Sometimes, falling for someone isn't difficult. It could be a word or a gesture that touches your heart, and then you gradually get lost in it, unable to escape.
Cronus turned his head to look at the person beside him. Her shoulder-length curly hair was casually tied into a short bun at the back of her head, with a few loose strands falling by her temples, glistening with a healthy, jet-black shine. The winter sun streamed through the window, casting a golden halo around her face, just like the soft glow on her pale complexion.
She still resembled the figure from his memory, yet upon closer inspection, she seemed different. She no longer possessed just the innocence of a young girl but had also gained the charm of a woman.
Maybe it was as she said, it's a woman's nature, a gentle warmth was hidden within.
She carefully placed the cookies on three large plates, dividing the cupcakes into two boxes, and set them on the tables on both sides of the activity room to prevent the children from crowding together.
Seeing a child with a broken hand, she handed the cake directly to him. When the child softly said, "Thank you, sister," she smiled so wide that her eyes curved into crescents.
"Aren't you still supposed to decorate the cake?" Cronus couldn't help but remind her, seeing how she was playing and laughing with the kids.
"Oh, right! Which child is celebrating their birthday today?"
A shy little girl stepped forward. Coincidentally, she had injured her head in a minor motorcycle accident while playing, and Cronus happened to be her attending doctor.
Sophia smiled and took her hand. "Would you like to watch me decorate the cake?"
The little girl nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
Cronus picked up the child. "Tina is the bravest! She didn't even mind the bitter medicine, so today, you get a birthday cake as a reward, okay?"
Tina was very close to him, flashing a toothy smile with her still-baby teeth. "Okay! I want one with flowers and little bunnies!"
"No problem. Watch your sister perform some magic for you!"
Sophia rolled up her sleeves, opened the largest cake box, took out the cake base already frosted with cream, and began decorating it with a piping bag. Her movements immediately captured the children's curiosity, and they all crowded around her, watching eagerly.
Held in Cronus' arms, Tina had the best view, her eyes glued to Sophia's hands, which seemed to work magic.
Capone had quietly appeared in the hallway at some point, standing at a distance, observing everything through the activity room's window.
Soon, flowers began blooming on the cake, followed by chocolate and fruit decorations. If circumstances allowed, Cronus believed that this girl could probably craft an entire forest on this tiny cake.
Cronus' phone rang. It was Capone calling. He planned to go out and meet him, but Tina refused to let go when he tried to put her down. Fortunately, Sophia had just finished decorating the cake, and the children were clapping and cheering. Sophia took the chance to gather everyone to sing a birthday song for Tina.
Cronus had no choice but to turn and look, seeing Capone standing outside the door. He said, "Boss, come on in!"
"No, there's an urgent matter at the company. Two old board members have shown up, and I need to check on it. You'll take this girl home later, got it?"
"Got it. I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Capone didn't leave immediately. Inside the activity room, everyone—big and small—was gathered around the cake singing a birthday song. Sophia Diaz was singing the loudest, as if she had completely forgotten that she was also someone in need of help.
The familiar cheerful tune—he had only ever heard it sung in English when he was abroad. The only time he had heard it sung in Chinese was when someone sang it for him, year after year, commemorating the day he came into this world, until they were separated, and then death came.
A sharp pain pricked at his eyes. The scene before him evoked less hatred and more longing.
After the children's activity ended, they packed up, and by the time they came out, it was already the end of the workday. Throughout the entire time, Sophia hadn't seen Capone, and she found it strange.
"Are we heading back now?" she asked.
"What, didn't get enough fun?" Cronus had just taken off his doctor's coat, and his usual carefree demeanor returned.
Sophia couldn't bring herself to ask about it. She thought it was quite funny—if he didn't show up, wasn't that exactly what she wanted? So why was she still thinking about him?
"Today was great. Did you see how happy those kids were? Now you can believe how popular your cakes and cookies are, right?"
"Yes, I've always been confident in myself!" Sophia smiled at Cronus.
It was rush hour, and there were a lot of people waiting for the elevator. It would take a long time for one to arrive. Cronus still needed to head back to his department, which was only two floors up, so Sophia decided to take the stairs with him. Unexpectedly, they ran into a familiar figure at the stairwell's corner.
"Mandy? What are you doing here?" Mandy walked down the stairs, step by step, refusing any assistance. His subordinates could only follow behind him. He leaned on a cane, and it seemed as though half of his tall body's weight rested on that wooden support.
He still wasn't entirely used to it, but he didn't look embarrassed.
"Just here for a follow-up," he answered lightly, unwilling to say much more. But everyone knew that the gunshot wound on his leg had long since healed, inside and out. The only thing left was rehabilitation.
Could it be...
"You're here for rehab?" Sophia was a little excited, glad that he had finally come around.
Mandy's expression was slightly uneasy, and he responded with a soft "Mm."
"That's great! If you stick with it, you'll definitely recover!"
"Thanks."
Cronus chuckled, "Seems like my persuasion skills are no match for the boss's. I spent so long trying to convince you, brought the best physical therapists right to you, and you still refused rehab. But as soon as the boss steps in, you agree to try!"
Mandy gripped his cane tightly and glanced up at the people in front of him. "What are you doing here? It's getting late. Aren't you heading back?"
Sophia explained the cake-baking and the gift for the children. While she was talking, Cronus took the opportunity to leave her with Mandy, as he needed to go back to his department to check on his patients before he could change and leave.
"He's not even worried I'd run away," Sophia muttered to herself in a self-deprecating tone.
"Would you?" Mandy asked seriously.
"What?" She was caught off guard.
Mandy looked at her intently. "Would you take advantage of my bad leg and run away right under my nose again?"
Sophia froze. Was he still holding a grudge over the time she had drugged them and escaped?
"Oh, that…" Sophia touched her hair and lowered her gaze. "I didn't mean to insult you, and I wasn't trying to take advantage of anything! It's just that, even now, if I had to choose, I'd still try to escape. The only difference is that if your leg were fine, you might have caught me right away. But now, you'd only be able to watch me run, and you might lose me. Then you'd have to face your brothers, be reprimanded, and feel humiliated. That's a matter of your pride. But for me, it's about my future."
She spoke earnestly, then glanced at the subordinate behind him, giving a bitter smile. "But don't worry, I won't run today. I couldn't even if I tried."
Mandy nodded. She was frank, though he wondered if she was this honest with the boss, too, never hiding her determination to escape.
No wonder the boss couldn't rest easy. Knowing that letting go could mean they'd never cross paths again, how could he possibly take such a risk?
"Was it Capone who convinced you to start rehab?" She remembered the conversation they had that night. In truth, she believed that even if she hadn't said anything, Capone had likely urged Mandy to do rehab, just like Cronus had. But Mandy had refused, and they couldn't force him, so they had no choice but to let it go.
However, it seemed that when Capone really wanted something done, there was little he couldn't accomplish. Sometimes, he spoke in a calm tone, but it carried an undeniable force, compelling you to obey whether you wanted to or not.
She used to hate how ruthless he was, couldn't stand the overwhelming pressure he exerted. But over time, she realized that sometimes that kind of strength wasn't entirely a bad thing.
Mandy's response was vague, but his silence seemed like an admission.
What he couldn't tell her was that while he usually respected Capone, the person who had truly made him decide to start rehab was her.