Chapter 26
Sophia Sullivan pushed open her apartment door.
She went straight to the refrigerator.
There were quite a few ingredients left in the fridge.
Beef brisket with potatoes.
Sweet and sour ribs.
Scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
And a simple stir-fried seasonal vegetable.
She tied on an apron and began preparing dinner.
Henry Lorenz stood at the kitchen doorway, watching in a daze.
"It's rare to find a woman who can cook these days."
Sophia didn't look up as she chopped the potatoes.
"Just a personal habit."
Henry glanced around.
The room was small but tidy and cozy.
The bookshelf was packed with professional books.
A physics book sat at the very end.
He quickly averted his eyes.
Four dishes and a soup were soon on the table.
The sweet and sour ribs looked enticing.
Henry took a bite.
His eyes instantly lit up.
"This tastes incredible!"
Sophia handed him a bowl of rice.
"Eat more if you like it."
The tips of Henry's ears turned slightly red.
"Whoever marries you will be very lucky."
As soon as the words left his mouth.
A rapid knocking came from the door.
Sophia frowned and put down her chopsticks.
"I'll get it."
The door was pulled open forcefully the moment she unlocked it.
Amelia Roscente grabbed her arm, trying to pull her away.
"Come with me to the hospital."
Sophia stood her ground.
"We've already broken up."
Amelia let out an incredulous laugh.
"My brother has a perforated ulcer! He's hospitalized!"
"Is this what you call love?"
"Just throwing away six years of feelings?"
"A mansion, designer brands, a Black Card... what did he ever deny you?"
She grew more agitated as she spoke.
He'd even given Sophia a Black Card, something she herself didn't have.
Sophia's expression remained calm.
"Are you done?"
Amelia was stunned.
"I'm not going."
"You!"
Amelia kicked the door hard.
"Remember what you said today!"
The sound of her high heels faded down the hall.
Sophia's knuckles were white.
Henry peeked out cautiously.
"Are you okay?"
Sophia turned and smiled.
"Another bowl of rice?"
The rest of the meal was unusually quiet.
Henry left in a hurry.
Sophia was halfway through clearing the dishes.
She suddenly lost her grip.
A porcelain bowl shattered on the floor.
She crouched down to pick up the pieces.
Her fingertip was cut.
A bead of blood welled up.
Tears fell without warning.
Six years had formed too many habits.
Hearing he was sick still made her worry.
But this time, she held back.
She would get used to it.
From love to weariness.
The cracks had been there for a long time.
The first broken promise.
The first lie.
Now it all seemed blurry.
Six years had passed in the blink of an eye.
...
Amelia stormed down the stairs.
Her high heel kicked a garbage bag.
She couldn't help but curse.
"What a dump!"
Her phone suddenly rang.
"Bro?"
At the hospital, Ethan Roscente had just woken up.
Charlie Lowell shrugged helplessly.
"I couldn't stop her."
Ethan had waited for forty minutes.
He'd drunk water three times.
Tossed and turned five times.
His eyes had scanned the doorway countless times.
He finally made the call.
"Where are you?"
Amelia hemmed and hawed.
"Out."
"When are you coming?"
"I was going back to get some chicken soup..."
"Is Sophia with you?"
Amelia was silent for a moment.
"No."
Ethan's voice turned cold.
"Who told you to go find her?"
"Don't you understand 'break up'?"
Amelia flared up.
"Fine! I was meddling!"
"She said it herself!"
"It has nothing to do with her if you die from your illness!"
The other end of the line went silent.
Only the dial tone remained.
...
In the hospital room, phone fragments were scattered across the floor.
Martha quietly tightened her grip on the new phone in her pocket.
This one couldn't be broken too.