Sophia poured the cooled cookies into a box, and the air was filled with a rich buttery aroma.
Cronus leaned against the nearby counter, stretching out his hand to secretly grab a cookie and pop it into his mouth. The cookies were crispy and delicious, still warm, and they filled his mouth with a delightful flavor without requiring much effort from his teeth.
Cronus was reluctant to waste even a crumb. He licked the cookie crumbs off his fingers and reached for another piece, but Sophia, wearing oven mitts, swatted his hand away.
"Don't sneak cookies. These are for the kids, and there might not be enough!"
Cronus didn't like seeing her frown. He patted his hands and said, "Hey, don't worry too much about how much they can eat. After all, they're just kids—how much can they really eat? Even if they get to eat delicious things every day, they'll get tired of them eventually. It's better to leave them wanting more. Besides, you're not just making these cookies this one time. There will be more chances in the future. I've already backed up your shopping list, so just let me know what you need next time, and I'll get it for you!"
"Mm!"
Noticing Sophia's distracted demeanor, Cronus asked, "What's wrong? You're not focused. I saw you almost burn yourself on the baking tray just now!"
"It's nothing. I'm just worried that there won't be enough," Sophia said, sealing the box. Another batch of cakes was about to come out of the oven. She planned to bring these treats to the hospital with Cronus to visit the children.
Even if this might be the last time, she had already done her best to make these cookies and cakes. She knew she wouldn't have many chances to do this; she couldn't live here with Capone forever, peacefully.
But she had mixed the separated egg yolks and whites together, didn't sift the flour before mixing, and forgot to wear oven mitts when handling the baking trays, nearly burning her hand.
Such performance was unimaginable in her past work. If her boss Roger had seen her make so many mistakes in one day, he would surely have fired her!
She had been so distracted that she had to admit it to herself.
It had been a long time since she thought about Roger. At first, she didn't dare think about him, and later, it seemed she truly had moved on. Her entire mind was occupied with how to deal with the man in front of her—Capone.
Recently, he had been quite indulgent with her. Perhaps it was because of the guilt he felt from sending her to ROYAL last time. He gave her more freedom. Even though he verbally forbade her from baking cakes, as long as she wasn't doing it under his nose, he turned a blind eye.
Sophia even thought he didn't really dislike the smell of cakes; he was just used to asserting his authority and didn't like others challenging it.
She had once thought she might never leave the villa, but now, even if Cronus was taking her to the hospital, he didn't stop her. He just insisted on coming along, just like with the supermarket trip—he had to accompany her.
The unexpected encounter with Lucas's wife, Lucca, at the supermarket was truly surprising. Although Capone had his doubts, he eventually chose to believe that Sophia and Lucca had indeed only met by chance and did not use it to make things difficult for her afterward.
Sophia felt that Capone had something he intended to say that night when he came back from drinking with Lucas, but he never said it. She had wanted to ask him what he wanted to say, but she never managed to.
This wasn't their usual way of interacting. They seemed to be accustomed to quarreling or simply sulking in silence until one of them found a way to break the tension and say a few words to ease the situation.
They rarely had calm and honest conversations. When it was time to talk seriously, both of them felt a bit of panic and uncertainty.
"Everything's ready. Let's go!" Sophia said, organizing the cake boxes.
"Aren't you supposed to do the decorating? What about the birthday cake?"
"Oh, I thought the kids might be more interested in seeing how a birthday cake is made, so I thought it would be nice to do the decorating at the hospital. It could be interactive, and they'll be happy. It's a fun activity, after all!"
Sophia's voice carried a playful and proud tone, as pleasant as the gentle spring rain that disperses the chill of winter. Cronus, wearing only a dark blue turtleneck sweater, stood in front of her and didn't feel cold at all.
"Your children must be very happy. You really understand what they like!"
Sophia's face turned slightly red. "Oh, not at all. It's just a woman's nature!" She liked children very much, but she couldn't imagine herself as a mother.
