Free Web NovelChapter 301: Chapter 301: He Broke His Promise
Sophia Shaw strode over with her.
Down below, by the side of the road, stood Joanna Sherman. She had a baby carrier strapped to her chest, with Stella Grant nestled inside.
Her hands were wrapped around Stella, her face turned toward their window.
People were coming and going all around, but she stood alone beneath the window, looking utterly desolate and pitiful.
"It’s their birthday, and she shows up with a child to play the victim. How shameless can you get!" Leah Evans said with disgust.
’What a jinx!’
Just then, Joanna Sherman’s gaze met Sophia Shaw’s.
Their eyes locked across the considerable distance.
Her eyes were filled with the grievance and resentment of someone who had been wronged. To an unknowing observer, it would truly seem as if Sophia had bullied her.
Sophia tore her gaze away and turned to Vincent Grant, who had followed her. "She’s waiting for you. Why don’t you go keep them company?"
Vincent glanced out the window, finally understanding what she meant. His dark gaze locked onto Sophia once more.
The air was thick with silent accusation.
Leah Evans, who despised him, said with pointed sarcasm, "That’s right, President Grant. A widow and her orphan, how pitiful. You shouldn’t keep them waiting until their hearts break."
Vincent didn’t move. He only reminded her, "Sophia, Bun is my biological daughter, and today is her birthday."
"So?" Sophia retorted, the corner of her lip curling into a smile.
A sarcastic smile.
Leah chuckled along. "President Grant, you great men certainly have short memories. Nine months ago, at Bun’s 100-day celebration, we didn’t hear you saying Bun was your biological daughter."
"If I recall correctly, you were too busy playing daddy to someone else’s daughter, keeping up appearances at someone else’s 100-day celebration."
That incident was lodged in Leah’s mind like a thorn; she could never forget it.
Even after all this time, she couldn’t help but ache for Sophia and Bun back then whenever she thought about it.
"Faye and Bun were waiting for you to take a family photo, searching for you everywhere, and getting mocked by others. And you? You had already flown abroad with your precious darlings."
"President Grant, since you took things that far back then, don’t bother with this hypocritical act of a deep father-daughter bond now. Go wherever you need to go. Don’t worry, Faye and our family won’t hold it against you."
Sophia had been deliberately avoiding thinking about these things.
But hearing them from someone else’s mouth, she still couldn’t stop the sharp pang in her heart.
She said coldly, "President Grant, you should go handle that. Today is the two children’s birthday. Don’t let some unpleasant incident ruin everyone’s mood."
With that, she walked past him and out of the room.
Vincent didn’t go downstairs. He just made a call to Joel Hale.
By the time he followed her to the main hall, Bun and Chloe were in the middle of their *zhuazhou* ceremony.
Yancy Shaw and his wife, June Evans, were holding Chloe, while Sophia Shaw and her grandmother led Bun to the mat.
On it were laid out all sorts of items: a pen, an abacus, a stethoscope, a model airplane, and more. There was a full array of both traditional and modern trinkets.
Although Chloe couldn’t talk yet, she could already walk, and she wobbled unsteadily toward the objects.
Bun was too chubby to walk, so Sophia could only take her little hand and guide her toward a choice.
From the small area, the cheerful laughter of Yancy Shaw and June Evans rang out from time to time. Yancy’s eyes shone with a joyful, warm light, full of a father’s tender love. freewёbnoνel.com
Sophia, guiding Bun, was also smiling happily, while her grandmother and Leah clapped their hands, trying to coax the baby to grab something in their direction.
The joyous laughter on the stage prompted knowing smiles from the audience below.
Vincent walked over, wanting to join in, but Bun had already chosen her favorite item. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Amid a peal of laughter, Sophia lifted her off the mat.
After the *zhuazhou* ceremony, Yancy Shaw gave a short speech.
Next up was Sophia.
But Yancy handed the microphone to Levin Sawyer. "You’re the child’s godfather. You’ve done so much for her. You should say a few words."
