Chapter 133: Chapter 133

Chapter 133

In the hospital ward, Sophia was propped up against the pillow, lying on her side on the hospital bed, looking pretty wiped out. She was trying to keep the room from spinning without moving too much.

The room was pitch-black, not even the lights were on.

Her phone was right next to her pillow, with the video call still going.

Susan was on the other end, visibly worried. “You holding up okay?”

“I’m fine,” Sophia whispered back, careful not to move her head too much, “Probably just a mild concussion and a bit of temporary ischemia and hypoxia due to the injury, nothing major. The doc just checked on me, and I had a brain CT this afternoon. It’s all clear, no need to fret.”

“How can I not worry?” Susan’s concern spilled over as she said this, “You’re all by yourself in the hospital in the dead of night. What if something dangerous happens?”

“The doctors and nurses are here, aren’t they? It’s not like I’m at home alone,” Sophia reassured her softly, “It’s just one night. I’ll find a caregiver tomorrow.”

“You should’ve kept either Ivan or Brandon around. Being safe is what matters most, screw what anyone else thinks about ‘morality’.”

Susan had known Sophia for over a decade and was well aware of her tendency to avoid bothering others, handling everything on her own without ever asking for help.

Most of the time, Susan respected Sophia’s independence, but in her opinion, when she’s sick or hurt, it’s okay to lean on others a bit.

“I thought I’d be able to get a caregiver, you know.”

Sophia’s voice was gentle and a little cutesy, a hint of vulnerability that instantly left Susan speechless.

But she got where Sophia was coming from. Both guys were men, which wasn’t ideal, and both had their own jobs to worry about. Staying up all night with her would mean they couldn’t work the next day. Given that Sophia’s hospital stay wasn’t just a one-off, Susan understood why she didn’t want to impose on them.

“Take care of yourself, okay? If you feel off, get a nurse right away. Don’t just tough it out,” Susan instructed.

“I know, I know. I wouldn’t dare bother others, but I’m not too scared to call a doctor,” Sophia shifted slightly, “I’ll have to trouble you with my place for now. I’ll head back once I’m discharged.”

“Sure, don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got it covered,” Susan yawned and got up, “Remember to take care of yourself. Gotta go.”

With that, she hung up the call.

Sophia stared at the ended call, lying on her pillow, not wanting to move a muscle, let alone dare to. But her parched throat wasn’t something she could just ignore.

Trying to prop herself up with her uninjured left arm, her feet barely touched the floor when a wave of dizziness hit her, bringing along a queasy feeling. She had no choice but to sit back down at the edge of the bed, arm resting on the table, head on her arm, trying to ease the vertigo.

When the dizziness subsided a bit, Sophia lifted her head, pushing through the discomfort, reaching for the hot water jug with her left hand. Whether it was the sudden effort or something else, the dizziness and nausea came back with a vengeance. Her grip on the jug weakened and it crashed to the floor, water splashing everywhere.

Instinctively, Sophia scooted aside to avoid the scalding water. Dodging the spill took the last bit of energy she had, and the overwhelming dizziness forced her to hunker down by the table, clutching her head with one hand in an attempt to wait out the discomfort.

Just then, a rhythmic knocking came from the door, a steady “tap-tap-tap.”

Confused, Sophia lifted her head and weakly called out, “Come in.”

The door swung open to reveal Brandon’s tall silhouette framed in the hallway light, his presence tinged with a hint of weariness.

Sophia started to ask why he was back, but her voice caught in her throat, maybe from the discomfort or maybe because sometimes you just feel like crying.

Brandon saw her there on the floor, curled up in the darkness, hand clutching her head, eyes slightly red, staring at him in shock.

The shattered hot water jug and the mess of water were scattered at her feet.

As Brandon’s brow’s furrowed and he flicked on the light with a click, his eyes glanced at her bare ankles and he strode over to her.

“Didn’t get burned, did you?”

Sophia shook her head softly. “No.”

She tried to stand up, leaning on the bed edge with her left elbow. “Why are you back here?”

Without a word, Brandon scooped her up effortlessly and placed her back on the bed. His gaze swept the room. “Why are you all alone in here?”