Chapter 395: Sophie and Adam: Married All Along!

Chapter 395: Sophie and Adam: Married All Along!
I lingered outside Adam's quarters, unable to tear myself away from the drama unfolding inside. After witnessing the horror at Birchfield, I couldn't help but feel invested in what happened to Sophie and Adam.

"Adam, how are you feeling? Any chest tightness or shortness of breath? Any discomfort anywhere?" Luke asked.

Adam's eyes looked unfocused for a moment before sharpening with sudden intensity. He yanked the oxygen mask off his face with surprising strength for someone who'd just been unconscious.

Luke quickly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Adam, Sophie is right beside you. She's okay now."

The effect was immediate. Adam stopped struggling and fell back against the pillows, turning his head to look at the still-unconscious Sophie beside him. I could see the relief wash over his face as he watched her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm.

"How is she?" His voice was hoarse, barely audible even in the quiet room.

Luke checked Sophie's vitals before answering. "No immediate danger to her life, but we're not sure if there's any brain damage yet. We'll need to run some tests once she wakes up."

"Brain damage?" Adam's voice was hollow.

"Headaches, impaired consciousness, drowsiness," Luke explained clinically. "In severe cases, it can lead to cellular damage and even intellectual impairment."

Adam fell silent, his eyes never leaving Sophie's face. After what seemed like an eternity, he whispered, "As long as she's alive... When will she wake up?"

"We can't be sure," Luke replied.

Adam didn't put the oxygen mask back on. He just lay there, watching as medical staff performed routine checks on Sophie. I could see the tension in his body gradually ease as each test came back with promising results. The brain damage risk appeared minimal, and everyone in the room seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Luke patted Adam's shoulder. "Adam, you both need to rest now. We'll do a complete examination once Sophie wakes up."

Adam nodded, his gaze still fixed on Sophie's face.

Luke gestured for the remaining medical staff to leave and headed toward the door. I quickly stepped back, trying to look casual, like I hadn't been eavesdropping. Luke closed the door firmly behind him, cutting off my view.

"Hey, why'd you close the door?" I protested before I could stop myself. "Now what am I supposed to watch?"

Luke raised an eyebrow at me. "They need privacy, Julia."

"But they're both just lying there," I argued, then a thought struck me. "Wait, they're sharing a bed. Is that... appropriate? I mean, for her condition?"

"They're a couple," Luke said matter-of-factly. "That answer your question?"

My jaw dropped. "A couple? Like, a real couple?"

Luke just shrugged and walked away, leaving me standing there processing this bombshell.

I wandered back to where the rest of the cast had gathered for a late breakfast. My mind was still reeling from Luke's casual confirmation. I slid into a seat beside Vivian, who was quietly picking at her food.

"I knew it," I muttered, helping myself to some scrambled eggs. "I just said to Luke, I was like, they're sharing a bed, is that okay? And he was like, 'They're a couple.' Just like that!"

Vivian looked up, surprised. "They really are together?"

"Apparently!" I said, still amazed. "I mean, I suspected something was up. No way would the production company just randomly cast two people that attractive. They were a package deal all along."

Rex entered the dining area, looking tired but focused. He was deep in conversation with several security team members, discussing the aftermath of the Birchfield situation. From what I could overhear, the main perpetrators had been taken into custody, with the ringleaders being transported separately. The villagers who had merely followed along were being processed according to their level of involvement, while the innocent ones remained in the village.

The most heartbreaking part was about the trafficked women. Some didn't want to leave, claiming they had grown accustomed to their lives there. They only asked that their families be notified they were alive. The thought made my stomach turn—Stockholm syndrome in real time.

The village headman seemed completely bewildered that "safety in numbers" hadn't protected him from consequences. The realization that he would face justice for his actions seemed to be slowly sinking in, bringing with it the first signs of remorse.

As the hours dragged on, the cast grew increasingly restless. We'd been sitting around for most of the day with nothing to do but speculate about what had happened and what would happen next.

Finally, Eldric stood up, exasperation clear on his face. "Jovan, are we still filming this show or what? If not, let's just call it a day and go home."

Dashiell nodded in agreement. "Yeah, this waiting around is pointless."

Celestia, who had been unusually quiet since our confrontation, suddenly found her voice again. "Jovan, why are we all waiting for Sophie anyway? She's just one person..."

Jasper shot her a withering look. "Shut up, Celestia."

Nora, who had recovered from Jason's knockout punch but still looked worse for wear, jumped in with fake reasonableness. "I'm just saying, Jovan clearly favors Sophie. The show obviously can't continue without her."

Jovan rubbed his temples, clearly at the end of his patience. "You're right about one thing—this special can't happen without Sophie! We'll wait until tomorrow. If she hasn't woken up by then, we'll cancel the shoot altogether!"

That silenced the complainers. Nobody wanted to be responsible for tanking the entire production.

Cassian, who had been quietly observing until now, couldn't resist taking a jab at the situation. "It's amazing how some people can nearly die saving others and still be criticized for 'holding up production.' Really shows character, doesn't it?"

Nora bristled. "Nobody asked them to play hero! And anyway, it's not like your help did much good either. You know they're together, right? Sophie and Adam? So all your white knight routine was for nothing."

Cassian's laugh was genuine. "You think I helped because I wanted something in return? That's the difference between us. I'm proud of my injuries because I got them trying to save lives. You got yours because you tried to hurt someone and karma bit you back. Pretty embarrassing, if you ask me."

Nora's face flushed an angry red, and she stormed off without another word. Her dramatic exit left an awkward silence in its wake. I noticed several people looking thoughtfully at her bandaged hands—burns that suddenly seemed very suspicious in light of recent revelations.

Jovan announced that we were done for the day, and people began to disperse. Before I could decide what to do with myself, a pale, anxious-looking woman approached our group.

"I... I'm Aisling's mother," she said hesitantly. "I'm looking for Sophie."