Chapter 40
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A woman in an apron emerged from the kitchen, carrying a baby and a case of beer, yelling, “Table four, stir–fried conch!”
She handed the beer to a group of students, offering bottle openers.“Sorry, we’re busy. I’ll give you a discount later.” She chatted with them, then, glancing up, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Doctor Ella! What a surprise!” She rushed over, handing the baby to Henry.“You should have called! I would have met you at the alley!” She wiped her hands on her apron before reaching out to Sonya.
Sonya held her hand. “Sister Sterling, no need to be so polite.”
“Come home. My husband will cook. We’ll treat you well,” Mrs. Sterling exclaimed, pulling Sonya towards her house, completely missing Henry.
“Sister–in–law, I have no presence?” Henry said dryly.
Mrs. Sterling noticed Henry.“Henry! You’re back?”
“Yesterday. I…”
Before he finished, Mrs. Sterling handed the baby to him.“Hold Mia (baby’s name). I’ll Ella settled. Let me introduce you two.”
get
Doctor
Pointing to Henry, she said to Sonya, “This is Henry. He works for a big company. He makes a lot of money, and he’s handsome! Better–looking than those TV stars!”
Then, pointing to Sonya, she said to Henry, “She’s Dr. Ella, from Haichuan Hospital. She saved my life and Mia’s. It was critical; no one dared to take the case. Thank God for Dr. Ella!
She nudged Henry.“Isn’t she beautiful? Kind too. Any man marrying her is incredibly lucky.”
Sonya blushed.“It’s my job as a doctor.”
Henry laughed. “Saozi, are you trying to set me up with Doctor Ella?”
Mrs. Sterling patted Henry’s arm.“Behave yourself! Don’t scare her.”
They all laughed.
“What are you two laughing about?”
Henry took Sonya’s hand, showing it to Mrs. Sterling.
“You two…”
“We got our marriage license this morning. We’re practically an old married couple.”
Mrs. Sterling’s eyes widened in disbelief.“Really?” She looked at Sonya, highlighting Henry’s usual playful nature.
Sonya nodded.“Really.”
Mrs. Sterling laughed.“Wonderful! I have to tell Simon!” She rushed back inside.
Henry looked at Sonya.“Our fate was destined.”
Sonya teased Mia.“Maybe we’ve met before. I studied at MIT for eight years, and you often came back here.”
Mia was premature. Mrs. Sterling, working hard, started bleeding one night. Simon rushed her to
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the hospital. Sonya was on duty. Mrs. Sterling had severe preeclampsia and hemorrhaged. Both mother and baby were in danger. Two doctors refused the case; Sonya stepped up. The surgery lasted six or seven hours. Both mother and baby survived miraculously, Mrs. Sterling often brought Mia to see Sonya, so they were familiar with each other. Mia reached for Sonya.
“Hey, look who it is! I’m your Godfather!” Henry tried to get Mia’s attention, but the baby stubbornly reached for Sonya.
Sonya took the baby and kissed his forehead.
“You’re Mia’s Godfather?”
“Self–proclaimed.”
Sonya smiled.“Then I’m the Godmother?”
“Definitely.”
They went to the restaurant. Simon, though busy, came
though busy, came out to congratulate them. “Order whatever you want. It’s on me.”
Henry smirked.“We weren’t planning to pay anyway.”
“My brother’s shameless. Takes after me.”
Their bond was obvious, but how did a scruffy restaurant owner and an elite professional meet?
Henry gave Mia back to Mrs. Sterling and took Sonya upstairs. The second floor was clean and organized.
“Brother Sterling’s family lives here, but I have a room too.”
Henry took Sonya to a room at the far end. It was small, with a single bed and a large bookshelf filled with books. Basketball posters and racing car models decorated the walls–a typical boy’s
room.
“In middle school, I ran away from home. Brother Sterling found me, and I stayed with him. Simon, Jay, Smith… we were thirteen or fourteen, crazy, always getting into trouble. Our biggest worry was food,” Henry said, smiling.
Sonya sat beside him. He pulled her into his arms.
“Why did you run away?”
“Because of my father. I wanted to study music, go to music school. He didn’t agree; he smashed my guitar. I didn’t understand my parents then. I felt they had no right to control my life. So, I ran away. Later, I regretted it.”
“Huh?”
“Smith was the oldest. He had a younger sister. Once, she needed surgery for appendicitis, but he didn’t have the money. He didn’t tell us. He tried to rob someone… and he was stabbed to death.”
Sonya was shocked. She noticed Henry trembling slightly; she hugged him tighter. This must have been deeply traumatic.
“After that, I went home, followed my parents‘ plans, went to a top middle and high school, then studied abroad.”
nya didn’t know how to comfort him, so she kissed his chin. He kissed her lips, then smiled, pulling her onto his single bed.
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They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Henry! Jay’s fighting someone at the warehouse!” Henry released Sonya.
“Go eat. I’ll be right back.”
Sonya grabbed his arm.“Don’t be impulsive!”
“Don’t worry!”
