Marcus walked side by side with Sophia toward the hospital parking lot.
He led her toward his V12 vintage Aston Martin and opened the door for her. Sophia quietly got inside, and Marcus circled around to the driver's side and got in.
He started the car, but didn't drive off immediately. Instead, he turned slightly toward her.
"I guess... you don't want to go back home now," Marcus said, his voice low, not wanting to force her to answer. "Your stepmother and sister would probably give you a hard time."
Sophia hesitated for a second, then nodded shyly without looking at him.
Marcus gave a small smile, as if he already expected her answer. His voice was even softer when he said, "Then... it's only fair you move into my house for now. Since we'll be married soon anyway."
He paused a little, giving her space to react, then added, "You don't have a problem with that, right?"
Sophia turned her head slightly to look at him. There was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, not because she didn't trust him — but because everything was happening so fast.
Still, after a brief moment, she nodded again.
"No problem at all," she said quietly.
Marcus smiled warmly this time and started driving out of the hospital grounds.
"We'll rest today since it's Sunday," he said casually, as if talking about something ordinary. "Then tomorrow, we'll go to the civil office and register our marriage."
Sophia listened silently. Every word he said felt both overwhelming and comforting.
Marriage.
Just yesterday, she had stood under the heavy rain, abandoned and hopeless, still desperately wishing her father would look at her and see her worth.
But today... everything was different.
She bit her lip lightly, trying to control the emotions rising in her chest.
She was really going to be married.
Not to some old man they tried to sell her to.
But to someone who saw her — who accepted her as she was.
It almost felt like a dream she was too afraid to believe in.
Sitting beside Marcus, hearing his steady voice talking about "tomorrow" and "their marriage," Sophia couldn't hold back the warmth building inside her.
She lowered her head, hiding the small smile on her lips.
Maybe... just maybe, she thought, this was the beginning of a life where she could finally feel loved and protected.
"Okay," Sophia replied, simple but sure.
This time, there was no more hesitation in her heart.
She wouldn't be naive anymore — she wouldn't cling to the false hope that her father would one day acknowledge her.
If they didn't want her, then she would start her life anew. She wouldn't look back.
Marcus drove out of the hospital onto the open road.
The cityscape slowly faded behind them, replaced by broader streets and glimpses of green and blue beyond the horizon.
After about an hour, they finally arrived at Palm Beach, Florida — a place famous for its luxurious villas, pristine beaches, towering palm trees swaying gently in the ocean breeze, and streets lined with high-end boutiques and mansions hidden behind ornate gates. It was a world where wealth whispered rather than shouted, where the elite lived in peace and privacy by the sea.
Marcus's car finally pulled into a long private driveway that curved past immaculate lawns and vibrant flowerbeds. In the center stood a grand fountain, its crystal-clear water sparkling under the afternoon sun.
Sophia's eyes widened. She had always known Marcus must be well-off, but never, not even in her wildest thoughts, had she imagined this.
The villa was enormous — built in a classical style with modern touches, massive glass windows reflecting the ocean waves, a wide infinity-edge pool stretching toward the beach, and the ocean itself just beyond the property.
The grand gates closed behind them silently.
Sophia stepped out of the car, still trying to absorb the scene, her hand brushing against the warm body of the car absentmindedly.
A man in a neat black uniform quickly approached, bowed slightly, and addressed Marcus.
"Welcome back, Young Master," he said respectfully, then took the car keys and drove the Aston Martin toward the garage with practiced ease.
Marcus turned to Sophia with a small smile. "Come, let's go inside."
But Sophia was reluctant to move.
Her gaze lingered on the breathtaking view — the gentle rhythm of the waves, the scent of salt in the air, the sheer grandeur of the villa that felt more like a private paradise than a house.
Still feeling like she was in a dream, she finally followed Marcus.
The massive front doors opened into a stunning interior.
Cool marble floors stretched out before her, polished to a gleam. A grand staircase wound upward to the second floor where the bedrooms were, and beyond the entryway were elegant living spaces furnished tastefully but not ostentatiously.
The kitchen was set toward the back, sleek and modern yet inviting.
Sophia instantly thought that if she wandered around alone, she would definitely get lost.
As they reached the main living room, she noticed several people already standing in a neat line, as if waiting for them.
It seemed they had been expecting their arrival.
A middle-aged man, around forty to forty-five, stepped forward with a respectful nod.
"Young Master, we are all here."
"Thank you, Uncle Alfred," Marcus replied warmly.
Then Marcus turned to address the room.
"Thanks, everyone, for your patience," he said, his voice steady and commanding but not cold.
He then gently pulled Sophia a little closer to him by the waist — not forcefully, but enough to make it clear to everyone.
"I gathered you here today because I wanted you to meet someone important," Marcus continued.
"From this moment onward, the woman standing before you will be the Madam of the house. She will be my wife, and from today, she will be your mistress. I expect everyone to treat her with respect, loyalty, and kindness — just as you would treat me."
Sophia's cheeks flushed slightly, not from embarrassment, but from the deep sense of seriousness in Marcus's voice.
The maids and staff looked stunned for a moment.
The Young Master… who had always been known as the cold workaholic, someone too busy for love or family, had found someone?
And not just anyone — standing before them was a girl so breathtakingly beautiful it was almost unreal.
Her delicate face, bright eyes, and elegant figure could rival any model or celebrity they had seen.
Yet at the same time, she looked so young — and somehow, vulnerable.
Sophia, sensing their stunned silence, took a small step forward.
"Hello everyone, my name is Sophia" she said softly, her voice polite but clear. "Please take care of me from now on. If I do anything wrong, or if anything bothers you, I hope you will tell me directly rather than talking behind my back."
Her words were simple, but they carried genuine humility.
The staff immediately felt their hearts soften.
It was rare for someone in her position — soon to be married into such wealth and status — to show this kind of sincerity.
They bowed slightly and said together, "Yes, Madam."
Uncle Alfred gave her a fatherly smile, and even a few of the younger maids exchanged small, happy glances.
They were thankful — and relieved — that the future Madam turned out to be such a kind and humble person.
Sophia stood there, still feeling a little overwhelmed, but this time it was not fear or loneliness that filled her heart.
It was a new, tentative sense of belonging.