CHAPTER 12

I didn't go home that night.

Instead, I curled up on a bench at the hospital and slept the night there.

When I woke up the next day, I had a high fever.

My phone didn't ring at all the whole night. Damien didn't call me a single time.

"Heartthrob…" Sitting on the bench, I called Fredrick. "I've thought about what you said about studying abroad."

"Sophia, are you unwell?" Fredrick asked in concern when he heard something was off with my voice.

"Yeah. I got caught in the rain yesterday, so I have a cold today."

"Where are you? I'll bring you some medicine." Fredrick was anxious.

"Heartthrob, if I submit my application today, how soon can I leave the country?" I was in a hurry.

At that moment, I actually had a feeling that if I didn't leave soon, I might die.

I might die in Damien's hands.

I wanted to live well. I wanted to leave Damien.

Once I left, everything would be over.

"If you apply now, you'll receive the application result in two months. I'll ask the management to expedite it. Once we have confirmation, I'll help you get the tickets."

Fredrick was still worried. "Is your cold bad? Shall I go pick you up?"

"It's fine, Heartthrob, I'm at the hospital. Thank you."

I thought I could leave Huma, this place, and Damien forever after two months.

After hanging up the phone, I left the hospital.

Walking in an alley outside the hospital, I suddenly felt lost. I didn't know where I should go.

After my parents died, the house was sold, and the death benefit from their insurance was used to clear their debts. Other than the Coleman residence, I had nowhere else to rest.

I didn't even know where my house was.

My head was in great pain. I found a corner to sit down and continued sleeping while leaning against a wall.

I didn't know how long I was asleep. When I woke up, I found a jacket on me. Even though it was old and torn, I could tell someone did their best to wash it.

I looked around, but the alley was empty. There was no one.

As I stood up, I saw two buns in a bag next to me.

I smiled bitterly and felt helpless. I guessed a kind person probably thought I was a beggar.

A beggar?

That seemed to be true.

Damien once said I was no different from a beggar for living at their place.

I folded the jacket and placed it somewhere clean. I also placed the two buns on it.

I figured that the kind person would take it back if they were to return.

I walked a few steps while leaning against the wall. Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me.

When I turned around, I saw a tall, skinny, hooded figure as it passed by swiftly.

I didn't think too much about it. I followed the path and got out of the alley. Then, I hailed a taxi by the road.

When I returned to the Coleman residence, Damien was there too.

"Damien, where's Sophia? Why isn't she back yet? She didn't come back the whole night."

Aunty Lisa was worried.

"She's an adult now. It's not like she would die." Damien was unhappy.

I stood outside the door and looked at how irritated Damien was. I sighed.

"Ms. Sophia, there's someone outside looking for you. He said he was Fredrick, your senior."

The caretaker saw me standing outside and came to me.

I was stunned for a moment before running out of the compound.

Why was Fredrick here?

"Heartthrob…" I saw Fredrick waiting for me with a bag of medicine.

"I'm here to give you some medicine." He smiled.

I felt grateful and reached out to accept the medicine.

"The Coleman family isn't so poor that you have to deliver medicine," Damien said in a cold voice behind me.

I didn't know when he came out, but my body tensed up when he got close to me.

"Damien, Sophia is sick. There's no need for you to be so hostile." Fredrick frowned.

Damien scoffed.

"What does her getting sick have to do with you? Who are you to her? Did you guys sleep together?"

Damien obviously found me disgusting.

I looked at Damien with teary eyes. "Then, who are you to me? What gave you the right to talk to my friend like this?"

Damien frowned and scoffed again. He probably didn't expect me to talk back to him.

"Well, aren't you great, Sophia? Who am I to you? Should I tell him that I've slept with you or that you've been living with us like a beggar for years?"

I glared at Damien as my breathing quickened. My gaze started trembling in despair.