Chapter 45 Sophia Seeks an Audience with Mr. Wright
Fortunately, after emergency treatment, Matthew and Sarah were temporarily out of life-threatening danger.
However, the doctor warned that both patients had suffered severe injuries and their conditions remained unstable. It was unclear how long they could hold on. The family members should prepare themselves mentally for the worst.
After spending some time at his parents' bedside, Michael flew back to Emerald City. A board meeting awaited him the next day.
He wasn't just protecting his own career and future—he was safeguarding his parents' life's work.
When he stepped off the plane, waiting for him was the girl who had stood by him through countless crises.
He'd had to stay strong in front of his family, unable to show his vulnerability. But the moment he saw Sophia, Michael's eyes instantly reddened, and he pulled her into his arms.
He broke down crying.
Fear, worry, the release of all emotions when the taut string inside him finally snapped.
Sophia wrapped her arms around his waist, gently patting his back in silence.
Sophia drove Michael home and stayed by his bedside until he fell asleep.
Just like when she'd gotten her first period in middle school, writhing in agony, and he'd spent the entire night keeping vigil by her bed.
Once Michael was sound asleep, Sophia tucked the blanket around him, stood up and stretched her numb legs, then had the driver take her home.
The atmosphere in the Johnson family was equally grim. James had returned from filming, and Ray hadn't left the garage all day. Everyone's mood remained somber due to Andrew's unwelcome visit earlier.
Seeing Sophia return, Mary forced a smile that looked more painful than crying. "Have you eaten? Should I make you something?"
"No need."
Too much had happened in one day. Sophia was exhausted and initially planned to go straight to her room, but after some thought, she sat down on the living room sofa.
Getting straight to the point, "Andrew came by today?"
"Yes." James didn't hide anything, explaining the entire situation to Sophia.
Sophia frowned. "He's not thinking straight. Don't pay attention to anything he said. I'm quite comfortable living here and have no plans to go with him. James, you have filming tomorrow, and Dad has his job interview. You should all get some rest early."
She pulled her lips into a smile, stood up, and headed to her room.
James watched her dejected figure, sensing her exhaustion, but it seemed less about Andrew and more about something heavier weighing on her heart.
Perhaps because she was physically drained, her usual guardedness had slipped, allowing him to pick up on other information.
She was staying with the Johnson family, not because she'd accepted them, but because she found it "quite comfortable" here.
And saying she had no plans to go with Andrew didn't mean she wouldn't leave at all. It seemed like from the day she'd returned to the Johnson family, she'd already planned when she would depart.
That night, accompanied by the sound of rain, many people lay sleepless.
Early the next morning, the downpour intensified.
The entire city was shrouded in mist, a vast expanse of white. Without sunlight, seven o'clock still looked as dark as four or five in the morning.
James, who'd barely slept all night, heard movement outside. He got out of bed and stepped into the hallway, just in time to see Sophia closing the door behind her as she left.
He walked to the living room and pushed open the window. Thunder roared deafeningly. After waiting a while, through the curtain of rain, he saw Sophia hurrying to the apartment entrance with an umbrella and getting into the same Toyota van he'd ridden in before.
So early in the morning, in such heavy rain, where was she going?
At that moment, Sophia carelessly set aside her umbrella, brushed water droplets from her clothes, and instructed the driver, "To Solstice Haven."
The driver obeyed, starting the engine.
Sophia received a call from Michael.
"You're awake?" Her voice carried gentle warmth, unwilling to let her emotions affect Michael.
"Yeah." Michael hesitated for a long moment before saying sullenly, "Sophia, I'm sorry for putting you in this position."
Sophia's tone was light and comforting, "What's so difficult about this? When it comes down to it, he's my mentor. Besides, even if he doesn't acknowledge me as his student anymore, with his physician's oath, he has no reason not to save lives."
Michael fell silent. He knew how badly things had ended between Sophia and Brandon Wright years ago. They'd completely severed their mentor-student relationship and hadn't contacted each other for five years.
Last year, Sophia had tried to reconcile with Brandon, but he wouldn't take her calls or agree to see her.
This visit would very likely result in another rejection.
Of course, he hoped to convince Brandon to help, but he couldn't bear to watch Sophia suffer for his sake.
If his parents' situation weren't so critical, he couldn't bring himself to ask Sophia to face that humiliation for him.
"Sophia, thank you."
"There's no need for thanks between us. Vertex Innovations Ltd. will deliver the chip samples to the Green Group today. Once this project succeeds, the Green Group's market value will at least double. Countless eyes are watching you, hoping to see you fail. You have many things to handle—you can't afford to wallow in grief anymore."
"I understand. Don't worry about the company. I'll handle everything. You... stay safe. If Mr. Wright still refuses to see you, don't push yourself too hard. I'll find another way to approach him."
"Alright."
The call ended. Sophia leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes and sighing.
Five years ago, when she'd left Solstice Haven, she and Brandon had severed their mentor-student relationship. Last year, when she'd heard Brandon had fallen seriously ill, she'd repeatedly tried to check on his condition and see him.
No matter how many times she'd gone to his door or how many apologetic messages she'd sent, Brandon consistently refused to see her.
Heavy rain poured down, and visibility on the road was poor. For safety, the driver kept his speed slow, taking nearly an hour and a half to reach the entrance of Solstice Haven.
Seeing the driver prepare to get out with her, Sophia said, "Wait in the car."
She took her umbrella and stepped out.
The fierce wind and rain rendered her umbrella useless. Her shoes were soaked in puddles, her pants were half-drenched, and her clothes were dampened by rainwater.
Perhaps due to the bad weather, there were no pedestrians on the street, and Solstice Haven's main door was tightly shut, not receiving visitors.
Looking at the imposing wooden door before her, Sophia took a deep breath, forcefully knocked the door knocker, and called out loudly, "Sophia seeks an audience with Mr. Wright!"
Her voice was drowned out by the torrential rain. Undeterred, she continued knocking.
"Sophia seeks an audience with Mr. Wright!"
She didn't know how long she'd been shouting when the wooden door creaked open just a crack. A woman in plain clothes appeared, her long hair pulled back in a high ponytail, her expression cold. "Mr. Wright refuses to see you. Please leave."