Chapter 7 Whose Children Are You?

After her harrowing escape, Sophia's legs felt like jelly as she walked into Evergreen Hospital. She nearly collapsed right there in the lobby.

A nurse quickly rushed over to steady her.

"I need to check if my baby is still alive," Sophia asked, her lips pale and trembling.

Ten minutes later, the nurse returned with Sophia to the doctor's office, test results in hand.

The attending physician looked at Sophia's results and shook his head. "Based on your test results, you have a subchorionic hematoma in your uterus, which caused bleeding that made you think you were miscarrying. But actually, your pregnancy is progressing quite well. Nothing to worry about."

Hearing the doctor's explanation, Sophia felt waves of cold wash over her entire body.

Her lips trembling, she asked for confirmation, "So you're saying my baby is still alive?"

The doctor nodded. "And perfectly healthy. As long as you take proper care, this baby will definitely make it to term."

Sophia let out a soft breath, thanked the doctor, and walked out on numb legs.

She practically collapsed onto a hospital bench, leaning against the pristine white wall as she processed everything that had happened over the past few days.

Zachary despised that man who got her pregnant. This baby's existence served as a constant reminder that he'd been betrayed.

For Zachary, this was an unforgivable transgression.

Sophia's heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles.

She never imagined Zachary would resort to such methods—bribing hospital staff to eliminate this child!

A tear slid down her cheek. Sophia reached up to wipe away the tears streaming down her face.

In that moment, she made her final decision.

She had to leave Zachary.

She would take this child and start a new life, a life without Zachary....

After settling the traumatized Paula, Zachary spent a sleepless night before rushing to the hospital with James first thing in the morning.

When he pushed open the hospital room door, all he saw was rumpled bedsheets.

Sophia, who should have been recovering in the hospital, was nowhere to be found. Even the assigned nurse was missing.

A vein throbbed visibly on Zachary's forehead. "Where is Sophia?"

James's face showed obvious panic as he quickly pulled out his phone to contact the hospital administration.

She'd been fine when they brought her in yesterday. How could she just vanish today?

Half an hour later, the hospital director and the nurse assigned to Sophia stood before Zachary, both looking panicked and guilty.

"Mr. Spencer, this morning, while our nurse was preparing Mrs. Spencer for the D&C procedure, Mrs. Spencer suddenly ran out on her own. She somehow evaded our hospital security system, got into a taxi, and disappeared."

Zachary caught the key phrase in the director's explanation, his expression darkening. "Sophia miscarried? Why wasn't I notified?"

The director kept his head lowered, a fleeting glint passing through his eyes. "Mrs. Spencer was injured in the fire. A miscarriage under those circumstances would be normal, so we didn't notify the family. Who would have thought..."

Zachary had no interest in hearing the hospital's excuses. His long fingers impatiently tugged at his tie as he ordered James.

"Find her. I don't care what it takes—find Sophia."

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, his heart churning with complex emotions.

James didn't dare delay. After receiving the order, he immediately dispatched people to search for Sophia.

...

Five years later.

A plane slowly touched down at Emerald City Airport. Sophia walked out holding the hands of two children, one on each side.

"Mommy, is this the Emerald City you always tell us about?" Julia Taylor asked, her adorable big eyes surveying their surroundings with curiosity.

Sophia took a deep breath and nodded.

In just five short years, Emerald City had changed so much that it was no longer the city she remembered.

"Simon, why aren't you saying anything?" Julia looked over at her brother, Simon Taylor.

Getting into the taxi, Julia chattered away like a little sparrow, buzzing around them both.

Simon's expression remained cool. "You're too noisy."

He'd always been naturally aloof, showing no signs of warmth even toward Julia.

Julia huffed and pouted, making a face at Simon's profile.

She snuggled up to Sophia's arm affectionately. "Mommy, who exactly are we meeting today?"

Sophia gently stroked Julia's fluffy little head, a slight smile playing at her lips.

"I suppose he's like a grandfather to me."

"What kind of person is he?" Julia's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and even Simon couldn't help but glance over.

Sophia had never told them about Dylan before.

Sophia recalled Dylan's appearance, her smile growing increasingly tender.

"You'll know when you meet him."

In her memory, Dylan had never been angry with them.

Even five years ago, when Sophia left without saying goodbye, when they finally reconnected, he'd only been worried about whether she was doing well abroad.

Thinking of Dylan's concerned words over the phone, Sophia's heart ached again.

Five years ago, when she left, Dylan's health had already been declining.

This time, they were returning because Dylan was critically ill.

When she pushed open the hospital room door and saw the frail Dylan lying in bed, Sophia couldn't help but burst into tears.

Dylan looked much thinner now, nothing like the man she remembered.

Hearing the sound at the door, Dylan slowly turned to look.

When he saw Sophia, his eyes immediately brightened.

"Sophia?"

Sophia nodded, wiping away her tears. The moment she let go, Julia curiously ran over to the bedside.

"Are you the person my mommy came back to visit?" Julia blinked her big eyes, looking absolutely heart-melting.

Dylan sat up straighter. Seeing the two children, his gaze hesitated briefly. "You must be Julia?"

Julia nodded vigorously, her two pretty pigtails bouncing adorably as she sweetly greeted Dylan.

Sophia gently nudged Simon, encouraging him to go to Dylan's bedside and say hello.

Dylan had heard Sophia talk about these two children before, but when they actually stood before him, he almost didn't dare believe it.

Still, seeing them return put his heart at ease.

Then Dylan looked at Sophia with concern. "Sophia, haven't you been taking care of yourself abroad? You look so much thinner than before."

Sophia fought back tears as she pulled up a chair beside Dylan's bed. "Look who's talking—what have you done to yourself? You're skin and bones!"

The moment she started speaking, Sophia's voice carried an unmistakable sob.

Dylan reached out frantically, wanting to wipe away her tears.

Julia sat quietly at first, but after a while, she grew bored.

She tugged at Simon's arm, pulling him as they tiptoed along the wall and slipped out of the room.

Sophia was busy catching up with Dylan and didn't notice the children's movements at all.

Julia wandered curiously out of the room, exploring the hospital corridor.

"Mommy said we can't wander off," Simon warned sternly.

He reached out to grab Julia and pull her back.

Julia broke into a run, turning back to stick her tongue out mischievously at Simon. "We're just looking around for a bit, we'll be right back..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Julia felt herself crash hard into something solid.

It hurt!

Her nose felt like it might be broken from the impact.

Julia tumbled backward onto the floor, rubbing her nose as tears threatened to spill.

"Whose children are you? Where are your parents?" A male voice asked from above.

James first glanced at Zachary to confirm he wasn't angry, then moved to help the fallen child.

But Zachary was already moving, crouching down before James could reach her.

He helped Julia up, asking gently, "Are you hurt from the fall?"