Chapter 5

Sophie’s pov ; The assistant drove me back to the hospital, and I stayed quiet. I didn’t want to cause any trouble, so I kept my thoughts to myself. I noticed his eyes glancing at me through the rearview mirror, and after a while, he started a conversation. “Did you just start college this year?” “Yeah,” I nodded. “I started late, so I’m only a freshman now.” I had always been good academically, but my parents didn’t want me to continue my studies. They expected me to stay home and take care of my younger brother. Twice they forced me to drop out. But despite that, I wasn’t stupid. I knew that if I didn’t finish my education, I wouldn’t have a future. So, I fought my way back, enduring all the challenges. Finally, I got into my dream college—though I was delayed by two years. Once I regained my ability to walk normally. I hoped to return and finish what I started. I glanced at the assistant. “Please let the sir know that after I recover, I’ll voluntarily divorce him. I won’t be a burden to him.” The assistant raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Hmm? Why do you call him Sir?” I blinked, a bit confused. “Isn’t that what you and everyone else call him?” Everyone referred to him like that. It's as if it's his first name. The assistant chuckled softly, almost amused. “Ms. Sophie, you’re quite innocent.” I didn’t know why he was laughing. Just as we were about to arrive, my phone rang loudly, piercing through the silence in the car. I panicked, fumbling to get it out of my bag, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. I covered the receiver with my hand. “Sorry, I can’t adjust t-the volume on my phone.” The assistant glanced over, and I saw him noticing my old, cracked phone. The screen was barely functional, and I had to search carefully for the answer button, trying not to crack it more. The ringtone was so obnoxiously loud that it could wake the dead. Finally, I managed to press the answer button, and immediately, my mother’s harsh voice screamed through the speaker. “You’ve grown wings, haven’t you? Staying out all night like this? Where are you? Get home right now! The husband I found for you is here to propose today. Hurry back and let him see you!” I suppressed my sadness and asked, “What husband? The 45-year-old man without a leg?” My mother’s voice came back dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t forget, you’re fucking crippled now! It’s a miracle someone even wants you, and you have the nerve to be picky? Who the hell do you think you are, some kind of princess?” Before I could respond, I heard a disgusting man’s voice through the phone: “A college student for only £20,000? You’re not trying to scam me, are you? Can she even give birth? If not, don’t expect a single fucking penny from me.” My mother’s tone shifted quickly, becoming sickly sweet as she tried to assure him, “Oh, don’t worry. She’s a virgin, I swear. She’ll give you a fat, healthy boy in no time.” “Good,” the man said with a laugh that made my skin crawl. “My parents have been dying for grandkids. Two in three years will be perfect. A young thing like her should be quite…energetic in bed.” My heart shattered at that moment. My own mother was selling me to this vile man like I was nothing more than property. If it weren’t for Dominic, I knew they would have dragged me back home and handed me over to that disgusting man to bear his children. Clutching the phone tighter, I said firmly, “Mom, I’m already married, and I’ll never come back.” I wasn’t going to let them sacrifice me for their own gain anymore. “What? Married? To whom? When the hell did this happen? Why don’t I know anything about it?” my mother shouted, furious, but I didn’t care anymore. “This fucking ungrateful bitch! I raised her for nothing! Ugh!” In the background, I could hear my father’s voice, calm and indifferent as always. “She said she’s married?” “It’s bullshit,” my mother snapped. “She’s crippled! Who the fuck would marry her?” The man spit out his frustration. “You fucking promised me a virgin! If she’s already been ruined, don’t expect a single cent of my money!” My mother scrambled to reassure him, her voice dripping with that same fake sweetness. “Don’t worry! That stupid girl is as obedient as a dog. She’ll be back within a couple of days with her tail between her legs. Once she does, I’ll send her straight to you.” Without another word, I hung up. By the time we arrived at the hospital, I could barely hold myself together. As soon as I got out of the car, I crouched down on the pavement, tears streaming down my face. I couldn’t stop them. The assistant handed me a pack of tissues, his voice gentle. “Ms. Sophie, please don’t cry. A family like that isn’t worth your tears.” I handed him my phone. “Can you block my parents’ numbers for me? I don’t want to hear from them anymore.” I couldn’t deal with their cruelty any longer. I had finally escaped, and the last thing I needed was to be dragged back into that nightmare. “Of course.” The assistant took the phone from me, quickly blocking their numbers. From now on, they won't be able to reach me. “Ms. Sophie, try not to bend so much,” he said as I stood up, wiping my face. “It’s not good for your leg, especially with your upcoming surgery.” I nodded, trying to push the pain down. “Thank you.” The doctor had already warned me about the risks of moving too much, especially with how fragile my condition was. But after everything I had survived, this was just another hurdle I knew I could overcome. My nose was red from crying, and I knew I probably looked even more weak than I felt. The assistant glanced at me with sympathy in his eyes, something I wasn’t used to. Suddenly, a luxury car passed by the hospital entrance, and I noticed a man in the backseat glancing out the window. Our eyes met. He looked shocked, like he’d seen a ghost. I had no idea who that person was so I averted my gaze. Though I don't know why I felt a strange feeling in my chest looking at that stranger. Laying back down in the hospital bed, I tried to relax, but my phone rang again. It was Jenna, my best friend. “Sophie, I talked to the school about your situation, but they’re insisting that a direct relative has to come in to help you retain your student status. Otherwise, they’re going to revoke it.” My heart pounded in my chest. “Revoke my student status? No! I worked so hard to get into this university.” If they revoked my status, I didn’t know what I’d do. “Do you think you could ask your family to help with the paperwork?” Jenna asked, concerned. I shook my face in frustration. “That’s not possible. My parents never wanted me to go to college. They’d probably tell the school to cancel my admission if they had the chance.” I knew my family all too well. Jenna’s voice was full of worry. “What are we going to do? The school is pushing for a family member to show up by the end of the week.” I wiped my eyes, trying to think. And then it hit me. “Wait…does a husband count as a direct relative?” There was a long pause on the other end. “Yes, of course, but Sophie…when did you get a husband?” “This morning,” I whispered, still trying to wrap my head around it. It all felt surreal—being married to someone I didn’t even know. I didn’t know his full name or his background. Jenna gasped. “You got married just like that? Are you serious? What if he’s…well, what if he’s dangerous or something?” I bit my lip. “He’s paying for my treatment. I don’t think he’s a bad person.” Dominic had already spent so much money on my surgery. If he wasn’t serious, why would he do that? “What’s his name?” I thought for a moment. “His last name is William, I think. I’ve just been calling him Sir.” Jenna sounded puzzled. “William…that doesn’t ring any bells. He’s probably not some super-rich guy, then.” Jenna came from a wealthy family and knew many influential people. She’d even offered to help me pay for my medical bills, but I couldn’t accept her help. I didn’t want my family to exploit her kindness. Forcing a small smile, I said, “I’m not expecting to have married someone rich. Honestly, I just want a simple life. As long as the couple works hard, that’s what matters.” Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and Dominic walked in.