Chapter 41 Whirlwinds of emotions

Chapter 41 Whirlwinds of emotions
Chapter 41

Sophie's POV

I stepped out of the car, the driver holding the door open with a polite nod, and he collected the food flask i was clutching.

I walked into the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the low murmur of voices enveloping me.

Julian had been gone for a whole long week, and the ache of his absence was a constant thrum in my chest. Video calls were never enough; they were mere shadows of what I craved. I missed him like crazy. I missed the way his eyes would light up when he saw me, the warmth of his hands on my skin, and the way his voice, rich and commanding, could soothe my most anxious thoughts. I miss his soft lips on mine. Each moment without him felt like an eternity, stretching the time until I could be wrapped in his embrace once more.

I often found myself reflecting on how I had come to feel so deeply for someone I once thought of as a devil in disguise. The proposal he had made—inviting me to warm his bed—had initially made me despise him so much that I had thought of ending his life. But behind that devilish exterior was a man with a tender heart, a heart that beat with passion and kindness. I had come to realize that beneath his confident facade lay a vulnerability that drew me in even more.

With each passing day, my feelings for him deepened. I ached for his touch, the way he could make me feel alive and cherished. I missed our quiet moments together, the laughter we shared, and the way he would look at me as if I were the only person in the room. His handsome face, with its mischievous smirk and deep-set eyes, haunted my thoughts. The very idea of him brought a mix of yearning and excitement, making my heart race.

I walked through the hospital corridors, overwhelmed by a whirlpool of emotions. I couldn’t help but wonder what Julian was doing at that moment. Did he miss me as much as I missed him? Did he think of the moments we had shared? The tender side of Julian was a treasure I had grown to cherish, a stark contrast to the fierce persona he projected to the world. I often replayed our memories in my mind—his laughter, the warmth of his embrace, the way he looked at me as if I were the only one that mattered. I knew that when he returned, I would wrap myself around him, holding on tightly, as if fearing he might disappear again.

As I entered my mother's ward, I spotted her sitting on her bed, the IV drip still connected to her. She was chatting with a woman about her age, dressed in a hospital gown similar to my mom's. I recognized her as a friend my mother had made during her stay, someone who had become a familiar presence in the past few days.

"Oh, you are here again," the woman said with a warm smile as she caught sight of me. My mom turned her head in my direction but didn’t say anything.

I walked fully into the room and sat beside my mom on the bed, dropping my purse on the side. I wrapped my arms around her. While she didn’t embrace me back, she didn’t pull away either.

"Good afternoon, ma. Thanks for taking care of my mom," I said, turning my attention to the woman as I released my mom from the hug.

"You’re welcome, beauty. If you weren’t married, I would have set you up with my son," the woman laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She stood to leave.

I gestured to the driver who had been waiting silently by the door to come over. I collected the food flask from him and instructed him to wait for me in the car.

Once he left, I opened the food flask and offered it to my mom. "Thanks for taking care of me, young woman," she said as she collected the flask from me, and tears welled up in my eyes. I longed for the day when she would recognize me, the day when our bond would feel whole again.

"Get well soon, Mom, so I can take you on different outings," I said, gently helping her gather her hair into a bun to avoid any mess while she ate. She remained quiet, focusing intently on her meal. I watched her, trying to suppress the tears threatening to spill over.

After she finished eating, I suggested we take a stroll outside the hospital. I helped her navigate the IV stand as we made our way to a bench under the open sky.

Sitting side by side, we gazed up at the clouds. "Mom, why do you always keep quiet when you’re with me?" I finally asked, my heart aching for her response.

She sighed deeply and turned to meet my gaze. "You keep calling me your mom, but I feel bad for not remembering you well enough to reciprocate those feelings."

I leaned in closer and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down my cheeks. "You can just behave however you feel for now, Mom. It’s not like your memory loss is forever. It’s just for a little while." I pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. "Then we can be together happily."

She reached up to wipe my tears and hugged me back, and the floodgates of tears opened. "I missed you, Mom. I thought you weren't going to wake up. Even if you don’t remember me forever, I’m just so happy you’re here with me. I love you, Mom." My words came out in a rush as I continued to weep, feeling the weight of my emotions lift just a little with each tear, she pat me lightly on my back and finally released me.

We sat there enjoying each other company.

I escorted her back into her ward as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The other woman was already there, smiling at the sight of us. "Mother and daughter," she said, her voice soft.

I smiled back and gently helped my mom onto her bed. "I’ll get going now," I said, and she nodded in understanding.

As I gathered my things, I reached into my purse, pulled out some cash, and handed it to the woman. "Take this, in case you want to get something for yourself or for my mom. I’ll be back tomorrow."

"Ahhh, must you give me money every time you come here?" she asked, collecting the money with a grin.

I smiled, picked up the empty food flask, and waved at my mom. She waved back, and I left the hospital feeling a mixture of happiness and hope.



The driver pulled into the compound and my heart sank when I spotted Alex waiting outside.

"Fuck! He’s here again," I muttered under my breath.

Alex had been coming here frequently over the past few days, begging me to take him back. His persistence was infuriating; he would sometimes hug me abruptly, catching me off guard. Despite my clear rejections, he just kept coming back. I had even told the gatekeeper not to let him in, but Alex always managed to get past him, often resulting in a fistfight.

I got out of the car and walked towards him, my heart racing with annoyance. "Didn’t I warn you to stop coming here? Is it because my husband isn’t around?"

He stepped closer, a desperate look in his eyes. "I’m trying to tell you, Sophie, I still love you. You’re the one my heart wants. Julian is just using you."

My anger flared. "I don’t want to hear my husband’s name in your stinking mouth again. If I see you here again after today, you’ll regret it," I warned, turning to leave. But then, as if in a moment of madness, he grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around, and before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine!