Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Sophie's pov ;

After the surgery, I lay there feeling relieved but still nervous about the recovery. With this surgery, there was hope that I could finally walk without dragging my leg behind me.

It still felt surreal-two days ago, I had been terrified of what my life would look like, but now everything seemed brighter. I could finally walk like a normal person.

As I lay there, I suddenly felt something cold being placed in my hand.

"A phone?" I gasped, lifting it slightly. It looked new and expensive. I'd only ever seen phones like this in other people's hands, never mine. My old phone was so ancient and slow, I'd had to deal with spam messages waking me up at night.

Dominic, who stood next to my bed, asked, "Do you like it?"

I nodded, a smile spreading across my face. "I love it! Thank you!"

I held the phone tightly and gratefully. This was more than just a phone. Sir-no, my husband-had done so much for me. He had taken care of my surgery, ensured I didn't lose my university spot, and now, he had given me this phone. I knew it was one of the latest models, something I could never have afforded myself.

I bit my lip, unsure how to express everything I was feeling. "Sir, you're so kind to me," I blurted out before I could stop myself. He had been nothing but good to me. How could I ever repay him?

"I still have things to take care of," he said, brushing off my compliment. He was always so stoic, so hard to read. "If you need anything, ask Aunt Rosa or the assistant. My number is saved in your phone if there's something important, but." He paused. "Try to call me as little as possible."

I nodded, my heart sinking slightly. He didn't want to be bothered by me. I understood that. This was a marriage of convenience, after all. He didn't see me as his real wife, just an a duty. Still, I couldn't help but feel a small pang of disappointment.

"Of course," I said quietly. "I won't disturb you."

He gave me a curt nod and turned to leave, and as the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a long breath. The room felt emptier without him, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. The nurse helped me set up the phone, transferring my contacts, and I quickly asked her to leave me alone.

I stared at the phone in my hand, wondering how to use the voice command feature. I wasn't very tech-savvy, but it didn't take long to figure out.

"Call Jenna," I instructed, and within seconds, the phone rang.

"Sophie!" Her voice was bright and cheerful. "You're calling me already! Does that mean you're better?"

"I just had surgery. The doctors said I'll be walking normally soon, but guess what? I got a new phone! It has a voice command, so I can just tell it what to do."

"You got a new phone? Who bought it for you?"

I hesitated, glancing down at the sleek device in my hand. "My.my husband," I said shyly.

There was a brief pause on the other end, and I could almost picture her raising an eyebrow. "Your husband, huh? He's more thoughtful than I expected! What does he do for work? And what does he's like in person?"

"I think he works for the Williams Group," I answered, unsure of the specifics. I still didn't know much about Dominic, other than the fact that he was well-connected and successful. "But I don't know what his personality.yet. Sometimes he's cold and sometimes he's really nice and kind."

She laughed. "You don't even know what your husband is like! Aren't you obsessed with kind people? What if he's not kind?"

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter. Even if he's not kind, I'll still be grateful. He's done so much for me. I'm not someone who forgets kindness."

That much was true. Dominic-whatever his reasons for doing so-had given me the chance to live a better life. I would always remember that. Whether or not he cared for me, I would be loyal to him.

Jenna sighed. "You're too good, Sophie. I'm glad you've found someone to take care of you, though"

We chatted a bit more about her university life, and I learned that the school had assigned me a dormitory. I smiled to myself, already imagining what life would be like once I moved in-though Dominic had said I'd live in his house. I still couldn't quite believe that.

After we said our goodbyes, the phone buzzed with a notification. I frowned, unsure how to navigate the screen, and called for Aunt Rosa to help me. She came in and quickly added my roommate's contact details, smiling kindly as she handed the phone back.

I was pulled into a group chat with my classmates, though I quickly realized it might not have been the best idea. The chat was buzzing with rumors about me.

"Have you heard? She didn't show up for the whole semester, but she wasn't expelled! And now she suddenly get to show up in the middle of the semester. What is she, a princess, who will come and go by her choice!"

"Yeah, I heard she was sick. Convenient, huh?"

"I bet she's got connections. Must be nice to have rich relatives."

"God, I hate rich people! First they'll eat opportunities of other students and then think they own the school."

I turned off the phone. They were already gossiping about me. I wasn't even back in school yet, and I already felt like an outsider. Would they think I was taking advantage of Dominic's wealth and status?

Next few weeks I has my recovery complete. And I was able to walk normal again.

