Chapter 114
"Why are you being so formal with us?" Yasmin said with a smile. "We're best friends. Looking after each other is what we should do."
Liliana: "Exactly. If you keep being so polite with us, we're going to get mad."
I quickly said, "Don't be mad, I won't be polite anymore."
They both laughed.
Liliana said she'd go buy me some food, and Yasmin peeled an apple for me.
They took such good care of me for two days. The doctor said there was nothing seriously wrong and approved my discharge.
Liliana and Yasmin insisted on taking me home and said they'd look after me for another day.
I couldn't talk them out of it, so I had to agree.
Back home, Liliana naturally started tidying up the place, while Yasmin went to the kitchen to make me some porridge.
"You don't need to do all this. I'm fine now. I can handle these things myself."
I sat on the sofa, watching them bustle around. I felt warm inside, but also a bit guilty.
"Don't worry about it, just sit there," Liliana said without looking up. "Look how messy your place is. Don't you ever clean up?"
I didn't say anything, just looked around the room.
I hadn't been in the mood to tidy up the past few days, so the place was really a mess.
When the porridge was ready, Yasmin brought it out, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and handed it to me. "Drink it slowly, be careful, it's hot."
I took the bowl and sipped it slowly.
The porridge was well-cooked, with red dates and goji berries added. It was sweet and warming.
"By the way, Sophia," Liliana sat down next to me, "the other day, you said you didn't want to have kids. Why is that? Can you tell me?"
"If James really did something to hurt you, don't worry, I won't take sides."
My hand paused. I looked at them.
They were staring straight at me.
I thought for a long time, staying silent.
"Can't you really tell us?" Liliana asked softly. "That's okay too."
I was quiet for a while, then put down the bowl.
"It's really nothing," I said with a bitter smile. "It's a very clichéd story."
"I was pregnant before. When I told him in the early stages, he didn't believe me. He thought I was lying... Later, Amelia and I had some conflict, and just like that, I lost my baby."
I briefly told them about this heartbreaking experience.
The room fell silent.
Tears rolled down Liliana's face. She hugged me. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I didn't know... I didn't know you went through all this..."
Yasmin's eyes were red too. "They all deserve to die!"
I patted Liliana's back. "It's all in the past."
"But... but you never said anything," Liliana sobbed. "Why didn't you tell me? If you'd told me earlier, I wouldn't have helped Amelia bully you."
"What kind of person am I?" Liliana slapped herself across the face.
"It was too embarrassing," I said. "I didn't want people's pity, and I didn't want people to know my marriage was such a failure."
"It's not embarrassing!" Liliana wiped away her tears. "James and Amelia are the embarrassing ones!"
"This is why I don't want to get pregnant again," I looked at them. "I can't bear the pain of losing another child."
"Sophia, don't worry. From now on, we'll protect you and won't let anyone bully you again," Liliana said.
Yasmin nodded too.
I smiled sincerely. "Thank you both."
That evening, Liliana and Yasmin stayed with me until late before leaving.
After they left, the house became quiet again.
I washed up and lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.
My mind was a mess, full of things from the past.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the doorbell rang.
I looked at the time. Eleven at night.
Who would come this late?
I got up to answer the door. When I looked through the peephole and saw who it was, I froze.
It was James.
I didn't open the door.
The doorbell rang a few more times, then I heard his voice. "Sophia, open the door. I know you're home."
I still didn't move.
"If you don't open it, I'll have someone break it down," he said.
I knew he meant what he said, so I reluctantly opened the door.
"What do you want this late?" I blocked the doorway, showing no intention of letting him in.
He looked at me, his expression not great. "I know you were discharged. I came to check on you."
"I'm fine. Don't trouble yourself," I said, about to close the door.
But he put his hand against it and pushed his way in.
"James, this is trespassing!" I was furious.
He ignored me, closed the door, and looked around the room. "Your friends left?"
"Yes," I said irritably. "What exactly do you want?"
"To take care of you," he said matter-of-factly.
"I don't need it." I turned and walked toward the bedroom. "Please leave."
He followed me in.
I spun around suddenly. "James, you..."
Before I could finish, he suddenly bent down and picked me up.
"What are you doing!" I was startled and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.
He walked to the bed and gently lay me down. "The doctor said you need more rest."
I looked at him, suddenly feeling this was absurd.
"James, what's the point of doing all this now?" I asked. "Slap someone, then give them a gift?"
He didn't say anything, just leaned down.
Thinking he was going to try something, I immediately became alert. "I'm not fully recovered yet. Don't try anything!"
He looked at me and suddenly laughed coldly. "Sophia, is that really what you think of me? That heartless?"
I didn't say anything.
He took a deep breath, as if suppressing his anger. "Don't worry, I'm not that sexually repressed. Rest well. I'll go heat you some milk."
With that, he turned and left the bedroom.
After a while, he came back with a cup of warm milk. "Drink this. It'll help you sleep."
I took the cup, hesitated, but drank it anyway.
The milk was just the right temperature. It felt warm going down.
After I finished the milk, he put the cup aside, then lifted the covers and very naturally got into bed.
"You!" I immediately tried to get up.
But he reached out and pulled me into his arms. "Don't move. Sleep."
"James, you..."
"I said, sleep." He cut me off, tightening his arm. "If you keep moving, I can't guarantee we'll just sleep."
My body stiffened. I didn't dare move.
He just held me like that, his chin resting on top of my head.
His scent filled my nose. I felt uncomfortable all over, wanting to break free, but afraid he'd actually do something.
"James, I'm not comfortable," I said quietly.
"Where aren't you comfortable?" he asked back.
"My stomach hurts," I said.
"I'll rub it for you."
I froze, my body going rigid.
Was he joking?
"Sleep," he patted my back.
I didn't know what to say, so I just closed my eyes.
But I didn't dare really relax, afraid he'd do something bad while I was asleep.
Maybe because I was too tired, maybe because of the milk, or maybe... because this embrace was warm.
In the end, I let my guard down completely and fell into a deep sleep in his arms.