Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Cedric Is Jealous: Mom, Have You Ever Thought About Me?

A moment later, Vincent Grant and Miles Grant came downstairs.

Eleanor Crawford and Miles Grant were heading to Lead Aerospace and had Sophia Shaw get in their car.

Cedric Grant and Vincent Grant said goodbye to the three of them.

Climbing into the car, Cedric Grant looked at Vincent Grant, who was driving. "Dad, why did Aunt Eleanor say Mom is the number one person in Cathan for rocket launches?"

Vincent Grant’s long fingers curled around the steering wheel. His features were refined and noble. He watched the military-plate jeep disappear into the distance before turning his head. "Strictly speaking, Mom’s company, Lead Aerospace, was the first in Cathan to successfully launch a rocket."

"I get it now!" Cedric Grant nodded quickly.

Aunt Eleanor wasn’t talking about Mom herself, just the company she works for.

Cedric Grant’s anxious heart could finally rest.

’He should have realized it just now. Even though Mom is a rocketry vlogger, she’s always been working at Dad’s company, and she spends the rest of her time with me. How could she possibly have time to research rockets?’

"Dad, can you hurry up?"

He had promised Auntie Joanna he would go back and help her look after the little one.

A discussion meeting started in the afternoon and went late into the night.

Sophia Shaw was still full of energy.

After the meeting, she and Levin Sawyer shook hands with Miles Grant and Eleanor Crawford. "It was a pleasure working with you."

Only after Miles Grant and Eleanor Crawford had left did Sophia Shaw check her phone.

On her phone was a message from Vincent Grant: "I’m taking my older brother and sister-in-law to dinner tomorrow night. Come home early."

Sophia Shaw ignored the message and called Lead Aerospace’s lawyer. "Attorney Sheffield, do you know any divorce lawyers? Could you recommend one for me?"

The next day, a Friday, Lillian Forrest had no classes in the afternoon, so she called Sophia Shaw to schedule a tutoring session.

Sophia Shaw had just taken Bun to get her vaccinations. She booked a room nearby and told Lillian Forrest to come over.

The hourly-rate room was spacious enough.

Ms. Archer helped look after Bun.

Sophia Shaw and Lillian Forrest went into the inner room.

Sophia Shaw explained things in great detail, and Lillian Forrest listened very attentively.

Even though she couldn’t see, her comprehension was excellent, which made it easy for Sophia Shaw to teach her.

Despite this, Lillian Forrest was extremely nervous when the lesson ended. "Faye, I wasn’t too annoying, was I?"

Sophia Shaw looked at her.

The young girl’s thin, pretty face was anxious. She gently bit her lip, her fingers clenched together.

Sophia Shaw gently unfurled her fingers. "Lil, you’re very talented. If you keep studying hard, you’ll definitely get into a good university."

"Really?"

Hearing Sophia Shaw’s praise, Lillian Forrest was so happy that the corners of her mouth lifted into a shy smile.

A moment later, her shoulders slumped again. "But I’m blind. What university would want a blind person? In the end, I’ll just have to rely on my brother for money..."

"What’s wrong with being blind?" Sophia Shaw could see her vulnerability and sensitivity. "There are many people with disabilities in this world, but as long as you don’t look down on yourself, you have value."

"You probably don’t know this, but when I was little, I was very hyperactive. I couldn’t stop fidgeting in class, and my teacher decided I had an intellectual disability and even suggested I be held back a grade."

"I absolutely refused to accept that, so I turned what the teacher taught into rhythmic dance moves, learning while I moved. By the second semester, I had the top score in the entire school."

Lillian Forrest let out a giggle.

"I can’t imagine you being so fidgety as a kid, Faye."

"But I understand what you’re saying. It’s about turning your disadvantages into advantages, instead of wallowing in self-pity over your flaws."

It wasn’t that no one had told her similar things before, but Sophia Shaw’s personal experience made her truly feel that this wasn’t just a principle, but a reality that could be achieved.

Sophia Shaw patted her. "Be brave and step out. As long as you don’t think of yourself as a blind person, no one else will pay attention to your eyes."

When the lesson was over, Jenson Forrest came to pick up Lillian Forrest himself.

Sophia Shaw picked up Bun and gave her a kiss. Ms. Archer said cheerfully, "Let’s go! Off to the amusement park!"

