Marcus's phone rang while he stood on the hospital rooftop.
He answered it and said simply, "Okay, I'm coming."
After ending the call, he made his way down to the hospital entrance, where he met a delivery carrier. Marcus received a parcel, signed for it, and thanked the man politely.
He looked at the package for a second and thought to himself, It's time.
Marcus walked back toward Sophia's room. Reaching the door, he hesitated briefly at the doorknob, gathering his thoughts, before finally pushing it open.
The moment he stepped inside, their eyes met.
They stared at each other for a moment, but strangely, it wasn't awkward. It felt... natural, as if no words were needed.
"It looks like you've made up your mind," Marcus said quietly.
Sophia nodded.
"What have you decided, then?" Marcus asked, his voice steady.
Sophia took a breath. "Before I answer that," she said softly, "I'd like you to know something first. Then you can decide again whether you still want to marry me."
She went on to tell Marcus about her real family situation — how, even though she lived under her own father's roof, she was nothing more than an outcast. How she was treated like a maid, invisible and unwanted.
Only the servants, the guards, the gardeners, and the drivers had ever shown her kindness. Her own blood — her father, her stepmother, and her stepsister — treated her with nothing but coldness.
Marcus listened in silence, his chest tightening with every word.
"Is that why you didn't want me to call anyone after the accident?" he asked, his voice softer now.
Sophia nodded.
Marcus fell into deep thought.
Now he understood why Sophia had been wandering alone in the heavy rain last night, wearing clothes that offered little protection.
At first, he had thought perhaps she had fought with a boyfriend and been thrown out.
But now, he knew the ugly truth — her own family had tried to sell her off to an old man for the sake of an investment deal.
A surge of anger and protectiveness rose within him.
Now, more than ever, Marcus was determined to marry this girl — not out of pity, but out of respect for the strength she carried within her all this time.
"I'm very sorry you had to endure all that," Marcus said sincerely. "But my offer still stands. As long as you become my wife, I promise you — no one will ever dare to bully you again. Not your family. Not anyone."
Sophia stared at him, stunned by the certainty in his voice.
She felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom inside her — a feeling she hadn't known in a long time.
After years of loneliness, of standing alone against the world, someone was finally offering to protect her, to fight for her.
It wasn't just a promise; it was a hand reaching out to lift her from the darkness she thought she'd be trapped in forever.
Even after learning about her infertility, even after hearing about her broken family, Marcus didn't look at her with disgust or pity.
He didn't see her as damaged or less worthy.
He didn't trample on her when she was already struggling to stand.
Instead, he offered her dignity. He offered her a new life.
"Thank you, Marcus," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.
From her story, Marcus also discovered that Sophia had a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Though it was meant to be a four-year program, she had completed it in just three years, driven by her sharp mind and relentless work ethic.
She hadn't even taken summer breaks — anything to avoid returning to the cold, loveless house she was forced to call home.
Marcus looked at Sophia, feeling both admiration and a deep protectiveness.
This girl is stronger than she even realizes, he thought.
And now, she was about to become his wife.
---
Marcus didn't want the atmosphere to turn awkward, or make Sophia feel like he was pitying her.
So he decided to shift the conversation.
"Oh, right... this is for you," Marcus said, handing her the parcel he had picked up earlier.
Sophia blinked in surprise as she accepted it. "What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Your dress got drenched and torn last night," Marcus explained, scratching the back of his neck a little awkwardly. "I figured you might need another one, so... I ordered something for you."
Only then did Sophia realize — she had completely forgotten about what she was wearing last night.
Since waking up, she had only been in the hospital's patient gown, and the memory of the soaked, too-revealing dress her stepmother had forced on her had completely slipped her mind.
Sophia's heart tightened.
Even the small details… he noticed them.
"Thank you again, Marcus. Really," Sophia said sincerely, her fingers tightening slightly around the package.
From the moment he found her in the rain until now, Marcus had shown her nothing but kindness.
She had thanked him many times already, but somehow it still didn't feel like enough.
"You're about to become my wife," Marcus said gently, "so it's my responsibility."
He didn't want Sophia to feel indebted, and he meant every word.
Sophia smiled — a real, soft smile that reached her eyes.
"Okay then," Marcus said, glancing toward the door. "I'll step outside. Get changed and we'll get ready to leave the hospital."
"Alright," Sophia replied softly.
Marcus gave her a reassuring nod and stepped outside, leaving Sophia alone to change.
---
The door creaked open softly.
Sophia stepped out, already prepared, wearing a simple frock cotton dress that clung gently to her figure.
Though the dress was modest, it outlined her curves perfectly — her slender waist, the proud lift of her chest, and the graceful line of her hips were all showcased effortlessly, without her even trying.
The soft fabric flowed down her long legs, brushing just past her knees, making her look elegant yet stunningly alluring at the same time.
Marcus, who had been leaning casually against the wall, turned his head — and froze.
For a moment, he forgot to breathe.
His mouth parted slightly in surprise, unable to hide his reaction.
He had always known Sophia was beautiful, but he realized now he had completely underestimated her.
Or rather, he didn't truly know her at all.
Sophia wasn't just beautiful.
She was the kind of woman who could steal the air from a man's lungs without even trying — blessed with everything a woman could dream of: a breathtakingly lovely face, a body that was the envy of supermodels, full, proud breasts, a slim waist that curved into perfect hips, and long, shapely legs that seemed to go on forever.
Marcus found himself staring for a moment longer than appropriate, his heart skipping an unfamiliar beat before he quickly composed himself.
This girl...
She's really something else.
And Sophia — oblivious to the turmoil she stirred — simply tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression calm, almost shy.
Across town, if Amelia had seen this scene, she would have burned with hatred.
There were two things Amelia Harrison despised most about Sophia.
First was her looks.
No matter what Sophia wore — be it simple, cheap, or plain — she always looked dazzling because of the body she was born with, a body that many women would kill to have, that even luxury brands dreamed of dressing.
And second was Sophia's mind.
Not only was she beautiful, but she was brilliantly smart, almost effortlessly so.
Tasks that took others days or weeks to master, Sophia would solve with an easy grace that infuriated Amelia to no end.
That's why Amelia wanted Sophia trapped under her feet, reduced to nothing more than a maid in her own house — a way of proving that no matter how outstanding Sophia was, she would forever be a stepping stone for Amelia's ambitions.
But standing here now, looking at her, Marcus could only think of one thing:
How could anyone not treasure a woman like this?
He smiled faintly, forcing himself to look away before he embarrassed himself any further.
"Shall we?" he asked, offering his hand casually, as if he hadn't just been completely shaken by the sight of her.
Sophia nodded, her own small smile playing on her lips.