Chapter 6

Sophie’s pov ; I heard the faint sound of the door creaking open behind me, and I quickly ended the call with my friend. My heart raced as I looked up, already knowing who it was before he even spoke. I smiled, probably looking ridiculous, but I couldn't help it. Excitement bubbled up inside me. He stepped closer with his calm face, but there was something in his eyes that made me pay attention to him. "The doctors are coming from overseas," he let out. "I’ve made appointments with them personally. They'll perform the surgery in two days. Once it's done, you’ll be discharged." For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Two days? Was this real? My heart stuttered, skipping beats in a way that wasn’t entirely unpleasant. I swallowed, feeling the excitement building in my chest. "And…after the surgery?" I asked hesitantly. "Will I be able to walk again?" His gaze softened as he looked at me. "Not immediately but soon." That was all I needed to hear. The joy surged through me so quickly I almost felt dizzy. I could walk again. I’d be able to go anywhere, do anything. Tears blurred my vision, and I closed my eyes, feeling them spill over, streaking my cheeks without permission. "What's the matter?" His voice pulled me back. He sounded worried. I blinked, realizing that maybe I had weirded him out with my sudden tears. I wiped my face, smiling through them. "Nothing…nothing bad.” But then, another thought crept into my mind and I sadly let out. "After I’m discharged…I don't have anywhere to live." There was a pause before he answered. When he did, his voice was matter-of-fact, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We’re married now. Of course, you’ll live under my roof." I looked at him, my breath catching in my throat. It still felt strange, the way he said it. I barely had time to process the word before he continued. "I’ve already bought a house near your university. After the surgery, you’ll move in there." It took me a moment to comprehend his words. A house? Near my university? He had planned everything so carefully. "If you behave yourself," he added, his voice lower, "you can keep the title of my wife forever. But if you’re not honest…don’t blame me for being ruthless." I shivered, his words sending a chill through my spine. The coldness in his tone made me shuddered. But I pushed the fear aside. I had no reason to be dishonest, did I? "Thank you," I murmured, though the words felt small in comparison to what he had done for me. A question suddenly popped into my mind, one that made me hesitate before I spoke again. “Sir..." I began slowly, unsure how to ask without sounding greedy. "Are we going to live…together?" He chuckled, and I felt embarrassment rise in my chest. He must think I’m an idiot. Asking one thing over and over. Of course, we’d live together. We were married, after all. His smile, though…it wasn’t cruel. Not like I’d seen before with others. No, this time, it was softer, almost amused. I couldn’t help but notice how different he seemed when he wasn’t being harsh. "What do you think?" I blushed. It was such a stupid question. Why did I even ask? But still, the thought of sharing a home with him felt overwhelming. Would it be strange? Would it feel wrong? I bit my lip and nodded, keeping quiet. He didn’t press me further, thank God. I’d asked enough silly questions for one day. But as I sat there, still in the sterile hospital bed, pale and drained from everything, I realized one thing. Staying here with him, even with all the unknowns, had to be better than going back to where I came from. Back to the life I had before. At least with him, there was some hope. Hope that I can walk again. I just had to trust him. Even if that trust came with its own risks. Thinking about living with a strange man, my husband, under the same roof, made my face warm in an instant. I could feel the heat spreading across my cheeks, and I gripped the quilt in front of me, clutching it like it could somehow shield me from my own nervous thoughts. My heart raced, pounding loudly in my ears as the reality of the situation settled in. How would it be to share the same space with him? The man I still barely knew? "What are you thinking about?" he asked, his eyes sharp, catching the way I’d been staring off into nothing. I jumped slightly and quickly shook my head, trying to hide the sudden embarrassment flooding me. "N-Nothing!" If he knew what had just crossed my mind, he’d definitely laugh at me. Or worse, he’d give me that unreadable look he always wore, leaving me to second-guess myself. I couldn't let him know how flustered I was. It was bad enough that I barely understood him—one moment he was nice, and the next, terrifying. “Can I ask you for a favor?” I said quietly, nervously looking down at the bed sheets as I twisted them between my fingers. He didn’t say anything at first, just looked at me with those calm, unreadable eyes. Then he gave a short nod, his expression cool. “Go ahead.” I hesitated, biting my lip before continuing. “Because of the accident, I couldn’t report to university on time. They need an immediate family member to go and handle the formalities, or else my admission will be revoked.” I paused, feeling the anxiety rise as I forced myself to finish the sentence. “Can…can you go with me?” His face changed slightly, a frown pulling at his lips. “You want me to go with you?” “Yes,” I said, my voice quieter this time. “My family…they don’t support my studies. If they had the chance, they’d probably tell the university to cancel my admission.” My family only ever saw me as a burden, someone they needed to marry off quickly to secure benefits for my younger brother. The dowry from my marriage had already been planned for—a new car, maybe even a house for him. I was just a means to an end for them. His expression didn’t change. He was quiet for a moment, and I couldn’t help but feel the knot of anxiety tighten inside me. What if he refused? What if he thought this was too much? “Leave this to me,” he said simply, as though it were already taken care of. I blinked, surprised by how easily he’d agreed. Relief washed over me. For all the coldness he sometimes showed, he was willing to help. And that meant more to me than I could put into words. “Thank you,” I whispered with a smile.