-‘Gentle?’ Zachary fell silent. He recalled that little girl’s hand on his neck that day, and it seemed as


    though she wanted to strangle him to death. Perhaps gentle was the right word to describe that


    incident, because at least she did not strangle him to death.


    When the door handle turned, Zachary immediately became alert and returned to his usual calm


    demeanor.


    When Sophia entered the room, she immediately saw ‘Benjamin’ talking to Zachary. She had a slightly


    gloomy look in her eyes, but she nevertheless


    greeted them with a smile. “Benjamin! You’re awake! What are you two chatting about?”


    Zachary replied, “Nothing much. He told me he was hungry.”


    Sophia did not suspect a thing and said with a smile, “I was just about to ask what the both of you want


    for dinner. Our refrigerator is running empty, so I thought of getting some groceries.” In a rare gesture


    of gentleness, Zachary looked at her and said, “Don’t trouble yourself. You’ve had a busy day today, so


    we can just have some room service.”


    Sophia felt touched by his kindness. “I’ll be fine. I’m more than happy to cook for you and Benjamin.”


    Zachary replied, “There’s always tomorrow. You should get some more rest after a busy day out.


    Besides, Benjamin said he’s hungry now, so it’d be quicker for you to order food from the hotel.”


    Sophia’s smile froze right away. She thought that Zachary was concerned about her, but she soon


    realized that his main concern was that she might take too long to cook a meal for ‘Benjamin’. “Okay. I’ll


    ask the hotel to send up some of Benjamin’s favorite food.”


    Zachary nodded.


    Sophia prepared to call the hotel, but the boy’s presence was like a thorn in the flesh for her.


    “Come here, ‘Benjamin’! Let’s go get room service from the hotel. You can tell them what you want to


    eat, and they’ll bring it to you!” she said to ‘ Benjamin’, faking a smile.


    Bryan did not take kindly to Sophia’s offer and replied defiantly, “I don’t want to go with you! I want to be


    with Daddy!” 1 Sophia’s face soured for a moment, but she made an effort to keep smiling. “Be a good


    boy ande with me. Well go order some room service.”


    Bryan remained close to Zachary and ignored Sophia.


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    Worried that Sophia might have any suspicions, Zachary raised his hand and rubbed Bryan’s head.


    “Go ahead, ‘Benjamin’. Just tell the hotel staff what you want, and they’ll bring it up for you. Order some


    beef pasta for me, too.”


    “Okay.” Bryan nodded obediently at longst and walked toward Sophia with a swagger. “I’ll go with


    you!”


    Sophia wanted to p him, but she could not do so as she wished because the child was not


    Benjamin. As a result, she could only quell her irritation and keep smiling. “Okay,e with me!”


    Zachary narrowed his eyes as he watched Bryan leave with Sophia. He then turned his attention to the


    balcony, in particr the wicker chair he knocked over during his physiotherapy exercises. Fortunately,


    Sophia did not notice it.


    Sophia brought the child to the phone, but she stared at the child with a sly smile instead of dialing the


    hotel’s room service number. “Why are you so reluctant to be around me nowadays?”


    Bryan stared back at Sophia and replied angrily, “Have I ever been super excited to be around you?