Chapter 4
I didn't take Sophie to the hospital. Once I got back in the car, I called the broker. "Can you expedite the medical visa for Switzerland?" The broker replied, "If all the documents are ready, the soonest is the day after tomorrow." I stared out at the entrance of the kindergarten.
Jonathan was holding Sophie, leaning in to soothe her.
Emily's car was parked by the curb.
She rolled down the window and waved Sophie over.
Sophie wiped her tears and ran straight over to her.
Olivia closed her eyes, feeling drained.
"And, forget about my daughter's visa," I said.
The broker paused, surprised.
"Ms. Sterling, are you sure?"
"Yes," I said.
It's not that I'm giving up on her.
But I don't have custody, I don't have her passport, and I don't have the time or energy for a drawn-out legal battle.
More importantly, my mom's life is slipping through my fingers.
Right now, I can only focus on saving the person right in front of me.
The night before my mom's surgery, I went back to the Ford residence to pack up my things.
I went back to the Ford residence to pack my things.
The door code had been changed already.
The housekeeper looked awkward when he saw me.
"Miss Sterling, Miss White and Young Master have moved in for now," he said.
"Mr. Ford said you should go to Riverside Apartments for now," he added.
I pushed the door open, and the living room was packed with kids' toys. Emily was sitting on the couch in my silk robe, holding her son.
When she saw me, she gave me a gentle smile.
"Olivia, don't get the wrong idea," she said.
"Charlie just lost his dad, and he's been having nightmares at night. Jonathan felt bad for him, so he let us move in."
She pointed upstairs.
"I feel safer in the master bedroom," she said.
"I had the housekeeper move your things to the guest room."
I looked at her.
"Does Jonathan know about this?" I asked.
Emily blinked, looking innocent.
"Of course," she replied.
"Jonathan said our families will be seeing each other a lot more, so I thought I'd get comfortable here ahead of time."
She paused, then suddenly recalled something.
"Oh, just thought I'd swap out her bedtime books," Emily added casually.
"It's not good for a little girl to keep reading Cinderella. She'll end up thinking she has to be all meek and humble," she said.
I tuned her out after that.
I went upstairs, grabbed my ID, medical records, and a few changes of clothes.
And the little sweater my mom had been knitting for Sophie, still half-finished.
I didn't bother with the rest.
As I was heading out, Jonathan came back. The moment he saw my suitcase, his face turned cold.
"Where are you going?" he asked.