"Sophie, I want to go too! Can I come along?" Lillian Forrest asked with great interest.

Jenson Forrest looked at his sister in surprise.

Sophia Shaw nodded. "Of course."

The group got into the car, with Jenson Forrest driving.

Lillian Forrest sat in the back seat, constantly teasing and playing with Bun, who was in Ms. Archer’s arms.

At the amusement park, Ms. Archer put Bun in the ball pit.

Lillian Forrest also felt her way into the ball pit by herself.

The ball pit was filled with many mothers and young children. Seeing her feel her way in, they proactively moved aside.

A curious little kid crawled over and tugged her hand. "Pretty sister."

Lillian Forrest’s small face blossomed into a smile like a pinkish-white gardenia.

"What kind of magic did you use to make Lil suddenly brighten up like this?" Jenson Forrest walked up to Sophia Shaw and handed her a bottle of water.

He had noticed back at the hotel that Lillian Forrest seemed different.

"The old Lil was very wary of crowds and never wanted to come to amusement parks."

Sophia Shaw just smiled.

"Maybe it’s fate."

Lillian Forrest simply liked her, which was why she was willing to listen to her advice.

Jenson Forrest watched Lillian Forrest playing catch with Bun.

’He had a different answer in mind.’

’That answer, he supposed, was acceptance.’

’True acceptance.’

’At the Forrest Family home, although everyone tried their best to accommodate her, they still treated her like a blind person.’

’Only Sophia Shaw and Bun didn’t treat her like she was blind; they just treated her like a normal person.’

"Thank you."

Jenson Forrest said sincerely.

Sophia Shaw said nothing. She put down the water bottle, stepped into the ball pit, and quickly started playing with Lillian Forrest and Bun.

Just then, Cedric Grant slid into the ball pit from the slide above, holding Stella Grant.

He lovingly patted Stella Grant in his arms. "Becky, don’t be scared. Big brother will protect you!"

He looked up and his eyes met Sophia Shaw’s.

"Mom."

Cedric Grant awkwardly adjusted Stella Grant in his arms, feeling incredibly guilty.

Sophia Shaw was also quite surprised to run into Cedric Grant here.

"Mom, don’t get the wrong idea. Today is my birthday. Becky and Auntie Joanna came with me."

"I was going to ask you to come, but you didn’t even reply to Dad’s message, so I thought you were busy..."

Sophia Shaw looked around.

This playground was specifically for children aged zero to five. When she had brought Cedric Grant here last year, he had worn a look of disdain.

He had thought it was too childish.

Now that he was over six, he suddenly liked it?

’The lie was a bit too obvious.’

’He was spending his birthday with Joanna Sherman and her daughter. It was clear how much Cedric Grant cared about them.’

Sophia Shaw, however, was happy to see it happen. She said gently, "I’ve already had your birthday present sent to the house. Remember to look for it."

"Have fun."

After speaking, she didn’t look at him again, instead bending down to play with the balls with Bun and Lillian Forrest.

"...Mom."

Cedric Grant watched his mother sheepishly.

She was looking down, holding that adopted daughter of hers, her eyes gentle, a soft smile playing on her lips.

’Mom used to be like that only with me!’

"Sophie, this is so fun!"

Lillian Forrest’s clear voice rang out, her cheeks flushed.

A sixteen-year-old girl, her smile was pure and flawless.

Sophia Shaw hummed in agreement and leaned over to gently wipe the sweat from the side of her face.

Lillian Forrest sat obediently still, letting her wipe it away.

Although her smiling eyes were vacant, they were clearly brimming with happiness.

The more Cedric Grant watched, the more heartbroken he felt.

He waited until a play area attendant took Stella Grant away, then went after Sophia Shaw, who was getting water for Lillian Forrest and Ms. Archer.

"Mom!"

"Dad’s celebrating my birthday with me tonight. Are you coming too?"

Sophia Shaw looked down as she picked up the water. "You guys have fun. I won’t be going."

"Why not? Just to spend time with other people’s children?"

’It was one thing for Mom to spend time with her adopted daughter, but now there was another one out of nowhere!’

"When you’re spending all your time on other people, do you ever think about me?"

Lillian Forrest rarely went out before, so Cedric Grant didn’t know who she was.

He clenched his fists tightly, huffing with anger.