She had once thought of herself as still a child, but after going through so much, she knew she was no longer the same Sophia Diaz she used to be.
The driver was still the same young man Joey had sent, but Capone wasn't in the car.
"Where's Capone? Didn't he say he would come along?"
Cronus said there was no need to wait and instructed to drive directly to the hospital. Sophia, unable to contain her curiosity, asked on the way.
"He'll be here soon. Let's go to the pediatric ward and wait for him!"
The island's hospital was not very large, just a branch of the Port First Hospital. The nearby three small islands relied on it for medical care because it was geographically closer than the port area.
The inpatient building wasn't very tall but occupied a significant area. It had a modern architectural style, clearly a substantial investment.
"Did you invest in building this hospital?"
Cronus nodded. "Boss initially invested five million. It can't really be called an investment since the hospital isn't private—more like a donation. How did you figure that out?"
"Hmph, aren't you working at this hospital? It's obvious you must have put money into it. Otherwise, why would you settle for such a small hospital?"
According to Diana, Cronus had completed his medical undergraduate studies domestically and then went to the U.S. for a master's degree in medicine. Capone had studied business, and both attended some of the best universities in America. After returning to the country, even if he didn't work in the best hospital in the provincial capital, he could easily earn a high salary at a private hospital or even open his own clinic. Why would he choose to work at a branch on this island?
Cronus laughed, "So, do you think I'm such a practical and materialistic person in your eyes? Would you believe me if I said I work here because of my initial ideals?"
"Not a chance!" Sophia pouted, dismissing him without a shred of courtesy.
Seeing him in a white coat, she asked, "Which department are you in?"
Cronus adjusted his name tag and said, "I'm actually a neurosurgeon at Port First Hospital. I'm not the most senior or the highest-ranked, but I'm pretty good with the scalpel. So when this branch was established, they sent me here to be the 'great hero,' and I have to run between both places. This branch is small and not very specialized; it only has internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. My neurosurgery department falls under the surgery category!"
Sophia was a bit surprised. Given his usually carefree demeanor, she hadn't expected him to be a surgeon, especially one specializing in the most delicate field—neurosurgery. No wonder he had mentioned his consultation fees were high; it wasn't entirely a joke.
Sophia felt a quiet respect for him. Cronus noticed and nudged her with his shoulder. "Hey, don't look at me like that! Just because I'm a neurosurgeon doesn't mean I only deal with patients with neurological disorders. You saw how I treated your wound before, didn't I do a good job?"
Sophia gave him a sidelong glance, noticing his smug smile. She suddenly missed Diana.
Only Diana's sharp wit and cold humor could put him in his place!
It had to be said, Cronus looked even more charming in his doctor's coat. Uniforms always add to a man's appeal, even if it's just a simple white coat, with the neatly pressed trousers and shoes giving him a bright and energetic aura.
He took her to the pediatrics department in the elevator. Other nurses from different departments greeted him with smiles and then retreated to the back of the elevator, eyeing him with the adoration usually reserved for celebrities, curious about the woman with him.
Sophia found it amusing. Cronus was only missing pulling out a pen from his pocket to sign autographs.
Though this hospital was only a branch, it seemed to benefit from the investment made by Capone and the others. It had ample funding and thoughtful design, with the pediatrics department's decor filled with playful elements that set it apart from the other departments.
The activity room was a dedicated space with brightly colored sunflowers on the door and windows. The children who were in decent health had been waiting here early in the morning, with a nurse distributing balloons and telling stories.
As soon as Sophia and Cronus entered, the children cheered excitedly, their enthusiasm almost toppling them over.
"Hold on, hold on! Wait for us to set out the snacks before we hand them out. Everyone will get a share!" Sophia said calmly, pulling Cronus to help her distribute the treats.
Cronus's smile was broad. He had heard countless children call him "Doctor Brother," but none had sounded as delightful as the way she had said it.