Chapter 69 Presents

Bert handed the box to Sophie, his face gentle, and he touched her fluffy head. "Open it and you'll see," he said.

Sophie held the box in her arms with a broad smile on her face, but not forgetting her ladylike demeanor, said politely to Bert, "Thank you, handsome Uncle! I love it!"

Bane had never known, until now, that Sophie liked the presents, that she had refused them because they were too expensive, and that Sophie had asked Bane to buy her only a storybook.

But she didn't think Sophie was interested, and it was only now that Bane realized she had failed as Sophie's mother.

The sight of Sophie's happy face made Bert feel like a lump of cotton in his stomach. Seeing his own daughter in front of him, he could not give Sophie more for various reasons.

Bert went outside to make a phone call, then returned to the room, Sophie clutching the Barbie, feeling much better and less sick than she had been at first.

Anne looked into Sophie's little face, then back at Bert. "Mr. Ron is very kind to Sophie."

Bert paused, then turned to Anne's inquiring eyes and smiled. "Sophie is very nice."

He looked natural, calm and unruffled.

It seemed to Anne that the man's stratagem was like a deep pool. It was impossible to get a glimpse of him, and such a man did everything with a purpose in mind.

Just now, he was nice to Sophie and kept popping up at Bane's side.

Anne looked at Bane and saw that he hadn't noticed anything. She sighed inwardly. It was time to go to Bane and ask him for some advice.

Bane did not notice that Anne was worrying about her. He was still so absorbed in his own thoughts that Bert called him back.

'Thinking of what?

'Ah, what?

"What are you thinking about, Mom?" Sophie asked, her eyes fixed on Bane too.

Bane squatted down in front of her. "Sophie likes these. Why didn't Sophie tell Mom?" she asked.

Sophie quickly put down the Barbie, pulled back her expression, and said, "Sophie doesn't like it."

Bane pretended to be angry. "Sophie, it's wrong to lie," he said.

"Mom..."

"You tell your mother the truth."

"Sophie... Don't want mom to buy... Lest Mamma leave Sophie."

As she said this, Sophie's eyes were misted, her little hands clasped, her face a look of unease.

"Mummy, Sophie has spent a lot of money on her medical treatment, so Sophie doesn't want to ask her for a Barbie doll."

Bane cradled Sophie in his arms and remained silent, afraid that what he might say might be in tears.

Bert, who was beside him, looked very ugly, and clenched his hand so tightly that the veins on the back of it showed, obviously suffering from something.

Just then Jack suddenly appeared at the door, knocked on it, and said respectfully to Bert, "All ready, boss."

All eyes fell on Jick.

Jick looked at Bane with a mild smile. He had wanted to do this ever since he left the hospital. If anything had happened to Bert, he, Jick Longman, would not have lived, so when he got well he wanted to say thank you to Bane.

Bert looked and nodded, and out came a group of men behind Jick, all of them carrying toys large and small.

The faces of the crowd were filled with surprise.

Sophie's eyes were wide, obviously blinded.

They did not linger until the corner of the room was covered with toys of all kinds.

Jick bent over Bert. "Here they are, boss."

"All right, go ahead and do your work."

"Be."

Jick bowed to Bane as he left.

Her eyes fell on the pile of toys. "Handsome Uncle," she said. "Are these, are these all for me?"

Bert smiled, a little kindness flickering in his eyes. "Yes, does Sophie like it?"

Sophie's eyes flicked across Beane's face and she stammered, "Handsome Uncle, these are too expensive. Sophie doesn't need them. You might as well return them.

Bane did not want Sophie to accept the toys, which, though they were toys, were not to be belittled. She took a quick look at them. They were imported, limited edition, made by a high-end brand, and some of them were the kind of toys that even money could not buy.

He was about to say something when Bane saw Sophie's eyes full of longing, trying hard to hide her reluctance.

Bane felt a blockage in his throat and could not speak.

Then Bert said directly, "It's all yours, and if you don't like it, don't have it."

Sophie looked surprised. "No more?"

"Well, since you don't want it, it's just garbage."

Anxious, Sophie hurried to tug at Bert, but she was too small to pull, so she grabbed his trouser legs. "Handsome Uncle," she said, "this is wrong to waste! These toys are so expensive."

"If Sophie doesn't want it, it'll just be garbage, and if it's garbage, it'll be thrown away."

Sophie's little face crumpled.

"But, so many toys, I also can't play over ah."

"Your little buddy will love it."

Sophie hesitated, looked at Bane, and asked nervously, "Mom, am I -- am I okay with this..."

Bane took a breath, smiled at Sophie, and said, "Does Sophie like it?"

Sophie nodded directly at the thought that her mother had told her that lying was not good.

Do not accept, these toys will be thrown away, handsome uncle also too do not cherish toys!

Besides, Sophie had made some of her best friends at the hospital, and those children didn't have toys either, and she wanted them to have toys...

Sophie felt unwise to accept so many presents at once. She kept telling herself that if she didn't, the toys would be thrown away, so she'd better keep them.

Bane duly said, "Sophie can accept anything she likes, but Sophie will send her uncle a present in return.

Sophie's eyes sparkled.

But Sophie had no idea what to get her handsome uncle, and Anne duly pointed out the picture book.

Sophie picked up the album and turned to her mother. "Mom, will Sophie paint Mom tomorrow?" she asked.