Chapter 5

"Sophia, I'm back. Don't worry, I'm here for you."

Listening to the voice on the other end of the phone, I felt like ages had passed.

It had been too long.

So long that I myself had forgotten how many years it had been since I heard Ethan's voice so gentle and those two words, 'Sophia.'

Past-Sophia responded with an indifferent hum. "Thank you."

Young Ethan sounded a little hurt.

"Sophia, why are you suddenly thanking me?"

Sophia said nothing more, and he didn't press her, just urged the doctor to arrange the surgery quickly.

After a while.

She pulled her phone out from under the covers. "I'll leave as soon as the surgery is over. I won't be part of that proposal."

I nodded, feeling a sense of release.

Returning home, Ethan followed close behind, with a tearful Chloe by his side.

He seized my hand, furious.

"Did you tell Grandpa about Chloe and me?!"

My wrist ached.

Years ago, I'd injured my wrist saving him in a car accident, leaving a lasting issue. Now, he'd completely forgotten.

I shook him off and met him with indifference.

"I wouldn't stoop to talk about your sordid affairs. You might not feel shameless, but I'm too proud to be associated with it."

His pupils contracted slightly.

Then he sneered.

"Too proud?"

"You're always so self-righteous. If you'd just told Grandpa, couldn't he have sent Chloe away for you? Why pretend?"

Chloe, beside us, was practically breathless with tears.

A noticeable handprint marred her face.

"Sophia, I'm begging you. I just want to be with Ethan. I don't even care about a title!"

With that, she fell to her knees in front of me with a thud.

"I'm begging you!"

Before I could react, Ethan grabbed the woman from the ground and pulled her up, frowning with concern.

Then he looked at me.

"Why are you pushing her so hard?"

"She never fought you for anything. She just quietly stayed by my side, never competing, never demanding."

He shook his head as he spoke, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"How did you become so aggressive over the years? You're nothing like the Sophia I used to know."

My heart constricted.

A flicker of bitterness and mockery crossed my eyes.

"I've changed, but what about you?"

"Haven't you changed? You were always the first one to change between us."

In my earpiece,

Young Ethan's voice kept echoing.

"Sophia's surgery has been scheduled. You'll be going into anesthesia soon. Don't be scared, I'll be here the whole time."

"When you come out, we'll get married."

"No matter if your legs heal or not, I'll always be with you. If they don't, I'll be your crutch for life."

His tone was both choked and gentle.

Yet it grieved me more than the heartless indifference of the Ethan standing before me.

My eyes reddened.

The man before me paused, then his tone softened considerably. "If you apologize to Chloe, I'll drop it."

I closed my eyes.

"Apologize..."

"On what grounds? What right does she have? Ethan, just get out."

"Sophia!"

His tone grew heavy, his chest heaving with anger. "You said it! If I leave, I won't come back!"

I stopped looking at him.

Ethan gave me a long, hard look. "You said it. Chloe, let's go!"

The room fell silent.

I let out a bitter laugh, then packed my things and left, heading straight for the airport.

More than ten hours later.

The Sophia in my earpiece suddenly burst into tears. "Sophia, I sent him away. We're completely over."

I felt a sense of relief, memories of him steadily being erased from my mind.

At the same time,

Ethan, who was processing documents at the office, suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed to the floor.

When he woke up, Grandpa and Chloe were sitting beside him.

"Grandpa? What happened to me?"

He looked around, feeling a bit lost, then pressed his lips together and asked stiffly, "Where's Sophia? She's not coming even though I'm sick?"

Just then, Grandpa smacked him hard.

"Your wife, Chloe, is right here!"

"You brat, still thinking about a classmate you haven't seen in ten years!"