Chapter 4 Plans for Independence
Lily glared at Sophia's back, her eyes growing cold with hatred.
Victoria, always perceptive, noticed her hostile gaze and glanced at the Osborne siblings with a frown. "How annoying. Why do we have to run into these two everywhere we go?"
Sophia chuckled softly, not bothering to turn around. "Just ignore them. Let's enjoy our drinks."
Victoria nodded and shot them a contemptuous look before turning away.
Lily seemed equally uninterested in pretending cordiality. She pulled her visibly upset brother Robert toward seats in the back of the bar.
Sophia and Victoria were glad to be left alone.
"By the way, Sophia, what will you do if Alexander refuses to divorce you?" Victoria asked.
Sophia thought for a moment before responding slowly, "Then I'll pursue legal separation. According to Emerald Harbor law, after two years of separation, my chances of winning a divorce case increase significantly. But I doubt it will come to that—he's so in love with Lily, I'm sure he's eager to marry her."
"The most important thing is to sever all ties with him as soon as possible," she added, taking a sip of her drink. "I'm planning to rent an apartment near the hospital to be with Emily."
Emily Winters was Sophia's younger sister, three years her junior, who had been hospitalized for ongoing treatment. For the past two years, Sophia had been too busy treating Alexander's condition to spend much time with Emily. Now that her marriage was finally ending, she wanted to properly care for her sister.
"Rent an apartment?" Victoria blinked. "Are you sure you can afford it?"
Sophia cleared her throat uncomfortably.
For the past two years, Elizabeth had given her a monthly allowance of two million dollars. Half of that was meant for Alexander's treatment, while the other half Sophia had mostly saved after purchasing only essentials, using it to cover Emily's hospital expenses.
To expedite Alexander's recovery, she had once spent eight million dollars anonymously bidding on a rare aromatic resin at an auction. Though this had accelerated his healing process and allowed her to fulfill her obligation within the promised two years, it had depleted most of her savings. To make matters worse, Elizabeth had become entangled in legal troubles around that time, reducing Sophia's allowance by half.
Now, as she contemplated divorce and living independently, she realized she simply couldn't afford it.
Victoria studied her face intently, seeming to read her thoughts. "I'll tell you what—I'll lend you some money so you can secure an apartment right away. Then you can look for work at your own pace."
"Don't worry about a thing," Victoria smiled. "Give me three days, and I'll have everything arranged. You'll love it."
Sophia was momentarily surprised, warmth spreading through her chest. "Victoria, thank you. I promise I'll pay you back."
"Oh, stop being so formal. We're best friends, remember?" Victoria squeezed her hand affectionately. "Right now, you need to focus on taking care of yourself and Emily. Everything else can wait."
Hearing these words, Sophia smiled gratefully and nodded with determination.
The Grant family, while not as prominent as the three major families led by the Kensingtons, was still a respected name in Emerald Harbor. Victoria, as the family's beloved daughter, naturally enjoyed far better financial circumstances than Sophia.
Sophia was well aware of this fact, which was why she felt comfortable accepting Victoria's help.
After all, apartments near the hospital weren't cheap.
That evening, Sophia visited the Kensington Private Medical Center.
Emily was in a VIP room in the neurology ward. For the past two years, her medical expenses had been covered by the Kensington family. With the divorce looming, Sophia needed to find ways to earn more money. Fortunately, Emily's condition had somewhat stabilized, making it possible to transfer her to another reputable hospital for continued treatment.
Entering the room, Sophia found Emily sitting up in bed, reading a book.
"Sophia?" Emily looked up at the sound of footsteps, her voice soft. "What brings you here?"
Emily was beautiful, bearing a striking resemblance to Sophia, though her complexion was paler due to her extended hospitalization.
Her thin lips pressed together, giving her a fragile appearance.
"Just came to see you," Sophia smiled gently as she approached, tenderly touching Emily's face. "How are you feeling lately?"
"Much better. The doctor says I might be discharged soon," Emily replied cheerfully before her expression fell. "But even after leaving the hospital, I'll need to take medication long-term, and I might end up hospitalized again."
She sniffled, her voice breaking. "I don't want to be a burden to you anymore. My condition is congenital, and the fact that I've survived this long is already—"
"Stop right there," Sophia interrupted, her heart aching as her voice rose slightly. "I don't ever want to hear you talk like that. You're my only family, my lifelong responsibility. I've never considered you a burden."
Looking into Sophia's clear, earnest brown eyes, Emily's eyes immediately reddened. She gently reached out and embraced Sophia.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened. Noah walked in carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers, dressed in comfortable casual clothes.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked softly, carefully placing the flowers by the bedside, his eyes twinkling with warmth.
"Noah," Emily hastily wiped away her tears and held up the book in her hands. "I really enjoyed the book you gave me. The story is wonderful."
"I'm glad you like it," Noah nodded at Emily before shifting his attention to Sophia. He noticed the red marks on her exposed wrist and the subtle fatigue on her face.
"Emily, please rest for now. I'd like to speak with Sophia privately for a moment," he said with a concerned frown.
Before Sophia could respond, Emily quickly said, "Sophia, you should go with him."
"Alright."
Sophia gently ruffled Emily's hair before following Noah to a quiet corner of the hospital corridor.
"Those marks on your hand—did Alexander do that last night?" Noah asked, his caring gaze filled with complex emotions. "What did he do to you?"
Sophia froze, instinctively hiding her hands behind her back. "It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it."
"Let me see," Noah insisted politely but firmly as he took her hand.
Sophia's wrist showed bruising, and there appeared to be cuts on her thumb and index finger from glass.
Noah's expression darkened. He understood all too well the possessive nature of other men. The thought of what might have happened the previous night made his heart clench painfully, and he pressed his lips together in silence.
Seeing his reaction, Sophia quickly fabricated an explanation. "I just accidentally broke a glass last night. It's nothing serious, just a minor injury."
Noah simply smiled, holding her hand gently, his voice remaining tender. "Let me take you for a full checkup."