Sophie lay on the bed, her thoughts tangled in a web of disbelief and confusion. Aiden had saved her. Despite all the torment he had put her through, he had come to her rescue when she needed it most. She glanced at him as he stood by the window, his back turned to her.
"You should rest," Aiden said without looking at her, his voice unusually soft.
Sophie hesitated. "Why did you save me?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aiden turned to face her, his eyes unreadable. "You're mine," he said simply. "No one else gets to touch you."
Sophie's heart sank at his words. She wanted to believe there was more to it—that maybe, just maybe, he cared for her. But his possessive tone reminded her of the reality she was trapped in.
Zane lay on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. His body ached, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. Ella had gone to fetch his medicine, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The door creaked open, and to his surprise, his ex-girlfriend walked in.
"Zane," she said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
He looked at her, his face unreadable. "What are you doing here?"
She hesitated before answering. "I wanted to see you one last time. I'm getting married."
Zane's chest tightened, but he forced a smile. "Congratulations," he said, his voice strained.
They talked for a while, their conversation filled with bittersweet memories. She told him she was happy now and that she wished the same for him. As she stood to leave, she placed a hand on his arm. "Take care of yourself, Zane."
Ella returned with the medicine just in time to see her leaving. Her heart sank at the sight of them together. She waited outside the room, her hands trembling as she clutched the medicine bag. When his ex-girlfriend finally walked out, she smiled at Ella.
"Take care of him," she said before walking away.
Ella walked back into the room, her face composed despite the storm raging inside her. "Here's your medicine," she said, placing it on the table.
Zane noticed her subdued demeanor. "Ella, don't worry about her. She's in the past."
Ella nodded, but her heart was heavy. She knew she had feelings for Zane, but she wasn't sure if he would ever see her the way she saw him.
The following day, Zane was discharged from the hospital. His friends came to pick him up, their laughter filling the air as they helped him into the car. Ella stood by, watching them drive away. She felt a pang of sadness but reminded herself that Zane needed his friends too.
Determined to help him recover fully, Ella resolved to dedicate herself to his care. She spent her days researching ways to aid his recovery and planning meals that would help him regain his strength. Even if Zane didn't notice her efforts, Ella was determined to be there for him.
Sophie's phone buzzed, breaking her train of thought. She frowned when she saw the caller ID—her father, Jack Davis. Hesitating for a moment, she finally picked up.
"Sophie," Jack's voice was strained. "I need to see you. It's urgent."
Sophie's stomach churned. She hadn't spoken to her father in weeks, and the last time they talked, it had ended in a bitter argument. Despite her better judgment, she agreed to meet him.
At the café, Jack sat at a corner table, his face lined with worry. Sophie approached him cautiously, her arms crossed.
"What is it now, Dad?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Jack sighed, rubbing his temples. "I... I took a loan again."
Sophie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious? After everything we've been through, you did it again?"
"I didn't have a choice," Jack said defensively. "I needed the money."
"For what?" Sophie demanded. "To gamble it away? To drink it away? You've ruined our family because of your selfishness!"
Jack looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "I didn't mean for it to get this bad," he muttered.
Sophie shook her head, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. "You're the reason our home is in shambles. You're the reason Mom left. Do you even care about what you've done to us?"
Jack's silence was deafening. Sophie turned to leave, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.
"I sold you," he said quietly.
Sophie froze, her heart pounding in her chest. "What did you just say?" she whispered, turning back to face him.
Jack looked at her, his eyes filled with shame. "I had no other choice. A rich man offered to pay off my debt in exchange for... you."
Sophie's world crumbled around her. She stared at her father, her mind racing with disbelief and anger. "You sold me?" she said, her voice trembling. "You sold your own daughter?"
"I'm sorry, Sophie," Jack said, his voice breaking. "I didn't know what else to do."
Sophie took a step back, her hands shaking. She felt like the ground beneath her had been ripped away. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her mind reeling with the betrayal.
As she stepped out into the cold night air, Sophie realized that she was truly alone. The one person who was supposed to protect her had sold her to save himself. And now, she would have to face the consequences of his actions.
...