was being cuddled by two scantily–clad women at the time, one on each side, their full breasts almost spilling out of their bras.
He laughed at Henry’s desperation.
“How am I supposed to help if you don’t tell me what happened?” Benjamin teased. “Though if it’s about Sophia again, my advice is simple: stop chasing her. Let her go.”
Henry’s brow instantly furrowed, his face darkening. “I’m asking for advice, not for you to talk me out of this!”
“Fine,” Benjamin replied with obvious disinterest, “tell me about it.”
This time, Henry held nothing back, explaining everything–the confrontation at the amusement park, how Sophia left with Alexander and Billy, and how many hours he had been waiting.
Benjamin burst into laughter.
“When Sophia divorced you, she made it crystal clear–stay out of each other’s lives. You’re the one stalking her now, and you’re surprised she’s irritated? Let me be honest–what you’re experiencing now is exactly what she went through before. This is karma, isn’t it?”
Henry hung up, unwilling to listen to his friend’s mockery. What he needed now was advice on how to win his wife back.
Just as he put his phone away, Alexander’s car pulled up.
Alexander had spent the entire afternoon with us. He had taken Billy and me to various attractions, and we’d enjoyed dinner at a nice restaurant. My son was happy, and I was content.
As we stepped out of Alexander’s car, I immediately spotted Henry waiting by his Mercedes. My face instantly fell.
This man was like a ghost that wouldn’t be exorcised.
Henry caught my displeasure but didn’t react to it. Instead, he directed his sarcasm at Alexander.
“Quite the free time you have, Mr. Sanders. Not concerned about your business in Aspen?” His voice was filled with contempt.
Alexander remained completely unbothered by Henry’s taunts.
He gently ruffled Billy’s round little head and smiled. “Business is never–ending, and money keeps coming. What’s more important than spending time with family?”
He gave Billy’s head another affectionate pat. “Isn’t that right, little man? Wouldn’t you rather have both your mom and dad spending time with you?”
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Chapter 369
Billy had enjoyed his day with Alexander and didn’t mind the man touching his head.
He grinned widely. “Alexander is right! I really wish Daddy and Mommy could both be with me.
*But Mommy says Daddy’s too busy,” he added innocently. “She says as long as she’s with me, that’s enough.”
I noticed Henry lower his head in shame.
I remembered telling him once: Even though Billy isn’t your biological son, I still hope you can
hurts him.
pretend for his sake. Don’t be so cold to himit
But Henry had dismissed my concerns. “A lie is a lie! Don’t act so self–righteous!” After that conversation, I’d left the room with tears in my eyes and never brought up the subject again.
Though we’d lived under the same roof as a family of three for six years, we’d each lived separate lives.
Our marriage had been dead long before the divorce papers.
Henry beckoned to Billy. “Son, would you like to go play with Daddy?”
Billy’s face was heavy with exhaustion. “No thanks, Daddy. Mommy and I are tired. I want to go to sleep now.” He grabbed my hand and walked toward the hotel entrance. “Bye, Daddy.”
After Billy and I had passed through the revolving doors, Alexander approached Henry with a smug smile. “Well, Mr. Harding, you didn’t treat Sophia well before. Now the tables have turned–it’s your turn to suffer a little.”
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