Chapter 29

To her greatest astonishment!...

He was always around whenever she needed anything, causing the maids to focus more in the kitchen because Jason had refused to leave the house nor take a rest when it concerned Sophia.

He would check on her every minute. It almost began to get on her nerves, because she wasn't ready to forgive him and live as if they both were a happy couple.

Though she was still getting to the reality of how evil Maureen was. To throw her out of the house that night and left her in the cold rainy weather.

Sophia recalled how she woke in the hospital,  and found Jason in a grotesque position on the tiny couch at the edge, looking so uncomfortable. She wondered what he was doing there. Or maybe the sedative was making her see things. Because when she woke the next morning, she was only met with a group of doctors including Stanley. But there was no sign of Jason on the couch.

She made Stan promise her to take back all her bank properties from Maureen and not to allow her even feet near him. Sophia narrated her past and how she got to be involved in the hit and run.

Stanley was so pained. He thought how much more she could endure from the people surrounding her, they were always the ones hurting her, even if they didn't want to.

Stan wasn't happy when Jason stayed around the hospital even after Sophia woke. He wanted so much for Sophia to tell him off but she wasn’t herself all the way, and Stan understood. He understood that she was also fighting her demons, her stepmother, to even think of Jason.

Presently Sophia sat on the pristine white couch adjacent to Stanley, who came off work just to check on her. But was disappointed to see Jason loitering about in the house.

"She has been on my neck for a while now, she wants to apologize and says it isn't what you think. She says that her sister was pressurizing her to throw you out then, but one a day she wasn't home, her sister Monica threw you out and she was furious when she learned about it" Stan explained searching Sophia's eyes.

He felt very uncomfortable because of all places, Jason chose the dining section that wasn’t far from where Stan and Sophia sat to drop his expensive Mac book and typed away, pretending not to be interested in their conversation.

Stan shifted in his seat, he always loved coming to the couple's home because It was always quiet and peaceful just like Sophia. But he began to question the possibility of ever coming over to visit. Especially now Jason was always around and wouldn't even give them both privacy.

"She's such a good liar!" Sophia's words brought him back to reality.

"You have to talk to her, she has refused to eat, I think she needs closure that's all."

"My memory is clear, I remember it like it was yesterday. She pushed me down the tiled floor and... And I cut my elbow. But her sister Monica was the one who pushed me outside in the rain on Maureen's orders!. So she cannot deny it, I remember feeling so scared then… have you ever felt so alone and exposed at the same time?" She watched Stan with her eyes watery.

"No." She nodded and licked her parched lips.

"I want to know. W...will I ever walk again?"  She suddenly felt the need to ask. Afraid she might never have a chance at independence.

Silence enveloped them both. Even the constant click sound from Jason's laptop wasn't heard, he was listening and Stan hated the fact, so he drew closer to whisper to Sophia and probably infuriate Jason.

"You might. It's fifty-fifty now, but I promise you we will try hard You and me. Okay?."

She nodded in affirmation but with less enthusiasm, Stan was sure he heard someone scoff from afar.

That night Sophia lay on her bed and thought about her life and everything that had happened and even where it was headed. She wasn't sure yet where fate was leading her. But she wasn't in a rush.

While her thoughts ran deep and wide, someone stepped into her room. The sound of the door clicking brought her out of her reverie. She turned to see Jason standing there with a tray in his hands looking uncomfortable and innocent.

"The maid said you had nothing for dinner and I thought maybe I could bring it over here for you, can I?" He requested gesturing to the table at her bedside.

"Sure thanks."

He walked over to her side and dropped the food, but did not attempt to leave the room.

"Yes?."

"The doctor said you shouldn't be alone at all times..."

"I would never plan to kill myself if that's what you're thinking!" She spoke sternly.

"Sorry."

Sophia calmed down "me too."

"Why are you always around?” She started. “Don't you have places to be at? I mean am not used to you at home especially during the day, am sorry if I sound rude, this is your home too, am just disturbed."

Jason moved to sit down on the armchair near the window.

He flexed his palms while thinking of the best reply he'd give that wouldn't set her off.

"I'm sorry... I am. I know it might seem uncalled for but I... I feel so guilty for everything and I know I should have felt this guilt a long time ago and am sorry I didn't. I... I don't know if I was deluded then but I want you to know Sophia that... That I want to make it right, better, but I don't know how..." He looked at her with uncertainty and regret.

Sophia sat still and thought how alluring her name rumbled off his lips. That was the first time he called her by her name. She never heard. And while she was in her dream he continued.

"My father would say things like, am inhuman. but I would think he only wanted to downgrade me. I was so self-absorbed and selfish. I don't deserve any forgiveness from you, but I would love it if you did..." He stopped when he saw how Sophia kept staring at him like he was a scary monster. He thought maybe he had foolishly annoyed her again.

