Chapter 203


    Before Zane could speak up for himself, Dous barreled toward Sonia and wrapped his arms


    around her waist, thereafter whining, “Aunt Sonia, Uncle Zane was pinching me!”


    Sonia’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as she surveyed Zane reproachfully.


    Zane was quick to raise his hands, as though the gesture was symbolic of his innocence. “No, I did


    not! Why would I pinch the little guy? I was only teasing him."


    "Teasing him, you say? So, why are his cheeks all red?" Her heart twisted as she soothingly


    caressed Dous'' face, which was pink from the pinches. Then, she usingly addressed Zane,


    "You''re just like Toby."


    At the mention of Toby, the yful glimmer in


    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Zane''s eyes dimmed. "Toby?! What did he do?"


    She rolled her eyes in exasperation and exined witheringly, "He practically kneaded Dous''


    cheeks until they were redst night. It''s always brute force when ites to you men."


    His brows furrowed. "He kneaded Dous'' face? Does that mean the both of you met Toby after I


    leftst night?"


    Sonia handed a spoon to Dous and pulled up a chair at the table. "That''s right. Dous was


    hungry, so I brought him out for food. We then ran into Toby at the restaurant. When Dous


    needed to use the restroom, I was too embarrassed to bring him into the men''s room, so Toby


    brought him instead." "Oh, okay." Zane nodded in understanding.


    Meanwhile, Dous was taking his oatmeal when he suddenly piped up, "Mr. Toby was hurt too."


    “Hurt?” Zane could not hide his shock as he looked over at Sonia. “How did that happen?”


    She pinched the space between her brows in exhaustion as she began to narrate what had


    happened the night before.


    After he heard the whole story, he rubbed his face and remarked, “There must have been some kind


    of jinx on you guys. I mean, the chances of stuff like this happening are practically slim-to-none


    otherwise!”


    A rueful smile yed on Sonia’s lips. “Believe me, I know.” She thought they had been rather


    unlucky as well.


    “You’re fortunate to have escaped unscathed,” he pointed out with a lopsided smile, his eyes


    meeting hers.


    The corners of her lips slightly tipped up. “That’s only because Toby shielded me and was hurt


    instead. I’m still thinking about how I should thank him for it.” She didn’t want to show up at his


    ce to deliver her thanks in person. If she did, a certain lunatic named Tina might very well


    unleash chaos once more.


    As though he read Sonia’s mind, Zane took a bite of the pancake and casually responded, “That


    should be easy. It’s not as if you were the one who forced him into saving you. Why don’t you rustle


    up a get-well-soon hamper or something and have someone send it over to him?”


    “A get-well-soon hamper?”


    Yeah.” Zane nodded emphatically. “The man had injured his foot. I’d say that’s a good excuse to


    send him a hamper.”


    Sonia found this suggestion a rather sensible one and after she sipped her milk, she agreed with it.


    “I guess that works. I’ll have someone make the arrangementster.”


    When breakfast was over, the three of them left the apartment.


    Upon arriving downstairs, he took Dous by the hand and stood in front of his car. Then, he


    nced over at her meaningfully as he said, “Thanks for taking care of Dousst night.”


    “It’s no big deal.” She stepped forward and ruffled Dous’ hair affectionately. With a smallugh,


    she added, “Besides, I like hanging out with Dous.” “I like hanging out with you too, Aunt Sonia.


    Can Ie by again soon?” Dous lifted his face and blinked his pair of sparkling eyes at her.


    “Of course you can,” she promised, nodding in affirmation.


    Upon hearing their exchange, Zane felt the wheels in his mind turn. He grinned at Dous as he


    interjected, “Don’t you worry. I can drop you off here whenever I have the time.”


    Dous resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his own uncle. I know you’re just trying to use me as an


    excuse to see Aunt Sonia, you sly man.


    However, given how much he wanted Zane to triumph in his romantic pursuit, he refrained from


    calling the older man’s bluff.


    “By the way, are you going to the hospital for the operation today?” Zane’s gaze flickered over to


    Sonia’s lower abdomen.


    Her smile faded as she suppressed her heartache. A strained hum then escaped her before she


    answered, “Yes, I’ll be going this afternoon.”


    “In that case, I’ll be there and I won’t take no for an answer. I know Charles will be present as well,


    but maybe I could lend an extra helping hand or something. Better to be safe than sorry, right?” he


    offeredpassionately.


    Sonia was mildly amused by his insistence.


    “Okay, then. You maye.”


    “It’s settled then.” Zane waved his hand at her. “Right, I’ll be taking Dous home now. See you


    later.”


    Dous brought his little hand up and waved goodbye at Sonia too. “Bye, Aunt Sonia.” “Bye,


    Dous,” she responded with a warm


    smile.


    Zane and Dous left in their car secondster and she did not stay in ce for long. After having


    checked the time, she drove to Paradigm Co.


