The morning sun painted the sky with hues of golden rays, casting a serene glow over the bustling city of Kentucky, a heavily pregnant young lady stepped out of the grocery shop, her blonde hair blended in with the bright rays of the sun, the gentle breeze played with her hair, and the air carried the sweet scent of fresh blooming flowers outside the nearby stall. A gentle smile grazed Sophia's lips as she felt a slight kick in her abdomen, at the same time, her face pulled into a frown as she felt a sharp pain in her lower back, she released a sharp breath and sat on the bench placed outside the grocery shop. She recently found out she was going to have twins, and as her due date came closer, she had been receiving strong kicks from her babies, still unsure of what gender they were. It's been eight months already, Sophia sighed. She's already Eight months pregnant. Eight months since she left Evermore. Eight months fr
In her private office at the hospital, a young woman took a moment to relax. She swiveled in her chair, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. The gentle sunbeams filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on her, and an air of elegance surrounded her. Her eyes, previously closed, blinked open as she looked around her office. Her gaze lingered on the wall adorned with framed certificates and awards, evidence of her hard-earned achievements over the past five years. Among them, a framed picture caught her attention. It depicted her standing proudly with her twins, Aiden and Adeline, one on each side. Sophia sighed as she gently brushed her hair away from her face, feeling the exhaustion seep into her bones. Glancing at her wristwatch, she noticed that the school's closing hours had come and gone, and the twins were likely already home. The weight of her demanding work schedule had left her with little time to spend with them this week. A pang of guilt tug
"No. He wouldn't be there," Sophia finally answered. "It's not a problem, Mommy. Just having you here means everything to me. I'm sure Adeline feels the same way. Besides, it's time we stop dwelling on him," he said, his gaze shifting to his sister. His serious expression added years to his young face, causing a pang of sorrow in Sophia's heart. "I read a quote in a book I came across on your table a while back," Aiden said with a smile. "It said, 'People make time for what they value,' so maybe he's just too busy to spend time with us. Or check up on us."Sophia's heart sank at his words. She couldn't help but wonder how quickly her children were growing up. This wasn't how a five-year-old should be. They were supposed to be lively, full of life, and surrounded by the abundant love of both parents. Aiden seemed to be handling it better than his sister, but she knew that those who tried to hide their pain behind a facade of strength were often the ones hurting the most.
In the stillness of midnight, Sophia lay cocooned in the embrace of deep slumber, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight seeping through the curtains. The silence of the night was abruptly shattered by the intrusive ring of her phone, perched on the bedside table. Her face pulled into a deep frown and she stirred in her sleep, reaching out for the pillows and covering her ears, choosing to ignore the call. After a long day at the hospital, she returned a few hours ago and had to tuck the twins to sleep before she came into her room barely an hour ago, and just when she was settling and drifting to sleep, the caller decided to interrupt. The caller seemed persistent, as her phone kept on ringing aggressively. Sophia cried out, before reaching for the phone, failing to check the caller ID as she answered the call. "Dr. Sophia Smith, speaking. How may I assist you?" she muttered, her tone precise, rising to sit up on the bed and turn on the bedside lamp, trying to blin
"Sophia, this had better be a damned one-off, or your future here is toast! And I'll personally ensure you pay dearly for it!" "If there's one thing a doctor should never do," Dr. Sarah began, her tone sharp as a scalpel, "it's to walk into an operating room or commence a procedure with a heart full of conflicting emotions! With the accolades you've received in this hospital, I'm certain you need no reminder of this fundamental rule. Yet, you faltered the moment you stepped inside!" It was 10 AM the next morning, and Sophia found herself seated in Dr. Sarah Mitchell's office, the assistant to the Chief of Surgical Service Director. Dr. Mitchell, a young woman with honey-blonde hair, exuded an air of disapproval that hung heavily in the room. Her demeanor toward Sophia was far from friendly, as her interactions were marked by a noticeable coldness and rudeness, making the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable. Sophia wasn't supposed to be here. She was meant to be with
Sophia's gaze was drawn to the nurse outside, who was now encircled by a small group, her forehead showing signs of injury. To either side of the door, two armed men stood guard. But she was more surprised about the fact that none of his family members were present."Did the patient cause this?" She inquired, facing the injured nurse, and the chief, a middle-aged man with glasses and dark hair, nodded. He stood by the side of the door, his back resting against the wall, his furrowed brows revealing the stress he was already under. "I'm entirely uncertain about the cause of the patient's sudden agitation. That's why I requested for you," he uttered, his voice thoughtful. "Maybe you should attempt to engage in a conversation with him," he suggested.Before Sophia could respond, he added, "You're the only doctor on duty who can handle this patient. Please be cautious." With that, he gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and departed."Should we consider getting a psychiatrist?" Arie
