Chapter 32
SOPHIA’S POV
Damien dropped me outside Sky Manor.
After telling him I didn’t care what he did anymore, something, I didn’t know what, passed in his eyes. Then he revved the car, increasing the speed and that was it. Neither of us spoke again till we arrived at the manor and that was for the better I guess.
I watched his car drive away.
Then I turned and walked in.
The house was silent. I sat on the couch and pulled out my phone. It had been switched off at the station. I turned it on.
There were a lot of notifications. Missed calls, messages and a lot of voicemails. Half of them were from the hospital director, Mr. Julian.
My breath caught as I scrolled.
The rest were from Lance.
My heart started to pound.
Had Mr. Julian learnt about the cafe incident? Was he going to fire me? Was I in trouble?
With fear in my heart, I opened a message.
“Dr. Sophia, I’ve been informed about what happened. Please don’t worry about today. You will not be penalized for missing work. Take the time you need to rest and return only when you feel ready. Your well-being matters p>
I read it twice. Then a third time.
I felt relieved and shocked at the same time.
I wondered briefly who had explained everything on my behalf. Marcus? I doubted. He was the assaulted and I could swear he hated my guts now.
Or Lance?
He was the only reasonable answer.
As if on cue, the phone rang in my hand. It was Lance.
“Hello,” I answered instantly.
“Sophia,” he greeted back immediately. His voice was filled with concern. “Thank the goddess. I’ve been calling you all day. Are you okay p>
“I am. I’m home now p>
There was a pause, then he exhaled. “You disappeared. I was worried something had happened to you p>
“Something did p>
“Yeah. I heart you were detained. I-” He stopped himself. “Are you hurt p>
“No,” I said quickly. “I am not hurt p>
“Were you mistreated?” He pressed.
I hesitated, then answered honestly but simply. “No but the whole place was quite unpleasant. It’s nothing anyways. I’m safe now p>
He let out a sigh.
“I was really worried, Soph. You could have called me. If you had you wouldn’t have been detained in the first place p>
I felt something twist in my chest. The fact that he cared made me smile. It’s been a long time since someone genuinely cared about me.
“Thank you. I really mean that p>
He was quiet for a moment, then his voice softened. “You sound exhausted p>
“I am,” I admitted. “I barely slept p>
“You should rest p>
“I will,” I promised. “How about you? Are you okay p>
There was a brief pause. Then- “I am now. Hearing your voice p>
I let out a chuckle.
“I’m glad p>
We talked for a while after that. Then sleep came and I had to end the call.
“I’m feeling sleepy, Lance p>
“Then you should go sleep p>
“Thank you Lance. Good night p>
“Good night, Sophia p>
Later that night, Marco joined me in the living room. He didn’t say anything at first. He just sat beside me, watching me the way older brothers do when they already know something is wrong.
“You look like you’re carrying the whole pack on your back,” he said eventually.
I smiled weakly. “It feels like that p>
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I saw him drop you off p>
I said nothing.
“Sophia, you don’t have to keep doing this p>
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Suffering,” he said plainly. “The hospital. Damien. All of it p>
I shook my head slowly. “I can handle it p>
“You shouldn’t have to,” he chimed. “You could quit. Come work with the family company. We can protect you p>
I sighed. “That’s exactly why I can’t p>
He frowned. “What do you mean p>
“I love being a doctor,” I said quietly. “Helping patients is the only thing that still feels like me. If I give that up, I don’t know who I’ll be anymore p>
Marco studied my face. He didn’t argue. He just nodded slowly. “I’m just worried that’s all p>
“I know,” I said. “And I’ll be fine p>
“I know you will.” He said too and pulled me in for a hug.
For a long while, I let myself rest there.
The next morning, I returned to work at the hospital. During the staff briefing, I heard whispers, excited ones especially from the nurses and female doctors.
“Apparently he’s incredible p>
“They say he came highly recommended p>
“No one knows how they got him so fast p>
I didn’t pay much attention. My mind was still foggy.
Later, as I turned a corner, I nearly walked straight into someone.
“Sorry,” I said automatically and froze.
To my surprise, it was Lance. Not only that – he stood in front of me in a white coat.
We stared at each other for a heartbeat then we both laughed.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked.
He smiled. “I officially joined this hospital’s staff p>
My eyes widened in surprise “You’re serious p>
“Completely,” he said. “I knew you’d be surprised, mission accomplished p>
“You’re impossible,” I said, laughing again.
He extended his hand formally. “I’m Dr. Lance. I hope we’ll work well together p>
I took it. “Welcome. I’m really glad you’re here p>
“How about we go get lunch to celebrate my first day. Just a welcome gesture,” he said lightly, winking at me and I laughed. “Alright. Let’s have it p>