– Chapter 85: I Can’t Repay You
Sean drove Sophia to the hospital. When they arrived, Chloe had already been moved from the emergency room to a regular ward.
Seeing Chloe’s pale face and the thick bandages on her wrists, Sophia burst into tears. “Chloe, you still have me! You forgot? I told you I’d always be your support!” Sophia reached out, gently stroking Chloe’s cheek. Her skin was cold, her gaze cold, even the faint smile she offered was devoid of warmth.
“Sophia… I… I just wanted to escape,” Chloe whispered.
Sophia shook her head. “No, I won’t allow it. You have to live. You have to be my best friend for life, through thick and thin.”
Chloe closed her eyes.“But I’m… so tired.”
Sophia stayed in the ward until dawn, leaving Tree to return to the bar while she stayed with Chloe.
“Can you handle it alone?” Tree asked, unconvinced.
Sophia nodded. “Go back to the bar. Get some rest while it’s slow.”
“I’ll bring you lunch.”
“Okay.”
After Tree left, Sophia saw Sean exiting the elevator. He’d gone home to get her a down jacket and made a bowl of wonton soup.
Sophia accepted, urging him to go to work.
Sean hugged and kissed her.“I’ll pick you up tonight.”
“Uh, I might be here for a few days, until Chloe’s discharged.”
“We can hire a nurse.
“But I’m her friend.”
Sean kissed Sophia’s eyes tenderly, then teased, “Panda eyes.”
Sophia playfully bit his chin. It was early; they were alone in the elevator, so they indulged in a brief moment of affection.
After Sean left, Sophia took the wonton soup into the room. Chloe was facing the window, seemingly asleep. Sophia put down the soup and went to tuck Chloe in, only to discover she was wide awake.
“Chloe, you didn’t sleep all night?” Sophia asked worriedly.
“I… I’m hungry,” she murmured.
Sophia said quickly, I brought wonton soup.”
Sophia helped Chloe sit up and fed her the soup with a spoon.
Chloe ate one, mumbling, Delicious.”
“It is, right? Sean’s
great cook, Sophia said, feeding her another spoonful.
Chloe ate it quickly. “He cooks?”
“Chapter 45 (Cast Repay for
“Yeah, he usually cooks at home.”
*Sophia.”
“Yes?”
“You laugh a lot.”
Sophia paused, then nodded. It was true. Whenever she was with Sean the warned to laugh sometimes he was funny, sometimes it was just the joy of spending time with him “It’s wonderful,” Chloe said quietly, looking at Sophia Sophia, you
Sophia squeezed Chloe’s hand. “You do too, but first, you need to pull yourself together. You need to love yourself first.”
“I… Chloe chuckled sadly. That night… you must have greed.”
The night they were kidnapped?
Remembering the image of the cigarette–smoking man emerging from the room with his pants undone, Sophia squeezed Chloe’s hand tightly.
“I know. I know.”
Sophia put down the soup and hugged Chloe.
“I know it’s hard to let go, but you have to. You have to forget, move on. You can hate them, but don’t hate yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong Chloe, let’s call the police”
“No!” Chloe shook her head.
“If you’re afraid or don’t want to talk about that night, I understand bun
did it willingly.”
Sophia was stunned.“How is that possible?”
Chloe covered her face, tears soaking her hands. “It was interest.”
After the initial shock, Sophia hugged Chloe tighter. She didn’t know what Chloe had been through, but this threat and intimidation couldn’t have been the first. Yet, she always faced Sophia with a smile, full of energy.
“They won’t bother you anymore,
Chloe. It’s all
Il wak with
“Walk forward?”
“Yes, forward.”
Chloe gave a wry smile. “Do I even have a path to walk on?
“Yes, I’ll pave it for you.”
“What if I can’t walk?”
“I’ll pull you along.”
Sophia wiped Chloe’s face with a damp towel and fed her a few more wontons. Chloe said she was full, so Sophia let her lie down and rest.
While Chloe slept, Sophia finished the soup and washed Chloe’s dirty clothes. Coming out of the bathroom, seeing Chloe sleeping peacefully, Sophia finally relaxed. She didn’t dare leave the ward, even to use the restroom, only venturing out when the nurse came
Chapter 6 Cant Pepay com
to change the IV fluids.
Tree brought lunch, but Chloe was still asleep, so Sophia didn’t wake her. “It’s my fault for not watching her closely,” Tree said, full of self–reproach. Sophia patted Tree’s shoulder.“Who could have predicted she’d do something like this?” “No, actually, she left a message.”
“A message?”
“She said she was sorry, that she had dragged you into this, and she couldn’t repay the money she owed you.”
Sophia frowned. Chloe was always independent and disliked owing anyone anything, even Sophia. Her suicide attempt wasn’t just about that night; it was also about her guilt towards Sophia.
That afternoon, Sophia remained by Chloe’s bedside until she woke up. She fed her something, reassuring her that she didn’t need to feel guilty, they were best friends. Chloe seemed to have listened, nodding repeatedly and promising not to do anything foolish again.
Tree, after making arrangements at the bar, returned. He said he would stay with Chloe and told Sophia to go home and sleep..
Sophia was reluctant, saying she could nap on the adjacent bed.
Having not closed her eyes since last night, she fell asleep instantly. But worried about Chloe, she slept restlessly, waking up periodically to check on her.
When she awoke–she didn’t know how many times–Chloe was gone. She sat up abruptly, searching the restroom, then rushed out of the room.
Tree was coming down the elevator, carrying a box of fruit.
“Where’s Chloe?” she asked frantically.
Tree was startled.“She’s not in the room?”
“No.”
Tree cried out, “Oh no!”
“Didn’t I tell you to stay with her at all times?”
“She said her mouth was dry and wanted some fruit, so I went to buy some.” Sophia took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
“You search downstairs, I’ll go upstairs!”
They split up immediately.
Sophia searched floor by floor, finally reaching the rooftop, where she saw Chloe sitting on the railing. Chloe saw her instantly and raised a hand, stopping her.
“Sophia, I’m sorry, I can’t repay you, but I’m so tired… let me just… end it like this.”
1
