Chapter 5 Let Me Take Care Of You

SOFIA

I woke up and tried to open my eyes to see a blinding light.

Where am I ? Am I in heaven, did I die ?

All of a sudden, my memories came flooding back and panic rose in my chest.

Someone found me !!!

Oh my god, William will torture me. I can't take it.

I rose from the bed and started begging whoever brought me here.

That person was telling me something but I couldn't hear it and then I felt someone hug me tightly.

I expected myself to get into panic mode which didn't happen.

I felt warmth from the hug which I have never felt with anyone since 9-10 years. It somehow calmed my heart.

"Sofia..Calm down..take a deep breath." I heard a familiar voice

I can't believe it. Is it really him ? He found me ? But how can he be here ? He is in the USA.

I withdrew from the hug and looked at the man in front of me and my heart skipped a beat.

I couldn't believe my eyes. My James was sitting in front of me and I couldn't explain the relief which I felt seeing his handsome face.

"James !!! Is it really you ?"

"Yes Sofia.. I am here.." He smiled at me gently.

I have forgotten how it feels when someone treats you so gently, like you are made of glass.

His touch was warming my heart.

He caressed my cheeks slowly, took out his blazer to put on me and kissed my forehead.

I looked at him as sobs racked my body and soon I bawled, clutching his blazer on me and he hugged me and caressed my head.

"Shhhh..I am here now. I'll take care of you. Do you want to eat something ?"

I shook my head.

"Why did you bring me here ? You should have let me die. I am not worth being alive. I am dirty. I have no right to live." I was talking and crying.

"Sofia !!! You are a human being, not a product which can get dirty. Don't blame yourself." He said

"No.. You don't know anything. I feel dirty."

"I know Sofia. I know what happened but not everything. If you'll tell me what happened in detail then I'll help you in every way."

"What do you know ?"

"A Dr had checked you and told me what happened to you."

He was reluctant but I understood what he was trying to say. So he knows. I thought as I felt embarrassed.

"The Dr also said that you had not seen sunlight for years. Is it true ?"

I nodded.

"But why ? What happened ?"

"No. You should not associate yourself with me. I'll only drag you down. Please leave me as I am. I'll just die and get over with it."

"I can never live like normal people anymore. Never. I am destroyed.

Let me go James." I said and stood up from the bed, ready to leave when he ran towards me and held my wrist.

He pulled me closer, holding my head on his chest and keeping his chin on my head.

"Sofia, please listen to me. You won't drag me down. I can control the media and public narrative if I want to. So you don't need to worry about my image.

Anyone who wants to harm you will have to face me."

Please believe me. Just once, please believe me completely and let me take care of you."

He was talking and I couldn't believe my luck and how foolish I was to choose William over him.

"Why are you doing this James ? I am not worth anything for you to go through so much hassle. You have a good life, why are you getting involved in my messed up life ?"

He could not still love me..right ? After so long and after knowing that I am dirty. I thought

He held my waist with one hand and hugged me with his other hand and I felt so comfortable in his hold that I didn't want to let him go.

"Sofia, if you still don't understand, then I'll make it clear to you today that I love you."

"I have loved you since the first day I saw you. I just didn't know what the feeling was. But when I realised my feelings, it was already too late. Now that I've found you, I am never letting you go unless you want me to let you go."

I couldn't believe it. He still loves me after all these.

"I am sorry James. I am so sorry I always took you for granted. I was such a fool. I don't deserve you."

"No. You are my Sofia. You can be naive but you aren't a fool."

"Never ever say again that you don't deserve me. I am only and only yours." He said.

He wiped the tears from my face and said,

"Now go to bed and sleep."

"I'll get some clothes for you tomorrow morning.

For now you can put on one of my shirts if you want." He said after making me sit on the bed.

"I'll wear one of your shirts if you don't mind, " I said looking down embarrassed." I didn't want to wear this horrible thing

"Okay I'll get you a shirt now, " he said and went inside a connecting room which must be his walk-in closet.

"Here, take it." He handed me a white shirt and went outside before asking me to freshen up in the bathroom if I wanted to.

I changed into his shirt and I really liked it. I then went to the bathroom to freshen up.

I used his bathing products which have his scent. His scent has a calming effect on me.

I was going to sleep when I thought I should see where James is.

Because this room looks like it's his bedroom, so he should sleep here.

I can sleep in any other room or anywhere else.

So I walked out of the room and my eyes fell on the sleeping figure on the living room couch.

"James..." I patted his shoulder gently to wake him up but he didn't wake up.

He must be very tired.

He was sleeping in a foetal position due to the cold. So I brought 2 blankets from his room, put one on him and took the other one for myself before sleeping on the other couch in front of him.

Even his couch is as comfortable as his bed.

Sleep came just as my head hit the sofa. I felt peaceful after 10 long years.