Chapter 174
When Sophie woke up and moved her waist, the pain made her break out in a cold sweat.
She thought she had just pulled a muscle. After lying still for a bit, she tried to move again but found she couldn't move at all.
When Matthew arrived, Sophie's eyes were brimming with tears.
"Why does it hurt?" Matthew lifted the blanket to look at her waist. From the outside, nothing seemed wrong - it must be an injury to the muscles or bones.
"I'll take you to the hospital."
Matthew saw sweat forming from her pain. He was a bit anxious but still managed to stay calm.
While helping her get dressed, he called the hospital. Once she was dressed, he carried her out of the hotel.
He had the hotel arrange a driver and they went to the hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital, someone was already waiting.
Matthew carried Sophie, following the nurse all the way to a VIP room where a doctor was already present.
Besides the doctor, the hospital director was also there.
Matthew nodded slightly, placed Sophie on the bed, "Check her first."
The doctor immediately stepped forward, but still asked, "Have you done any strenuous physical activity recently?"
Sophie bit her lip, now too embarrassed to say.
Matthew frowned, "Yes."
The doctor glanced at Matthew, then noticed the kiss marks on Sophie's neck, and understood.
The doctor first pressed Sophie's waist. Sophie cried out in pain.
"It's probably from excessive movement, pulling a muscle. Let's get an X-ray first to see if there's any bone damage." That was all the doctor could do - the specifics would depend on what the equipment showed.
Fortunately, no bones were injured, just a pulled muscle.
Matthew also breathed a sigh of relief.
Leaving the hospital, Sophie felt very embarrassed.
She hadn't expected it would turn out like this.
Last night, Matthew had been enthusiastic about trying new positions, tormenting her thoroughly.
At the time, it had felt quite exciting, but now she realized it was a big problem.
Sophie glared at Matthew.
Matthew pressed his lips together, "I'll restrain myself from now on."
Sophie didn't believe him at all.
If he knew how to restrain himself, he wouldn't have been so wild.
"Really." Matthew's gaze was sincere, "This time we'll have to abstain for a long time again. It's not worth it."
Sophie rolled her eyes, "So that's what you're calculating."
"Not calculating. Just wanting to extend the happy times a bit longer."
"I don't believe you."
Sophie held her waist, feeling truly humiliated.
They didn't return to the hotel, and Matthew didn't go back to her place either. Instead, he drove to Cloud Realm.
"Why are you bringing me here?" Sophie frowned.
"Your bathroom is too small."
Was that supposed to be a reason?
After getting out of the car, Matthew kept carrying Sophie. In the elevator, seeing Sophie's pouty face, his eyes softened, "Stay here for a while, it'll be a nice change."
"Changing to a different woman every few days would be even more of a change," Sophie said.
Matthew looked down at her, "I've never thought about that."
"Who knows what you're really thinking."
"Want me to dig out my heart and show you?"
"Sure." Sophie stared at him, quite boldly.
Matthew suddenly laughed, "You're still as heartless as ever."
Opening the door, Matthew carried her into the bedroom.
The sheets were clean, with a faint fragrance - clearly someone came to clean regularly.
Matthew placed her on the bed, then bent down himself, his palm resting on her waist, gently pressing.
"Lie on your stomach, I'll massage it for you."
Sophie was very obedient now, flipping over as soon as he said so.
Matthew sat on the edge of the bed, massaging her through her clothes, then lifted her shirt and placed his palm directly on her waist, gently pressing.
Sophie closed her eyes comfortably, enjoying the moment.
Right now, Matthew's mind was clear of distractions. He went from using one hand to two, gently kneading her waist, slowly massaging. Looking at the red marks on her waist, he swallowed, "Does it feel good?"
"Mm."
Suddenly, Sophie felt warmth on her waist.
She opened her eyes and looked back, "What are you doing?"
"Couldn't help it." Matthew had just placed a kiss on her waist, nothing more.
"Matthew, you have no self-control at all now."
Matthew's lips curved slightly, "Now I understand why men get lost in women."
Sophie pursed her lips, "That's just not being able to control yourself."
"You're too tempting, how can I control myself?" Matthew didn't know why he kept losing control around her.
He wasn't someone who craved women, nor someone who couldn't control himself.
It was just that after being with Sophie once, he had grown to really like this feeling.
Perhaps this was just a man's nature.
Sophie rarely heard such sweet words from him. She smiled, biting her lip, "That's your own problem, don't blame me."
"Yes, it's my problem." Matthew admitted it.
Emily went to work at the company. She deliberately took off her ring.
Not long after arriving at the company, a colleague called out to her, "Emily, your parents are looking for you."
Emily's scalp tightened at those words.
She really hadn't expected they would go this far.
Not daring to delay a moment, she rushed to see them.
As soon as they met, Nola's face looked terrible.
Emily took a deep breath. Colleagues passing by greeted her, and Emily could only smile in response.
"Dad, Mom." Emily was afraid they would cause a scene, so she immediately addressed them, "Whatever you need to say, can we talk after I get off work?"
"No." Nola left no room for negotiation, "Today, I'm here to get an answer from you."
Emily tried to control her emotions. She had never felt this oppressed even when dealing with difficult clients. In front of them, she really felt like she was carrying a mountain on her back, unable to breathe.
"Divorce that Joshua and come back with us." Nola was dictatorial, giving her no choice at all.
Emily clenched her hands, "Impossible."
Nola's face darkened, "Emily, are you trying to force me to make a scene? Let me tell you, don't push me. If you push me too far, I'm capable of anything."
Emily had been controlled and suppressed by her mother since childhood. She thought that growing up and working would make things better, but not only hadn't it changed, it had gotten worse.
She didn't want to compromise anymore, "Aren't you the ones forcing me? If you keep pushing me like this, I'm capable of anything too."
"You..." Nola's face was full of anger.
Carson pulled his wife back. He spoke earnestly, "Emily, don't argue with your mom. Would we harm you? Look at you, getting a marriage certificate with Joshua without discussing it with us. What kind of person is he, what kind of people are in his family, what kind of family is it - we don't know any of this. How can we feel at ease?"
Emily looked at their faces, pretending to be doing this for her own good. She said bitterly and sarcastically, "Since I was little, you've always said it was for my own good, but really you were just satisfying your own ideas. If it was really for my own good, you should listen to what I want."
"What do you want? If we let you do whatever you wanted, would you have had the chance to go to college, to come to this big city?" Nola pointed at Emily, "If you don't come back with us, I'll go find your boss!"
Emily was really being driven crazy.
Her eyes reddened, "Do you have to drive me to death before you're satisfied?"
"If you died, we wouldn't have to worry so much!" Nola said through gritted teeth.