“Sophie, I care about you, so much so that I don't want to see you hurt. So, please don't do such a thing again. You must protect yourself first before you think of anyone else whenever you face a dangerous situation. You mustn't sacrifice yourself even if the other person is Ysabelle or me. Do you hear me?”
In a way, Tristan was a selfish man because he really wanted her to be safe.
If someone else were in danger, he would do everything in his power to protect them. However, he hated seeing her hurt.
“Do you understand? You must not risk your life even if the other person is my family member.” She doesn't owe my family anything, nor does she have the obligation to do anything like that.
Sophie wanted to get up and give him a hug, but she was too weak to do so. In the end, she did nothing.
“I didn't save her because she's your family member. I save her because she's my best friend. You don't have to feel burdened.”
How could he think that way? Even if the other person was a stranger, how could I run away in that situation?
Even so, she did not dare to tell him what was on her mind.
She believed Tristan wanted her to run away first, regardless of the situation.
“You! Geez, I really don't know what to do with you. With a girlfriend like you, I live every second of my life in fear. Sometimes, I wish you were not that capable. That way, you'll behave and not suffer so much.”
What Tristan feared the most was seeing her in pain.
“Do you regret meeting me? You wouldn't have to endure all this if you didn't meet me,” Sophie commented.
She knew she could be disobedient sometimes.
Thus, she could not help but wonder if he was regretting it.
To her surprise, Tristan shook his head firmly.
“How could I? Meeting you is the luckiest thing that could ever happen in my life. I'm happy to have met you and be chosen by you.” After all, there were many men out there who liked her. He could not be happier that she had chosen him instead.
Finally, Sophie told him to get some rest or at least take a shower.
She was rather particular about cleanliness. Thus, she could not bear to see him so unkempt and not taking a shower.
When Barney and Arius arrived and saw her spacing out alone, they were a little worried.
“What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You must tell us if you're feeling unwell,” said Arius immediately.
“Tell me, Arius. Is my leg's condition serious?” It was the first time Sophie brought that up ever since she woke up.
After all, she was well-versed in medicine.
Naturally, she knew there was no sensation in her left leg, and that made her panic.
If I can't walk anymore, I have no right to stay by Tristan's side.
Knowing what an outstanding man Tristan was, she could not bear to let him have a cripple as his wife.
It was totally unacceptable for her.
Arius glanced at Barney.
I told you we can't hide this from her.
“Don't worry, Sophie. Dr. Smith and I are here. We won't let anything happen to your leg. We're already thinking of a solution. Don't worry, okay? We won't let you become cripple from the incident,” Arius assured.
No matter how hard it would be, they would not let her down.
“You really don't have to worry about it, Sophie. Arius and I are here. Nothing will happen to your leg.”
Barney knew how serious her leg's condition was.
“Do you feel nothing?” Although Arius knew about the condition, he still wanted to confirm it with her.
Sophie nodded in response.
That was precisely what terrified her.
She could not remember how long it had been since she last felt the feeling of fear.
“All right. I've taken note. Don't worry. You'll be fine,” Arius assured, vowing to not let anything happen to her.
With that, Barney and Arius stepped out to think of solutions.
As Sophie lay in the room by herself, she began sinking deeper into the endless sea of fear. Just then, a tall, burly man entered with a mask.
Even so, Sophie recognized who he was. It was none other than Nicholas.
“Why are you here, Nicholas Sable?”
In the past, Sophie would not be the slightest bit afraid of him. After all, she would not lose if they actually got into a fight.
However, things were different now.
She could not move her leg, and she had just awakened. Therefore, Sophie was no match for him.
Regardless, Nicholas felt his heart ache at the sight of her pale face and wounded leg.
“I'm here to pick you up! Look at you. Whose fault is it you're injured now? Isn't it all because of Tristan? He didn't take good care of you. Come with me, Sophie. I promise to take good care of you in the future, and I'll never let you get hurt.”
It's all Tristan's fault. She was with him, yet he failed to protect her. Whose fault is it if not his?
Sophie frowned as she thought Nicholas had lost his mind again. Unfortunately, she was currently no match for him, so she could only pray for Tristan to return sooner.
“Nicolas, this was an accident. It has nothing to do with Tristan.”
“Why are you still standing up for him? Do you know how serious this is? You almost died, Sophie. If not for Ysabelle, would you have become like this?”
Nicholas was truly enraged.
To him, the Lombard family was trash.
He believed Sophie would not have ended up like that if not for the Lombard family.
Noting how hysterical Nicholas was, Sophie tried her best to buy time without angering him.
“Nicholas, surely you've seen my leg. I can't move now. Besides, Barney and Arius are thinking of a solution now. I can't leave with you.”
Indeed, she had to get her leg treated here.
Nicholas furrowed his brows when he heard that. “Don't worry, Sophie. I'll take the two with me. I won't harm anyone who's good to you.”
That rendered Sophie speechless.
There was no use talking sense into someone like Nicholas.
“Nicholas, have you forgotten that I practice medicine? It's not advisable for me to move now. I bet you must be lying about liking me. You don't even care about my well-being.”
Nicholas' frown deepened.
“No way! You have to believe me, Sophie. I'm the only person in this world who loves you the most. No one comes close!”
“Then why are you so insistent on taking me away?” Sophie fumed.
“As I said, Anglandur has better medical facilities. That's why I'm taking you back to get treated.” Nicholas was doing it for her own good. It did not make sense to him that Sophie could not understand his intentions.
“I don't need it. If Barney and Arius don't have a solution, then there's no one in this world who can help me.”
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