Chapter 15: Hospital Stay

"No way! Oh my! Who would've thought Sophia is so vain?"

"Was the car rented? But that guy looked real!"

"Sophia, how foolish..."

While Sophia was getting a cup of water, Isabella squeezed into the break room after her.

"What's going on in the group chat? Doesn't your husband have a decent job?"

Sophia bent down to make coffee. The company had new equipment, and she was still getting used to it.

Isabella came over to help, frowning. "Missy, hurry up and tell me, what's going on?"

The coffee was ready. Sophia held the cup and leisurely said, "I don't know."

Sophia had seen the photo—the Maybach was real. As for why Preston had money to rent such a car, she had no idea.

Sophia was just an ordinary woman. She had once doubted if Preston was deceiving her. But Sophia had a strong sixth sense that Preston wasn't a bad person.

"Your own husband, and you don't know?"

Isabella nudged Sophia's shoulder. "Sophia, you need to pay more attention."

Sophia, holding her coffee, looked lazy. "There must be a misunderstanding."

With coffee steam swirling, Sophia took out her phone and saw the rumors in the group chat growing worse.

Isabella leaned over, frowning. She seemed more worried than Sophia. "Ella did this on purpose. What are you going to do now?"

Sophia calmly tagged Ella in the chat. "Do you have any evidence?"

"Sophia, you, you!"

Sophia looked up at Isabella, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"You're so brave!"

This seemingly fragile girl dared to directly confront Ella? In the company, Sophia's position was not yet as high as Ella's!

But as soon as Sophia spoke, everyone sided with her, unanimously saying that without evidence, accusations couldn't be made.

They knew well that if Sophia's husband did drive a Maybach and was indeed rich, they couldn't afford to offend her easily!

In the office, Ella saw this and angrily threw her phone. "A bunch of fair-weather friends!"

"Why are you so mad?"

Class president Luke Evans pushed the door open, narrowly avoiding the flying phone.

"Because of the group chat?"

Luke wiped the phone clean and handed it back. "Why get mad? Isn't it just about evidence?"

"You, you think you can prove that Sophia's husband is a fake rich guy?"

Luke sneered and pulled out a cigarette. "He's just a small employee in the company, probably renting a car to impress Sophia."

"Don't worry, I'll personally expose him."

Ella's expression softened. "Then I'll wait for your good news!"

Luke looked smug. No way would he allow the woman he had his eye on to get away.

Sophia spent the whole afternoon working and forgot about Preston. Near the end of the day, Sophia finally put down her work and stretched her neck, staring at her phone screen.

She debated whether to call Preston. Her fingers hovered over his name for a long time. Just as she was about to dial, Fiona's call came through.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

On the other end, Fiona's voice was shaky and tearful. Sophia's brows furrowed.

"Mom? What happened? Where are you?"

"Sophia, I'm at the hospital. Can you come over?"

Sophia rushed to the hospital where Fiona was. She pushed open the door to Fiona's room.

"Mom, what's going on?"

Fiona's thin back was hunched, sitting helplessly on the bed. When she saw Sophia, she finally broke down in tears.

Sophia hugged Fiona, gently patting her back. "Mom, tell me what's wrong!"

"Is it Grandma Lewis and the others giving you trouble?"

Fiona cried harder. Just then, a nurse came in.

"Are you Fiona's family? She's pregnant and shouldn't be overworked. If your family didn't want this child, why didn't you do something earlier?"

Sophia listened to the nurse, her fingers digging into her palm, eyes red.

The nurse changed Fiona's medication, giving Sophia a meaningful, disdainful look before leaving.

"Overworked? What are Grandma Lewis and the others trying to do?"

Sophia grabbed her bag, ready to confront them. Fiona quickly caught her.

"Sophia, don't go. Listen to me, it's not as serious as you think. It's not overwork; it's just that my body can't handle too much housework."

"You're pregnant, carrying their family's child!"

"Their family has such a large estate; they could easily hire help. Why bully a pregnant woman?"

Sophia shook off Isabella's hand and headed for the door. Isabella, frantic, pulled out her IV and chased after her.

"Sophia, don't get involved in my affairs!"

Sophia frowned, noticing the blood flowing from Fiona's pale hand. "Mom!"

"Listen to me. When your stepfather comes back, everything will be fine. After all, I'm carrying his child."

Fiona held back her tears. Endurance was her forte.

Sophia's eyes darkened as she took Fiona’s hand.

"Go back inside. I'll get a nurse to redo your IV."

"Sophia."

As Sophia turned, Fiona called after her. "Don't confront the Lewis family."

"I understand."

Sophia called a nurse and spoke with the attending physician about Fiona's condition. The doctor advised that Fiona needed plenty of rest and couldn't be overworked.

Sophia, distracted, left the doctor's office. Fiona didn't want her to intervene, fearing she would offend the Lewis family.

Sophia knew how much Fiona had endured for her. Now that she grew into adulthood, she couldn't watch Fiona suffer.

She considered taking Fiona home to care for her better. As Sophia approached Isabella's room, familiar voices brought her back to reality. She looked up and saw Grandma Lewis standing at the door, speaking in a mocking tone.

"We've provided for you, and you claim overwork? Fiona, don't think that just because you're carrying our family's child, you can act superior!"

"I'm telling you, Fiona, as long as I'm around, you won't have your way!"

"If you think you can bring that bastard child into our home, forget it!"

Fiona, facing the door, listened silently. Over the years, she had learned to endure.

She gently caressed her belly. As long as the child and Sophia were safe, that was enough.

"What are you talking about?"

Sophia's voice came from the door. Fiona quickly stood up, supporting her waist as she rushed over.

"Well, well, I didn't expect you to be here too."

Grandma Lewis continued her sharp remarks, raising an eyebrow at Sophia. "Here to defend your mother?"

Grandma Lewis's eyes scanned Sophia from head to toe. "What right do you have?"