CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 12: MY BOYFRIEND JUST DIED

Sophia Lowell was woken up by a stomachache, unsure of how much time had passed.

It was already evening when she discovered she had slept for so long. Stumbling to turn on the light, she found she could barely move; the pain in her stomach was intense.

Having been back from abroad for over a year now, she didn’t have many friends; the only people she could talk to were Lily Ellison and Ethan Sinclair.

Unable to reach Lily Ellison on the phone, she dialed Ethan Sinclair, who was still on vacation at the time, but fortunately, he answered.

"Hey, what’s going on now, Auntie?" Ethan Sinclair asked.

"Ethan..." She was drenched in sweat, too weak to move.

Recognizing something was wrong, Ethan quickly asked, "Are you feeling unwell? Where are you? Can you move?"

She couldn’t answer the barrage of questions. "Come to my house and get me... um..."

She was in a haze and nearly lost consciousness.

In less than ten minutes, she heard a series of door-banging sounds.

"Bang!" The sound of the door falling.

"Sophia!" A familiar voice appeared by her side. "Really impressive!"

His tone wasn’t good, filled with complaints but also concern.

He lifted her small frame, and she smelled that familiar pleasant scent again, a faint sandalwood.

When she woke up, she was already lying in a single room in the hospital.

"Awake?" A familiar voice said.

Turning her head slowly, she saw the face that made countless girls scream.

He was still in a suit, with a black shirt and black tie, towering over her, just like the way he looked at her that night.

Oh my goodness, thinking about that night even at a time like this...

"Mr. Sterling, why is it you?" Sophia’s cheeks flushed red.

"Ethan’s resting." Zane Sterling shoved his hands in his pockets, spoke little, but watched her intently.

"Thank you." She sighed. It was him again, like a haunting presence.

Is Cupid really trying to tie us together with steel wires? So persistent?!

"Still in pain?" he asked.

"No more."

"Was the instant noodle tasty?"

"..."

He must have seen the pack of untouched instant noodles in the kitchen.

"Where’s your boyfriend?" Zane looked into her eyes, trying to find an answer.

"Died yesterday."

Sophia didn’t want him to criticize her any further; she’d had enough bad luck, and didn’t need extra trouble.

"Hehe..." He pursed his lips and nodded: "That’s good news."

Just then, the doctor arrived.

"Zane, here are some stomach meds for her; make sure she takes them on time. If everything’s fine, she should be able to discharge tomorrow. Take better care of her!"

The female doctor, who seemed familiar with him, appeared to be in her fifties.

"Got it, Auntie." Zane accepted the meds.

Auntie...

Sophia felt a twinge of panic; she was worried about a potential misunderstanding.

They chatted at the door for a few minutes before the ’auntie’ left.

"Can I discharge tonight?" She wanted to escape.

Zane placed the meds on the bedside table, sat beside her bed, "No."

Sophia noticed the redness on his left cheek, felt embarrassed as she rubbed her hands, still thinking about how she slapped him that day.

He didn’t seem embarrassed at all, frequently receiving calls but reluctant to leave.

"Mr. Sterling, your takeout has arrived."

A young woman walked in.

Zane finally shifted his golden behind from the bed.

The woman set up a table on the bed and placed the meals on it.

Sophia was stunned; three dishes and a soup, from The Grand Eatery - truly luxurious.

"Eat, I bought it for you," Zane unwrapped a pair of chopsticks and handed them to her, "Cost me 250 friends rate, remember to transfer."

Sophia looked at the chopsticks in his large, model-like hands, before accepting them, and began eating her first meal since last night.

Was he calling her an idiot?

Fine, she admitted, she shouldn’t have starved herself for that dead man.

"Any friends to keep you company tonight?" Zane asked.

"Don’t worry. I won’t die; no need for anyone to stay."

"Alright, I have things to do. Secretary White is at the door; contact her or message me if anything."

Zane checked the time, ready to leave but turned back, asking, "Didn’t your boyfriend just die? Have you thought about the question I asked last time?"

Sophia nearly choked on her mouthful of food.

"Zane Sterling, please be human; I really don’t want to date." Sophia lost her appetite.

Since he found out about Henry Quinn, he seemed to always be around, as if he had come prepared.

"Fine, I won’t ask again." Zane remained unmoved as he walked out.

Sophia watched his departing silhouette, suddenly feeling she might have been too harsh. After all, he was the one who brought her to the hospital.

At T-Bar, Zane took a slow sip of his drink.

Sitting beside him was his cousin, Sean Farrell.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen a girl rejecting you and even daring to call you by name, quite wild! No wonder you like it."

"Can’t say if I like it." Zane was unsettled.

"You call this not liking?" Sean tilted his head, looking at him.

"You mention her every time we meet; you can’t say you don’t have feelings for her. Look at your neck, are the hickeys gone?"

Sean chuckled, shaking his head.

Zane rubbed his forehead, admitting he often thought of her lately, feeling good just seeing her even without saying much.

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling." Sophia sent an apology.

"No worries." Zane glanced and replied instantly.

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling."

"Mm."

"[250 transferred] Dinner fee."

Zane paused, took a sip of his drink, and canceled the 250 transfer.

"Treat me next time."

The opposite party kept typing but never replied.

There was a hint of laziness in his deep eyes.

"Sean’s right, if you don’t like her, why did you save her? Wouldn’t calling 911 be more convenient?"

Nearby, Miles Lockwood nudged his dangling drink.

Zane didn’t respond, but the image of her clear, beautiful phoenix eyes, like a serene lake, lingered in his mind.

——

The next day, Zane handled her discharge and even drove her home.

"Are you moving?" Zane eyed the cramped space.

"Yes."

Her gaze focused on the uninstalled door.

"This place is nice; why move?"

He wandered, spotting his familiar coat on the couch.

"My ex died, scared he’ll come back for me on the seventh day."

Sophia had no clue how to ask him to leave.

He found a spot to sit, showing no intention of leaving.

"You took down the door?" she asked.

"Yes."

Sophia sighed, "A new door costs three thousand; unlocking is only thirty. Did the door squeeze your head?"

Seeing her few belongings, she felt overwhelmed. Moving was no simple task, finding a suitable place was even tougher.

"I only knew you were dying." Zane, crossing his legs, asked, "When’s the lease over?"

Perhaps because Henry had desensitized her, Zane’s words made her feel nauseous.

"Before next Wednesday."

Henry’s tenacious; even post-engagement, he’d still show up if she didn’t move.

"The door’s removed; move tonight then."

"Where to?" Sophia grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and tossed it to him, which he caught smoothly.

"Move to my place."