Jessica shot Martin a disapproving look and said with an air of entitlement, “Leo is my son-in-law, and he’s been living off us for four years. He bought a new house, and I’m his mother-in-law. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Martin sighed and decided not to say anything more. He realized that his wife’s thick skin was practically bulletproof at this point. For Jessica, saving face was the most important thing. If Leo’s new house turned out to be better than their Jeffery’s Golden Coast, she would definitely move there without hesitation.
Their current residence in the Sunshine Villa had been their home for a long time, and the location wasn’t great. In the Langstel villa community, it was considered average at best, nowhere near the standard of the wealthy neighborhoods.
Leo and Sophia strolled side by side on the jogging track in the community. They had already discussed their plans and decided to move into Leo’s new house by the end of next month. To avoid escalating family conflicts before moving, Leo had temporarily moved into his clinic.
Sophia didn’t know the exact location of the new house, as Leo wanted to surprise her.
Next, they went to the hospital. Sophia wanted to visit the woman who had been injured by her parents.
At the hospital, they entered the intensive care unit and met Doreen and her son, Ron. When Ron saw Sophia entering with Leo, he raised his little head and greeted her sweetly.
Sophia smiled and gently patted his head. She apologized to Doreen, “I’m sorry for what my parents did. I apologize on their behalf. I hope you can forgive them.”
Doreen had already guessed the relationship between Sophia and Leo when they entered. She shook her head and said, “Miss, your husband has already paid for all my medical expenses. He even arranged for me to stay in this good ward and hired a caregiver to take care of my son and me. I am already very grateful. This was an accident, and I don’t blame your parents.”
She looked at Leo and added, “Miss, your husband is truly a good man. You must cherish him.”
Sophia blushed slightly at Doreen’s words. Just as she was about to respond, Ron asked, “Big sister, do you and big brother have a child?”
This question made Sophia even more embarrassed. Leo, on the other hand, casually replied, “We don’t have a child yet, but we plan to have one soon.”
Sophia sneakily glared at Leo.
Ron raised his head, his small fist clenched in a determined manner. He chirped, “When you have a baby, I’ll protect them, just like how big brother protects me!”
This statement surprised Leo, and he turned to Doreen, asking, “Have you taken Ron to the hospital for treatment? Is there a possibility of a cure?”
Although Leo possessed incredible knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, his current level of expertise made it challenging to tackle congenital illnesses like Ron’s. Perhaps in the future, with improved skills, he could find a way to cure Ron’s condition.
Doreen shook her head and replied with a bitter smile, “The doctors say the chances of curing this illness are very slim. Ron’s intelligence might reach the level of a six-year-old child at best. My only wish now is for him to live a healthy and happy life.”
Leo, thinking about Doreen’s impoverished situation, had an idea. He told her, “Rest assured while you recover. After you’re discharged, I’ll help you find a proper job. You should consider moving out; it’s a complex environment and not suitable for Ron’s growth.”
Doreen knew about the bullying Ron faced from other kids in the village, but the bully happened to be Jay’s son, so she dared not speak up. She had considered moving out, but the rent in other places was too high for her to afford.
Upon hearing Leo’s offer, Doreen shook her head and said, “Thank you for your kindness. You’ve already helped me a lot. The doctor said my leg injury is minor, and I’ll be able to work again in a few days.”
Leo adjusted his expression and said, “I know of a place that happens to be looking for workers, so I thought of suggesting it to you. I’m not helping you; I’m just providing you with information. After you recover, you can apply there and see how you perform.”
Leo’s words eased Doreen’s mental burden. She nodded in agreement and thanked Leo once again for his assistance.
After leaving the hospital, Sophia curiously asked, “Are you planning to have Doreen work at your clinic?”
Leo shook his head, replying, “The clinic doesn’t need more staff. I plan to introduce her to a factory job. The supervisor there is one of my college classmates.”
Sophia, her eyes filled with sympathy, said, “If the factory you recommend doesn’t hire her, let me know. I’ll help her find a cleaning job. It’s really tough for both her and Ron, and if we can help, we should.”
Leo suddenly grabbed Sophia’s hand and mischievously asked, “Sophia, even little Ron is telling us to have a baby soon. When do you think would be a good time for us?”
Sophia blushed and pulled her hand away, then playfully punched him in the chest. “In a hundred years, we can think about it!”
She finished her sentence with a shy smile, then playfully ran ahead. Leo laughed and chased after her.
As evening approached, they decided to have dinner at a restaurant. However, while they were enjoying their meal, Sophia furrowed her brow. Leo followed her gaze and noticed a man and a woman entering the restaurant.
The man was dressed in casual business attire, tall, and wore glasses. He held a woman’s arm, and the woman had a tall and graceful figure with good looks, qualifying as a beauty.
The man’s gaze swept across the restaurant and quickly fixed on Sophia. He approached her with his female companion in tow.
“Sophia, what a coincidence. You’re dining here too?” Michael Hewlett greeted her with a lustful gaze, completely ignoring Leo’s presence.
The woman by Michael’s side sensed something and deliberately snuggled up to him, saying coquettishly, “You must be Sophia. It’s better to see you in person. I have to thank you for not choosing to be with Michael. Otherwise, I’d lose such an excellent boyfriend.”
Michael looked at Leo and smirked, “May, I’m just a high-ranking executive at a publicly traded company now. I can’t be considered excellent. You should learn to be low-key in front of others, you know?”