    As soon as Sonia arrived at thepany, Daphne trailed after her and said, “President Reed, here


    is today’s schedule.” With that, the secretary began to detail the agenda lined up for Sonia.


    Sonia took the schedule over and perused it while she walked.


    Upon browsing the list, she handed it back to Daphne and announced, “I’ll be going to the hospital


    later, so cancel the afternoon line-up, seeing as there’s nothing important anyway. Also, I’ll have to


    see the schedule for the next couple of days.”


    She would be staying in the hospital for a few days following the operation, which meant she would


    have to reorganize her uing schedule and push back a couple of unimportant meetings.


    Daphne nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”


    Sonia had only just opened the door to her office when she turned and asked, “By the way, could


    you rustle up a get-well-soon hamper? Make sure to pack it with goodies, preferably for someone


    who needs a treat after injuring their feet. Have it delivered to President Fuller of Fuller Group and


    charge it to my personal ount.”


    “President Fuller?” Daphne could not hide her surprise. Is President Reed trying to patch things up


    with President Fuller by sending him a surprise hamper?


    When Sonia noticed Daphne’s expression, she knew instantly that Daphne misread her intentions.


    Sonia lowered her gaze and exined vaguely, “He’s hurt. Given that he’s our biggest coborator,


    not to mention the man in charge of the alternative energy technology project, we should offer him


    our kindest wishes and concern as a matter of courtesy."


    "I see." Daphne was in a daze as she nodded her head while the wild guesses she made


    immediately dissipated.


    At the sight of this, Sonia found herself heaving a quiet sigh of relief. However, she maintained her


    composure as she waved her hand, dismissing her secretary with a breezy, "You may leave now."


    Yes, of course. Right away.” Daphne nodded once and turned to leave.


    Sonia watched with darkened eyes as Daphne left her office. She had not borated on the cause


    of Toby’s injury precisely because she wanted to prevent Daphne from overthinking.


    After all, it would be hard to exin why Sonia was hanging out with her ex-husband at the


    amusement park—and at night, no less. Even if she were to say that the meeting had been purely


    coincidental, there was no telling whether Daphne would truly believe her. Indeed, the girl might say


    otherwise, but she would be skeptical all the same.


    As she brushed away those thoughts, Sonia pulled out her chair and sat down before she buried


    herself in her work.


    Over at Fuller Group, word of Toby’s injury, which unfortunately could not be kept a secret, spread


    like wildfire throughout the office building.


    He had arrived at work that morning in a wheelchair and discretion was a luxury not afforded to him


    after everyone had witnessed his less-than-mboyant entrance.


    As news of this broke out, otherpanies caught wind of it and were eager to show their concern.


    Countless calls were made and dozens of get-well-soon hampers were sent to him.


    Tom had only just seen the clients out the door when he was stopped in his tracks by the


    receptionist, who called out for him. “What is it?" he asked curiously as he walked up to the front


    desk.


    The receptionist gestured toward the intricately-wrapped hampers in which were expensive


    goodies. “Mr. Brown, a director from yet anotherpany has had this gift delivered.”


    He nced at the hamper and its extravagant contents before he grimaced, “Didn’t we just


    announce on our website that all gifts are politely declined? And here we have another hamper to


    pile onto the others that we have yet to sort through.”


    “Maybe the sender missed our announcement,” the receptionist guessed with a shrug.


    Tom adjusted his sses. “Very well, then. Who’s the sender? Whichpany is he or she from?”


    “Paradigm Co.,” she replied tly.


    “Paradigm Co.?!” he repeated in bewilderment.


    The receptionist nodded. “That’s right.”


    He straightened his posture and grew somber before he responded briskly, “Okay, hand me the


    note and I’ll have the hamper sent up.”


    “Got it.” The receptionist was new at her job and she had no idea of the importance Paradigm Co.


    connoted. With that being said, she did not question Tom when she saw how serious he was and


    handed him the gift note without further dy.


    He took it from her and scanned the inscription. Then, he shoved it into his pocket before picking up


    the hamper and hurrying toward the elevator.


    It didn’t take long for Tom to arrive at the presidential office, where he entered after knocking on the


    door.


    Toby looked up at that moment with a frown when he registered the hamper in Tom’s arms. Clearly


    disgruntled by the presence of yet another gift, he snapped, “Didn’t I say to stop bringing these gifts


    up to my office? Bring it over to the finance department and have them figure out the cost so that we


    can return the sender’s


    favor.”


    This one is different, though,” Tom countered as the light reflected off his spectacles.


    Toby suspiciously narrowed his eyes. “How so?”


    “This hamper is from Miss Reed,” Tom rified, peering earnestly at Toby s expression. When he


    saw the displeasure on Toby s face being reced by mild surprise, he suppressed the urge to grin


    impishly.