Chapter 113
"The doctor said you had a severe reaction from taking emergency contraception." Yasmin looked at me, her eyes filled with worry and concern. "Sophia, that pill... who made you take it?"
I was silent for a few seconds. "I took it myself."
"You took it yourself?" Liliana's eyes widened. "Why would you take contraception for no reason? Unless..."
She seemed to think of something, her expression changing. "Was it James? Did he force you?"
I shook my head. "No."
It wasn't really James forcing me—after all, I enjoyed it too at the time.
But Liliana didn't believe me. She got angry and pulled out her phone to make a call. "James, that bastard! I won't let him get away with this!"
"Liliana!" I tried to stop her, but it was too late.
The call had already connected.
"James! Are you even human?" Liliana yelled into the phone. "Did you not use protection just for your own pleasure, and then after you were done, you weren't responsible and made Sophia take contraception? How can you be such a bastard!"
I didn't know what James said on the other end; I just saw Liliana's expression getting worse and worse.
"What do you mean she took it herself? Why would she take it? Isn't it because you couldn't control yourself!" Liliana was shaking with anger. "I'm telling you, if anything happens to Sophia, I'm not done with you!"
"You damn scumbag, just wait. I'm going to tell Grandma right now and have her deal with you!"
While on the phone, she angrily rolled up her sleeves and rushed toward the door, looking like she was ready to fight someone.
Fortunately, Yasmin stopped her. "Liliana, calm down."
"James, you bastard, I'm telling you, you're done for!"
"You damn man! If you dare show your face in front of me, I swear I'll kill you!"
She cursed some more before hanging up angrily.
Even after hanging up, she was still muttering under her breath, and from her expression, you could tell James hadn't said anything nice.
"What did he say?" Yasmin asked.
"He said Sophia took the contraception herself. That bastard—how could any girl deliberately take medicine that hurts her body?" Liliana said, then looked at me. "Why are you still keeping a man like this around?"
I shook my head. "I really did take it myself."
Liliana was shocked and confused. "Why would you take contraception and hurt your own body?"
I smiled bitterly, not knowing how to explain.
Should I tell them it was because I was afraid of getting pregnant again, afraid of going through the pain of losing a child again?
That would be like ripping open my wounds all over again.
It hurt too much.
Liliana and Yasmin both fell silent.
After a long while, Liliana finally held my hand. "Sophia, even if you took the contraception yourself, it must be because James did something wrong and made you upset. It absolutely can't be your fault."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get justice for this."
"But first, you have to promise me you won't bottle up your feelings. Focus on getting better."
Yasmin nodded too. "Right, getting better is the most important thing. The doctor said you need to stay in the hospital for observation for two days. Liliana and I will take turns looking after you."
"You don't need to go to all that trouble..." I didn't want to burden them and was about to refuse.
"It's no trouble!" Liliana cut me off. "We won't feel right leaving you alone in the hospital. It's settled."
Just then, the hospital room door was pushed open.
James stood in the doorway, his face terribly dark.
He strode in, his gaze falling on my pale face, his expression complicated.
"What are you doing here?" Liliana blocked him from me, like a mother hen protecting her chick. "You're not welcome here!"
James ignored her and looked at me. "How are you?"
"I'm not dying." I turned my head away, not wanting to look at him.
"You have the nerve to ask?" Liliana angrily pushed him. "Look what you've done to Sophia! I'm telling you, this isn't over!"
James let her push him, his gaze still fixed on me. "What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor said it's a drug reaction and she needs observation," Yasmin answered for me. "Mr. Smith, Sophia needs rest right now. If you don't have anything else..."
"I do," James said, walking to the bedside. "I need to talk to her alone."
"No way!" Liliana and Yasmin said in unison.
"Liliana, Yasmin, please go out," I spoke up. "I'll talk to him."
"But Sophia..." Liliana was worried.
"It's fine." I smiled slightly. "There are some things we really should clear up."
Liliana and Yasmin exchanged glances, then finally gave in.
"We'll be right outside. Call us if you need anything." Liliana glared hard at James before leaving the room with Yasmin.
The door closed, leaving only James and me in the hospital room.
Silence spread through the air.
"Sophia, didn't you know you were allergic to emergency contraception?" He finally spoke, his voice hoarse.
"We always used condoms before when we had sex," I answered. "I would have actually been happy if you hadn't used a condom. Back then, I loved you, so I wanted to have a child of our own. But now..."
I shook my head.
I didn't love him anymore, so I didn't want to have a child with him—to avoid getting even more entangled.
His face grew paler and paler. He said weakly, "Even if you didn't know your body would react this badly to the pill, didn't you know emergency contraception is really harmful to your body?"
I continued, "I know contraception hurts the body, but compared to going through the pain of losing a child again, what's a little physical harm?"
"Sophia..." He wanted to say something.
"Just go." I cut him off. "I don't want to see you right now."
He stood there without moving.
"I'm really tired, so can I please ask you to leave?"
That last sentence, I said very softly, as if I really was exhausted.
James's body didn't move.
After a long time, I finally heard his footsteps leaving.
The door opened and closed.
I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling as tears silently fell.
Liliana and Yasmin came back in soon after.
"He's gone," Liliana said, sitting by my bed. "What did you two talk about?"
"Nothing much." I shook my head, not wanting to add my troubles to theirs.
Liliana looked at me and suddenly sighed. "Sophia, are you really not going to break up with that scumbag James?"
"Liliana, with James and me, it's not something I can just end when I want to." When I begged James for help with Sidney, I lost the right to choose.
"Can you tell me why? What reason could make you stick with James like this?"
"Liliana, I don't want to talk about it right now."
Liliana stared at me for a long time, then sighed. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't."
She patted my hand again. "Just focus on getting better. When you're discharged, I'll take you out to have some fun and clear your head."
Yasmin nodded too. "We'll go out and have fun together. That way, your mood will get better too."
I pressed my lips together slightly, looking at them. "Thank you."