The next day, the assistant drove me to the apartment near the university after the discharge. The building was modern, clean, and so different from the home I had grown up in. Aunt Rosa showed me around, leading me to a cozy living room with soft furniture and warm lighting.

"This is your home now," she said with a kind smile. "I live in the room next door. If you ever need anything, just call me."

"Aunt Rosa, how many rooms are here?" I asked, my eyes scanning the living room. Everything felt so foreign, like it wasn't really my place to be here.

"There are four rooms in total," Aunt Rosa replied as she carefully folded a dish towel. "In addition to the master bedroom and the second bedroom, there's also a study and a children's room."

I paused, thinking it over. "I'll stay in the second bedroom for now," I said quietly, hoping she wouldn't question it.

Her eyebrows raised slightly. "You don't want to stay with Mr. William?"

The heat rushed to my face in an instant. The thought of sharing a room, let alone a bed, with Dominic made me feel flustered. I had never even hugged or kissed a man before, much less shared such intimate space with someone. The idea alone made me uncomfortable, and my hands twisted nervously in my lap.

"I think it's better if I stay in the second bedroom for now," I mumbled, feeling awkward about the whole situation.

There was no way I could just suddenly start living as a 'wife' when everything between Dominic and me was so formal.

Aunt Rosa seemed to understand my discomfort and nodded. "Very well. I'll take you to the second bedroom."

She guided me down the hall, and I noticed how spacious and clean everything was. Aunt Rosa told me that his grandma had arranged for the extra furniture before I moved in. The gesture was thoughtful, and I couldn't help but feel a little warmer inside. Dominic, or perhaps his family, had gone to great lengths to ensure my comfort here.

Once in the second bedroom, Aunt Rosa made sure I was settled and then went to prepare lunch. I sat on the bed, still processing everything that had happened. This was my new home, but it didn't feel like mine.

Not yet, anyway.

Lunch was simple and after I finished eating, Aunt Rosa brought me a glass of warm goat milk.

She placed it carefully in my hands, saying, "Mr. William specifically ordered this for you. It will give you some nutrition."

I glanced down at the milk, feeling a little touched. Goat milk was expensive, and its nutritional value was higher than that of cow's milk. I hadn't had much growing up-proper food, let alone something this healthy, was rare in my household.

The fact that Dominic had thought about my health moved me even if he acted cold all the time.

"Thank him for me," I said softly, holding the warm glass between my palms.

I pinched my nose and took a few sips, trying to get used to the taste. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was a little different from what I was used to. Still, I drank it all, not wanting to waste his effort. He had been nothing but considerate, and I couldn't let him down.

Just as I was finishing the glass, I heard a noise at the door. My heart skipped a beat.

"Mr. Williams is back," Aunt Rosa said calmly but my pulse quickened all the same.

As soon as Dominic stepped through the door, Aunt Rosa tactfully excused herself and moved to the next room, leaving the two of us alone in the apartment.

My nerves immediately kicked in. I grabbed the hem of my floral dress, twisting it between my fingers as I stood there awkwardly. "Sir," I said softly.

He glanced at me, his eyes briefly taking me in. I was wearing a white dress with little flowers, one of the few things I had left from before the accident.

I had just finished the glass of goat milk Aunt Rosa gave me, and I could still feel a little bit of it on my lips. It felt silly to think about how childish that must have looked. So, I quickly wiped it away.

"Have you finished buying everything?" He asked coldly.

I stiffened a little, unsure of what to say. "Not yet," I replied. My voice sounded stilted, almost mechanical.

Without hesitation, he said, "Let's go. I'll take you shopping." His tone didn't leave room for argument.

I blinked, a bit taken aback. "Oh, no need," I quickly responded. "Just let Sir Daniel take me."

It made sense for his assistant to take me instead. He's been handling everything for ne all this time. But the moment those words left my mouth, I could feel everything turning into ice.

Dominic's expression hardened. "What did you just call him?" His voice was colder than I had ever heard it, and it sent a chill down my spine.

I froze. His tone was sharp, and I immediately regretted calling his assistant 'Sir.' My mind raced as I searched for the right response.

"S-Sorry, I meant Assistant Daniel," I stuttered. My voice was shaky, and I could barely meet his eyes.

"Call him Assistant Daniel from now on," he ordered, the coldness still lingering in his words.

I nodded quickly, not wanting to make things worse. "I understand," I answered cautiously, my heart beating faster.

"Come with me," he grabbed my hand tightly and began to drag me.