"I'm sorry did I say something wrong?."

She sat there and the words he said hammering in her head repeatedly “I love..."  That was all she heard, her tender heart couldn't believe what she heard. It palpitated so fast, she thought for a moment he might have heard it too.

"wh_what?!."

"I would love if you find it in you to forgive me" he pleaded.

Her heart palpitations calmed immediately and she sighed inwardly.

"I don't know what to say... I never held any grudge against you but I started only when you showed me who you were."

He froze on the spot. He knew his mistakes would always come to bite him.

"I was drunk."

"So were you when you drove over me with your car!" She stated.

He hissed and wiped his face in dejection.

"Charlotte... She has been my girlfriend for a long time and she's very clingy. I broke off with her after our court marriage but she wouldn't leave me_" she interrupted him.

"Jason I wouldn't like to hear about your past relationships, especially in my condition. I know you are sorry for your past misbehaviors but... But sorry doesn't make a cripple walk, sorry doesn't mend a broken trust and it doesn't also guarantee you'll not return to your old behaviors. You might just want something from me and act all soft and when you've got it, Bam!! You're off like a lightning flash. Like I've told you before, I'm not one of your conquests nor your whore.”

"Yes but you are my wife!!" He interjected.

"And I want it that way, I don't want to live that life anymore, I want us to live as real couples do. Am not playing games with you at all." He knelt with one knee to prove his point.

He continued.

"Please just give me a chance, I don't want to regret not treating you right, even if it will cost me a lot then so be it. let me prove to you that I want to make this right." He wiped the drop of tear that escaped.

"What about what I want?."

"What do you want?" He whispered in fear,  looking into her eyes.

Sophia avoided his intense pleading gaze. She didn't want to make the wrong choice out of pity. Pity had led her nowhere in this cruel world, even the least of people she thought, betrayed her.

"Time..."

In as much as Jason was disappointed at her request, he was happy she didn't tell him off entirely. He sat back and exhaled.

The deafening silence seemed like it lasted for hours.

"Was the food delicious?" she asked out of the blue. He lifted his gaze at her in shock.

"Mh?."

"I mean dinner, was it nice?."

"Oh, sure it was."

"Sabina is a very good cook, unlike Zara."

"Sorry, which are Sabina and Zara?" Jason asked confused.

Sophia smiled knowing he was always never down to earth.

"Sabina is the short one, then Zara tall and lanky."

"Just like you" he added jokingly.

"What? am not lanky am..." She watched him with a little smile on her lips.

"Slim?" He offered.

"No, definitely chubby."

"No you're not, when I first met you at your home, I thought how possible it was to fit your skinny hands inside a bottle." He teased.

"You did not!" She laughed.

"I did. I was always thinking silly. But you seem better now and healthier..."

And they were back to the old mood. The ugly past between them was too heavy to ignore or forget. it will always put a sore taste to their relationship till they both let go.

But funny enough after Sophia ate, Jason stayed in her room and watched her fall asleep while he thought of ways to fix their relationship and make their marriage work. He needed her, but his only fear was Doctor Stan. He was the real ocean dividing him from Sophia who never spent a second without mentioning Stanley.

That night it happened again!!!...

Sophia woke to breathe hard with sweats all over her, she needed to use the bathroom so bad but her wheelchair was very far, and couldn't reach it. She didn't intentionally let her guard down, she dreamt she was feeling pressure in her bladder, and it was a cold rainy night so she needed to ease herself but nothing was forthcoming, and the pressure below kept increasing until she leaped from her bed and in terror.

Maybe because she ate so late, it prompted this ugly situation again. She sat up and saw that Jason was sleeping peacefully on the armchair. In as much as she hated him seeing her suffer like that, she had no choice because she wasn't thinking straight now. she needed immediate relief.

"Jason..." She called, he didn't even move an inch.

"Jason!!! Please wake up" she cried when she thought her bladder was about to burst.

He stirred and returned to his position.

"She grabbed her hair comb from the chest and flung it at him, he jerked awake with worry but once his eyes settled on a conflicted Sophia his alarmed senses kicked in.

"What is it? Are you alright?."

"The... The chair" she stammered pointing at the wheelchair which was far and hidden in the dark.

"What? What chair?" Jason was torn with confusion.

"The wheelchair..!!" She screamed louder.

Jason finally understood and ran for it but on a second thought returned empty-handed.

"Where is it?!" She hissed, she was so pissed and hooked that she was unaware of the fact that Jason already took off the duvet and swept her off the bed carrying her bridal style into the bathroom. She squealed but he shushed her and made his way there.

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