cracks beneath the calm
1274 Words
Initially, Sophia was only feigning sleep so she wouldn’t have to face John alone, but then she drifted to sleep. When she woke up, the nurse was about to give her an injection. It was a hemostatic injection, and it contained anti-inflammatory medicine.
Zack and John were still sitting on the sofa in the ward. After Zack was done reading the document, he handed it to John for approval. None of them looked at Sophia.
Looking at the nurse, Sophia pursed her lips.
“I don’t need the injection. This has been a problem for quite a while now, so I’ll just take the meds.”
The nurse didn’t smile at her.
“Do you know how serious your condition is? It’s precisely because you don’t care that you’re in this shape. You’re still young, so take care of it, or it’ll haunt you for life.”
She took out the tourniquet.
Sophia extended her hand reluctantly, and the nurse wrapped the tourniquet around her as she patted Sophia’s hand.
“You’re so young, so how did your problem get so serious?”
Sophia looked away from the syringe, but she answered quietly.
“I didn’t pay attention to it, so this happened.”
John was reading his document, but then he looked up at Sophia. She was obviously scared of getting injected, but she still toughed it out. John was curious. Sophia had changed after the divorce.
She wasn’t like this before—but what was she like before?
John had to think long and hard to remember. Marrying Sophia wasn’t his own idea, so he didn’t treat her well after the marriage.
He knew he was busy, and he let himself go with the flow of work. Only by being busy could he avoid seeing her. She never minded.
When he told her he didn’t have time for a honeymoon, she said she didn’t mind.
When he said he would be working overtime and wouldn’t come home for dinner, she said she didn’t mind.
There was one time when he came home late and slept in the guest room. The next day, he told Sophia he didn’t want to disturb her sleep. She didn’t get angry.
In fact, she even told him to take care of himself.
She never showed anything but obedience before him. If he was honest, she was almost servile. And he had gotten used to that.
John stared at her, then snorted.
The first time she changed was probably when he proposed the divorce.
He thought she might cry. Or refuse to answer. Or reject it outright.
None of that happened.
She froze for a moment—just a moment—to process the shock. He saw it in her eyes. But aside from that, there was no sadness. Then she nodded in assent.
He never expected that.
When the day came, she cooperated with him. As if she wanted to cut all ties, she started hooking up with other men after the divorce.
John massaged his forehead while looking at her. Her eyes were closed. After the injection was done, she slowly put her hand down, unmoving.
John frowned.
Which side was the real her?
After setting up the IV drip, the nurse reminded her of a few things before leaving. Sophia lay on the bed and looked up at the IV drip. She was still pale, but her expression was calm.
John was still watching her.
“What’s your plan after this?”
Sophia was surprised. Then she looked at him.
“My plan? Getting on with my vacation after this, of course.”
She turned to Zack.
“I haven’t asked you about my itinerary. Where am I going next?”
Zack blinked and avoided John’s gaze. Sophia’s itinerary was almost the same as John’s.
John noticed immediately. He sneered but didn’t expose Zack.
A moment later, Sophia got her answer too. She sighed quietly and looked away.
Feeling awkward, Zack stood up and changed the topic.
“Um, I got our dinner. Have it while it’s hot.”
He placed the food on her table and opened the lids.
It was bland—to say the least. There wasn’t even any color in the food, just like Sophia’s face.
“Hey, what is this?” she complained. “How am I supposed to eat this?”
Zack glared at her.
“Your stomach needs rest. Light food is all you can eat. Don’t complain and just stuff it down. Once you get better, you can eat whatever you want.”
He then uncovered what he bought for himself and John.
Sophia was vexed.
“What’s this? What are you guys eating?”
Zack looked at her innocently.
“Seafood and a lot of meat. Why?”
Sophia glowered at him, but Zack ignored her and continued setting up their dinner before inviting John.
“Dig in, boss. Our stomachs are healthy, so we can eat whatever we want.”
With gritted teeth, Sophia glared at Zack. John ignored them and started eating.
“I’ll be going for an appointment tomorrow night,” John said. “You don’t have to come with me. Stay here.”
Sophia was surprised.
“I can be discharged tomorrow.”
John looked at her.
“You’d better listen to the doctor’s orders.”
Sophia nodded.
“I did ask the doctor. I just need injections, then it’ll heal if I rest. I don’t have to be hospitalized that long.”
John frowned.
“Zack, verify that with the doctor tomorrow.”
He doesn’t trust me?
Sophia pulled a long face.
Zack nodded while eating.
“Sure. I’ll ask the doctor after this.”
Sophia looked at her porridge and vegetables, then at their seafood and meat.
What’s the use of money if you can’t have good food?
She lost her appetite. After two bites, she put the spoon down and leaned back against the bed. It was a luxurious ward, but it didn’t feel like home.
John left after finishing dinner, saying he had business to settle. Sophia didn’t ask what it was. She didn’t want to know.
After cleaning up, Zack asked,
“Did the doctor really say you can be discharged?”
Sophia grunted.
“Yeah. Just injections. The rest depends on me. I can heal at home.”
Zack nodded.
“That’s better anyway. No place like home, right?”
After thinking for a moment, Sophia asked,
“Who’s your boss going on an appointment with tomorrow night?”
Zack sat on the sofa.
“Not sure. Probably Infinity Group.”
Then he quickly added,
“Remember the woman you saw at the beach? She works there. She obviously likes the boss, so look out.”
Sophia sneered.
“Why should I? Does it have anything to do with me?”
Still, she thought about it. Zack didn’t notice—or care—and returned to his mobile game.
Sophia took her phone, and a plan slowly formed in her mind.
When the nurse came to remove the syringe, Zack asked if Sophia could be discharged the next day.
“Yes,” the nurse replied while tidying the equipment.
“Another injection tomorrow, and you can be discharged. But…”
She looked at Sophia.
“You need to take it slow. Your condition is severe. If you don’t watch it, it will get worse.”
Sophia nodded.
“Yeah, I understand.”
After the nurse left, Sophia raised an eyebrow and said,
“I’ll be discharged tomorrow afternoon. You have nothing to do, right?”
She looked at Zack.
“Come pick me up, then.”
- Writer
