Chapter 172 New Life
Chapter 172 New Life
That evening's news featured an urgent breaking story: "Local police have solved a vicious kidnapping case, with the main perpetrator now in custody. According to reports, the criminal, motivated by a personal vendetta, hired accomplices to kidnap a Windsor Group executive and attempted to throw the victim into the ocean..."
Sophia was taken directly to the private hospital controlled by the Windsor family for a comprehensive examination.
Apart from rope burns on her wrists and ankles, some scrapes from struggling, and mild effects from inhaling an anesthetic that required observation, she was unharmed.
In the VIP room, Henry remained by her side, personally helping her drink water and gently wiping her face with a warm towel.
He looked at Sophia lying in bed, her face still somewhat pale, and felt his heart clench with waves of lingering fear.
Every second of waiting outside the emergency room had been pure torment.
He had never so clearly realized that Sophia had become an indispensable part of his life—losing her would mean his world would collapse, too.
He gently took her uninjured hand and pressed it to his cheek, his deep eyes churning with the relief of recovery and an unprecedented determination.
"Sophia," his voice was low, carrying barely perceptible hoarseness, "let's get married."
Sophia was slightly startled, looking toward him.
"Right now. I don't want to wait anymore."
Henry's gaze was intense, carrying undeniable resolve. "I'm scared, I'm truly scared. I'm afraid of any more accidents, afraid of losing you. I want you to stand by my side, to become my Mrs. Windsor."
His fingertips traced her ring finger, where there wasn't yet a mark belonging to him—he wanted to remedy that immediately.
Seeing the undisguised fear and deep affection in his eyes, Sophia's heart completely melted. The emotions of surviving disaster and her overwhelming love for the man before her intertwined.
She didn't hesitate at all, nodding firmly with slightly reddened eyes, "Yes."
Henry's eyes instantly burst with brilliant light as he leaned down and reverently kissed her forehead.
That afternoon, Henry pulled strings to handle all the paperwork at record speed.
When Sophia held their marriage certificate and looked at the information on it, she still felt a sense of unreality.
Back at the apartment, Henry retrieved an exquisite velvet box from the safe and opened it.
Inside was a simply designed yet absolutely dazzling diamond ring, along with a set of luxuriously beautiful wedding dress design sketches.
"The dress has been commissioned from a master designer for some time, but it still needs a bit more work to complete. The ring, however, I had ready."
Henry took her hand and gently slid the ring symbolizing eternal vows onto her ring finger—a perfect fit.
His fingertips carried a cool temperature, his movements gentle yet firm. "This ring's design was inspired by the starry sky, just like you—you're the light that illuminates my entire world. I originally planned to give it to you during a proper proposal, but I can't wait any longer. I want everyone to know you're my wife."
Their wedding was held a month later—grand and magnificent, gathering virtually all the city's elite.
Before the wedding, Luna did visit Henry one more time to make a final attempt at dissuasion.
She sat in Henry's office, her tone carrying a hint of pleading, "Henry, Sophia comes from humble beginnings; she's not a suitable match for the Windsor family. Marrying her will affect the company's reputation and displease many business partners. I've found you better marriage prospects that would greatly benefit your career."
But Henry's attitude was unprecedentedly firm: "Mom, my life and my wife are my choice alone. If you don't want to repeat the mistakes you and father made years ago and let calculated interests destroy the last of our family bonds, then please give us your blessing."
Luna looked at Henry's cold and resolute expression, and finally, all her words dissolved into silent sighs as she chose to compromise.
On the wedding day, while not particularly warm, she maintained proper decorum.
The wedding venue was adorned with flowers and filled with guests.
Oliver sat in his wheelchair, watching the live broadcast of this grand wedding on television.
His face still carried a sickly pallor as he watched the figure on stage in a pristine wedding dress, radiant with laughter, her eyes full of starlight.
Watching her exchange rings with Henry, hearing them vow "for better or worse, in sickness and health, till death do us part," his heart felt like it was being pierced by countless tiny needles.
He silently swallowed the bitter wine in his glass, burying all his regret and unwillingness along with that drink in the deepest corner of his heart.
He knew he had lost her forever, from the moment he chose to let go years ago.
On stage, Henry lifted Sophia's veil and leaned down to passionately kiss his bride amid the applause and cheers of blessing from the entire venue.
...
Six months later.
The Windsor Group CEO's office.
Sophia didn't knock, directly pushing the door open.
Henry was sitting behind his desk, handling documents. Looking up to see her, his stern features instantly softened as he set down his pen and reached toward her, "What brings you here?"
Sophia approached him but didn't take his hand. Instead, she pulled out a folded paper from behind her back.
Her face carried a mysterious blush as she handed it to him.
Henry raised an eyebrow and took it, unfolding the paper.
It was a prenatal test report.
The conclusion clearly stated: Intrauterine pregnancy, approximately 6 weeks.
Henry's hand holding the report trembled almost imperceptibly.
He looked up sharply at Sophia, his usually calm and deep eyes now filled with enormous, almost unbelievable joy.
"This... this is..." For a moment, he was actually speechless.
Sophia watched his rarely seen stunned expression and couldn't help but smile, though her eyes also moistened slightly. She nodded firmly, "Yes, you're going to be a father."
The next second, Henry shot up from his chair and pulled Sophia tightly into his arms with such force as if he wanted to merge her into his very bones.
He buried his face in her neck, breathing rapidly, his voice carrying hoarseness from extreme excitement.
"Thank you... Thank you, Sophia."
Sophia embraced him back, feeling his surging heartbeat, her face glowing with happiness and contentment.
Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the entire office and enveloping the embracing couple in warmth and brightness.
Together, they anticipated their new life and future that belonged to them both.
（I highly recommend a captivating book that I couldn't put down for three days and nights. It's incredibly engaging and a must-read. The title of the book is "The CEO's Wife and Her Hidden Heirs" and the author's name is Harper. You can find it by searching in the search bar.
Here is the synopsis of the book:
I'm Sophia. After three years of marriage, my husband abandoned me for his first love, leaving me in danger and at the mercy of a stranger.
Desperate and pregnant, he accused me of cheating and even tried to harm our unborn child.
Five years later, I return with twins. With tears in his eyes, he demands, “Whose children are they? Who did you cheat on me with?”）