Sophia felt a sudden rush of sweat as the room grew uncomfortably warm, and his intense gaze remained locked on her eyes. She finally mustered the courage to ask, "How do you know about the twins?""I searched for you, Sophia," he admitted, his eyes revealing regret and longing. "You weren't in the country, or else I would have found you. I learned about them after your return.""How long have you known?" Sophia's voice trembled, her clenched fists betraying her emotions. The fact that he had known about Aiden and Adeline all this time, yet never reached out, infuriated her."I knew about the twins from the moment you set foot back in the country," Alex confessed through clenched teeth. "It's been three years. I spotted you and the twins, but I couldn't bring myself to reveal my presence. There were...complications.""Can I meet them?" Alex asked, his pale green eyes bore into her, his voice low - his gaze dropping briefly before locking onto Sophia's face, even behind her mask, recog
Hearing the loud, disruptive voice that barged into the room, Alex remained unfazed and calmly used one of the pillows to cover his ears before muttering "Shut the hell up! This is a hospital, and you're being obnoxiously loud!""For someone who injured a nurse, you have no right to lecture me on hospital etiquette!" Matt, with his chiseled jaw and intense brown eyes, shot Alex a stern look as he entered the room. His dark hair, slightly tousled, added to his rugged charm. He dropped himself heavily onto the couch, his sleeves rolled up to reveal intricate tattoos that snaked down his forearms.He had just arrived at the hospital a few minutes ago and he overheard a few of the nurses talking about an aggressive patient in the hospital who pursued his attending nurses from his room and threw a mug at one. Matt had laughed at how ridiculous that sounded, thinking the patient might be mentally unstable.Only to end up finding out that this patient was none other than Alex.Matthew Carson
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Alex said calmly, trying to button up his suit, but the way he shifted his stance gave him away. She realized he was in pain—had been for a while now. Sophia’s eyes flicked back to his arm. “Take off your shirt.” His brows lifted slightly at the demand, but when she stepped closer, giving him a serious look, he sighed and obeyed. He pulled off the suit completely, and as soon as he did, a gasp left her lips, and her worry increased. His fingers went to his buttons, working them open, revealing smooth, taut skin beneath. Or rather, it should have been smooth. Instead, her eyes landed on the bandage wrapped around his lower abdomen. It was stained red, damp with fresh blood. Sophia inhaled sharply. “Alex.” He glanced away, as if not wanting to see the look on her face. “How long have you been bleeding like this?” Alex didn’t answer immediately. In fact, he didn’t know what to say, standing in front of her glare. “Since we got here,” he
After dinner, Adeline had suggested they watch a cartoon, specifically choosing the one she wanted, and somehow, she had ended up falling asleep in Alex's arms because she refused to be parted from him. Aiden had also fallen asleep on the couch, between Sophia and Alex, since they were all sitting on the big couch. Sophia glanced over at Alex and noticed his attention was on the TV. For someone she had never seen watching a movie before, he seemed too interested in the Peppa Pig episode playing. Her gaze dropped to Adeline, who had her head resting on her father’s chest, her hands wrapped around his neck. Sophia’s eyes trailed back to Alex's side profile. She pressed her lips into a thin line as a warm feeling filled her heart. She was happy he had spent time with Aiden and Adeline. Aiden was still finding his way around his father's presence, though. But it was a process, and she was certain he'd eventually come around after a while. Subconsciously, her gaze dropped a litt
Despite Sophia’s earlier refusal, she ended up allowing Alex to drive her home. She couldn't bring herself to say anything after what he had said. The drive to her place remained completely silent, except for the occasional directions she had to give him. Finally, they arrived, and he drove through the gates of her house. The car slowed to a stop in the driveway, and Alex turned off the ignition. Sophia turned to him. “Are you coming in?” Instead of answering directly, he asked, “Shouldn’t I?” Her eyes flicked to his, and she pressed her lips together. A guilty feeling climbed up her throat as she realized how heartless it would be not to let him at least come inside to see Aiden and Adeline. Without another word, she simply picked up her purse and stepped out of the car, making her way toward the entrance. Alex took her silence as a ‘yes.’ As soon as he stepped out of the car, he clicked his tongue, his face twisting in pain. He shifted his suit aside and pressed a hand to