Levin didn’t refuse and strode onto the stage.
On the screen, a slideshow of Bun’s baby photos, prepared by Sophia, began to play.
Levin began to speak softly as the slides progressed.
Sophia was surprised to discover that he knew the story behind every single photo as if they were his own precious memories. Many of these photos were taken by Ms. Archer, and even Sophia herself didn’t know what had happened at the time.
Vincent’s gaze was also locked heavily on Levin, but it lacked its usual aggression. Instead, it was veiled by a hazy fog.
His fingers curled into fists once again.
Cedric Grant also lowered his head in shame.
Bun had so many wonderful moments, and he, her older brother, hadn’t been a part of any of them.
’How embarrassing!’
The final event was cutting the cake.
Cedric finally found his chance. He ran over and grabbed Vincent’s hand. "Dad, let’s go cut the cake with my sister!"
"Okay." Vincent led him over.
Cedric’s heart pounded with a mix of nervousness and excitement. He looked at Sophia. "Mom, can we cut the cake together?"
"Of course." Sophia’s voice was still gentle and warm.
Cedric beamed with joy. He quickly ran over, picked up the small cake knife, and took Bun’s hand, placing it on the handle before closing his own hand over hers.
Sophia placed her hand over his.
Another, larger hand came over, its palm easily enveloping all of their hands.
Sophia stiffened and tried to discreetly pull her hand back.
But Vincent’s grip was too tight; she couldn’t retreat.
He held her hand firmly as they went to cut the cake together.
Before the knife could even touch the cake, a phone suddenly started ringing.
It was a familiar, distinctive ringtone.
It was Joanna Sherman calling.
Vincent didn’t answer. He rejected the call.
But Joanna kept calling back relentlessly.
The jarring ringtone filled the entire hall, spoiling half of Sophia’s good mood. She said faintly, "You should get that."
Vincent rejected the call again.
The moment he hung up, Sophia’s phone rang.
Sophia wrenched her hand free, listened for only a second, and then handed the phone to Vincent. "You’d better take this."
Vincent hesitated for a moment before taking it. His expression changed drastically the instant he heard the person on the other end!
The moment he hung up, he snatched back the hand that had been holding hers.
Cedric saw he was about to leave and quickly grabbed him with his other hand. "Dad, don’t go!"
He shook his head forcefully. "Can’t we cut the cake and celebrate with my sister and Mom? The four of us, as a family..."
Sophia’s phone let out another shrill ring.
This time, it was a video call.
Sophia answered. Joanna Sherman was on the screen, standing in a howling wind, clutching Stella Grant.
She looked desperate and dangerous.
Behind her was an endless sky, with only distant buildings visible. She didn’t say a word, only stared into the camera with tears streaming down her face.
Sophia recognized the location.
Joanna was standing on the rooftop of another hotel not far away!
Joanna truly looked like she didn’t want to live anymore, standing there all alone, swaying precariously.
It was a thirty-something story drop—a fall from that height would smash her to pieces!
"It’s okay. You can go," Sophia said calmly.
"Dad!"
Cedric had seen the screen too. He was terrified.
But he had a stronger premonition: if his dad left now, this family would truly be shattered for good.
Vincent gave Sophia a deep look. "Wait for me!"
Then he broke free from Cedric’s grasp and bolted.
The atmosphere, which had just become lively for the cake-cutting, turned ice-cold with Vincent’s departure.
The guests below looked at Sophia with extreme awkwardness, all able to imagine what a war zone she was going through.
Sophia was calmer than anyone else there. She took Cedric’s hand again. "Don’t cry. Let’s cut the cake."
Levin Sawyer walked over. "I’ll do it with you."
The four of them cut the cake, and the photographer, who had been called back, hurriedly captured the moment.
Cedric didn’t get to wait for Vincent. His father had broken his promise.
Just as he was feeling utterly hopeless, someone sent a video to Sophia’s phone.
