Chapter 231

Isabella remained composed.

As she had anticipated—with Alexander's sharp memory, recalling these details wasn't surprising. His preparation of these dishes was likely just his way of expressing gratitude for their visit to Eleanor.

It held no deeper meaning.

After finishing their meal, Isabella and Margaret lingered another hour before preparing to leave.

Noticing the late hour, Eleanor didn't insist they stay. "You and Sophia should head home early too," she told Alexander.

"Understood," Alexander replied. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

The four of them exited the hospital room together.

Once inside the elevator, Alexander asked, "Did you drive here?"

Isabella gave a brief nod.

Alexander remained silent, but Sophia suddenly piped up, "Mom, are you going home tonight?"

"No," Isabella answered. "I'm taking Grandma home and staying at her place."

"Then I want to stay at Grandma's house too!"

Though Sophia had grown closer to Alexander recently, in Margaret's eyes, she would always be Isabella's daughter.

Hearing Sophia's request, Margaret smiled warmly. "Of course, darling."

Since Margaret had agreed, Isabella didn't object.

However, she reminded Sophia, "You don't have any spare clothes at Grandma's."

Before Sophia started spending more time with Alexander, Isabella used to take her to the Sinclair residence frequently. Back then, she and Caroline had filled half a wardrobe with outfits for her.

But in recent years, Sophia's visits had decreased significantly. With children growing so quickly, neither Isabella nor Caroline had continued replenishing her wardrobe.

Now, there were no clothes at the Sinclair residence that would fit her.

Sophia's face fell. "Oh..."

Alexander spoke up then. "I'll have someone deliver some clothes."

Isabella hesitated briefly but remained silent.

Sophia brightened immediately. "Yay! I get to sleep with Mom tonight!"

Outside the hospital, Sophia happily followed Isabella to her car while Alexander retrieved Sophia's backpack from his vehicle and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Dad!" Sophia beamed.

Alexander ruffled her hair and glanced at Isabella, already seated in the driver's seat. She didn't look back, simply saying, "Sophia, say goodbye to your father."

"Bye, Dad!"

"Goodbye." As Alexander responded, Isabella rolled up the window, turned the steering wheel, and drove away.

By the time they reached the Sinclair residence, Sophia's clothes had already arrived.

As Sophia raced upstairs, Margaret said to Isabella, "At least he's not preventing you from being close to Sophia. That's something."

She'd been concerned that with custody granted to Alexander, he might restrict Isabella's access to their daughter. Over time, that could have eroded their mother-daughter bond.

For any mother, that would have been unbearable.

Isabella didn't explain anything to Margaret. She simply murmured in agreement, reminded her to rest early, and went upstairs.

The next morning, the Sinclair family had breakfast downstairs with Sophia.

Just then, the security booth notified them of a visitor.

Isabella glanced at the screen—Alexander's car had arrived.