When Alex suggested taking her to meet Patricia, it didn't cross her mind that he meant literally. Not until she realized she was going with him. In his car. She let out a breath, trying hard not to turn her gaze to him. Her eyes peered through the tinted glass. She wondered why she had agreed to this—when did her heart start becoming soft this way? The car slowed down as the traffic light ahead turned red. Sophia exhaled, shifting a little in her seat as her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She could feel Alex’s presence beside her. He didn't even seem affected by the silence; one hand was on the steering wheel, his back was calmly rested against the chair, while his eyes remained on the road. Her gaze flickered to him slightly, and it was then she noticed how he was gripping the steering wheel, then loosening his hands around it. The action continued. “If you keep that up, I won't be able to simply ignore the fact that you're sneaking glances at me,” he suddenly sa
Alex was silent as he watched her. He didn’t know what to say—or rather, he did. He just didn’t think saying anything in this moment would make Sophia understand. She stared at him, anger glinting through her usually soft eyes. Sophia let out a dry laugh and took another step back. The more she moved away, the more he felt the distance between them widen. How exactly was he supposed to make her understand that he couldn’t just sit back? He had tried—tried to keep his promise to her. But the moment he heard what was happening in the conference room, he simply couldn’t stay out of it. “I told you not to,” she repeated, perhaps urging him to say something. But he only watched her. After a moment, he let out a deep breath, ran a hand across his face, and admitted softly, “I couldn’t sit back. I need you to understand me, Sophia.” Sophia felt her throat tighten, and she turned silent. Then, shaking her head, she shoved aside any reasoning he might have had, choosing instead to act
A couple of minutes later, Sophia finally stepped out of the conference hall. A deep breath escaped her lips, and she felt lighter than when she had stepped in. She shut the door behind her and looked up. As soon as she did, she was met with the worried gazes of not just Arielle and Finn, but also Beth and Evelyn. Her eyes widened subtly in surprise. When did they arrive? They all stood up from the waiting chairs outside the moment they saw her. She first noticed the ginger hair tightly packed into a bun before her gaze landed on the silky, flowing brown hair. “How did it go?” Finn was the first to ask as he halted in front of her. Evelyn’s soft voice sliced through the silence. “Oh, Sophia,” she said, her voice laced with concern. She stepped closer, and before Sophia could say a word, Evelyn pulled her into a warm, tight hug. Sophia stiffened, then a warmth spread through her chest. She blinked, a frown forming between her brows as she realized her eyes were wet.
Sophia’s patience sizzled; she forced herself to stay put. “If I had waited, her condition could have worsened. I made a judgment call to—” Dr. Anita Ralph, another board member, cut her words. “This isn’t about judgment calls, Dr. Smith. It’s about following the hospital’s protocols, which you did not.” Sophia bit back her frustration. They weren’t listening. They weren't even allowing her to speak. They had already decided the angle they were going to take. “I understand that this is about protocols, but—” She barely got the words out before Sarah cut in loudly, “You’ve never even delivered a baby before! That young mother’s life was in danger in your hands.” Sophia’s head snapped toward her, disbelief flashing across her face. “What?” Sarah averted her gaze, as if in fear that she must have let the contempt she had for Sophia show blatantly. The board members murmured words to each other. Each person had their opinion. While some supported what Sophia did to save t
The Next Day. “One of the security officers helped me to send the footage of that night to this flash drive,” Arielle said as she stepped into Sophia's office, looking fairly frantic. With a small sigh, she added, “This really is our last option. I’ve thought through everything we could do to have this issue die down before the next couple of hours. I couldn't come up with anything.” She finally looked up, and her gaze fell on Sophia, who was staring blankly at a file in her hand. After a moment, she finally looked up from the file and brushed her fingers through her hair as she let the paper slip from her fingers and fall to her office table. All these would have been easily avoided if she had paid attention and made sure Patricia signed the consent form that night. But how could she have paid attention when Patricia’s screams stabbed through her senses and closely reminded her of the time she was in labor too, when she feared she was going to lose her babies? Shaking her
Feeling faint and lost, Sophia stared down at her scrunchie, pulling it slightly and rubbing her fingers against it, her thoughts straying off. Alex's words played in her mind again and again. And each time it did, it sent her back to a pool of memories she thought she had forgotten. A sigh escaped her lips, and she brushed her fingers through her hair. Sophia stopped in front of a hospital room, and when she glanced in through the window, she noticed Patricia wasn't alone; her mother-in-law was present. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she took in the scene. One of the twins was wailing in Patricia’s arms, red-faced and crying, while the other cried just as loudly from the bed. But what irked her was the sight of Patricia’s mother-in-law, who lay sprawled on the couch, sleeping as if she had no care in the world. Sophia clenched and unclenched her fists, swallowing down the frustration that climbed in her throat. It wasn’t that she expected much from the woman, but se