Chapter 21

Jayden pulled Juliette aside, then looked at Sophia with a complex expression. In his heart, he doubted someone as ruthless as Sophia would suddenly be kind to Joshua. But during his unconsciousness, he'd witnessed her repeated visits to the hospital. Perhaps she still harbored feelings for him, though she hadn't realized it herself.

"Joshua, are you hungry?"

Juliette's voice immediately followed. "He's been unconscious for days; of course, he's hungry. Let's go. I'll buy him some soup."

"But…" His words were cut short as she pulled him from the ICU. Outside, he immediately shook her off.

"Why did you pull me out? What if they argue again?"

"It's their problem. They should resolve it themselves," she said, sitting by the ICU door.

Jayden frowned, sitting beside her. "Didn't you say you'd buy Joshua soup? Why are you sitting here?"

"If he starves, I'll be the happiest person alive," Juliette said indifferently, lowering her head to her phone.

Jayden glanced toward the ICU, muttering, "You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You're clearly worried about Joshua, but you still say things like that."

After they left, Sophia looked at me with even more apology in her eyes.

"Joshua, I've hurt you. Can you forgive me?"

This was the first time I'd seen her like this, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised. I never thought someone as proud as her would apologize.

She gazed at me intently, awaiting my answer. After a long silence, my hoarse voice replied, "When I was unconscious, I heard you say that if I woke up, you'd listen to my explanation. Is that true?"

She looked shocked, clearly not expecting this. A flash of complexity crossed her eyes, and she awkwardly said, "The past is the past. Let's not talk about it."

She didn't want to talk about it, but I wouldn't let it go. I didn't want her kindness to stem only from my near-death experience.

I tightened my grip on the blanket and lowered my eyelids. "Maybe it was wishful thinking."

I'd hoped she'd let go of Edson and love me wholeheartedly, as she'd loved him. But now, it was clearly impossible. She only let go of her hatred because she thought I was dying.

"That's not it," she firmly denied. After a moment, she spoke with difficulty. "After you fell unconscious, I investigated Edson's past. He wasn't the person I thought he was. He indulged in vices, completely different from the person I knew."

She never would have fallen for him so blindly if she'd known. She clenched and unclenched her hands before lifting her gaze to meet mine, her eyes now full of resolve.

"Now it's your turn. Explain."