Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 144 Falling in Love with Someone You Shouldn't

"What do you want?" I whispered.

Faris must've picked up on my nerves and laughed. "Ethan around?"

"If this ain't urgent, I'm hanging up."

"Hold up," he said.

I glanced at the bathroom door, figuring Ethan was almost done, and clutched my phone, barely holding onto my patience.

"I got hurt for you. Least you can do is come see me, right? I'll show you something tomorrow. Don't even think about bailing. You'll regret it if you do." Before I could say anything, Faris hung up.

Hearing the water stop in the bathroom, I quickly stashed my phone.

Next day, after Ethan left for work, I changed and headed out.

Starlight City was a snowy wonderland, with barely anyone on the streets.

I swung by a fruit shop, grabbed some strawberries and apples, and made my way to the hospital.

Faris's ward door was open, and he was the only one there.

He was half-lying on the bed, scrolling through his phone. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw the fruit in my hand, a grin spreading across his face. "How'd you know I dig strawberries?"

I plopped the fruit on the bedside table and snapped, "I didn't. Just grabbed whatever. If I knew you liked strawberries, I wouldn't have bought 'em." Faris didn't get mad, just kept that cheeky grin as he stared at me.

"If you bought it, I like it."

I rolled my eyes and glanced at his leg.

His leg was in a cast, clearly a bone injury.

Thinking about how Faris got hurt saving me, my tone softened. "What'd the doc say about your leg?"

"It's pretty bad."

I got nervous. "How bad?"

Faris sighed, giving me a pitiful look. "I'm gonna be disabled for life. You gotta take care of me."

I frowned and checked the medical record by his bed, finally feeling relieved.

I glared at him. "I used to be a nurse. You think you can fool me?"

Faris grinned and grabbed my hand. "Just messing with you."

I shook off his hand. "Joking about cursing yourself? You're something else!"

He gave me a goofy, pleading smile. "I'm thirsty. Can you get me some water?"

I stared at him, not moving, and he tugged at my sleeve again.

"Please? Poor me. No one takes care of me. I gotta beg the nurses for water, and they give me attitude if I ask too much. Have some pity on me, will ya?" In the end, I got him some water.

As I handed him the water, I asked, "Why's no one taking care of you? What about your buddies?"

Faris took a sip of water and scoffed, "They're all roughnecks. Good in a brawl, but taking care of a patient? Nah, I'd like to live a bit longer, thanks."

I thought about Cindy. But she was old, and he probably didn't want his grandma knowing about his injury.

Didn't he have any other family? I decided not to ask.

"So, what do you wanna show me?" I asked.

He just stared at me, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Thinking he was just messing with me, I turned to leave with my bag.

"What do you think Ethan would do if he saw this video?" Faris's slow voice came from behind.

I spun around. He slowly turned his phone screen towards me.

My eyes widened.

Even though the video was a bit dark, it was clear as day that it was Faris and me in that room in the forest. From this angle, Faris holding me and kissing my forehead looked way too intimate. I never expected that when Faris turned on the flashlight on his phone last night, he also turned on the camera.

"You're a scumbag!"

I snatched the phone, found the original file, deleted it, and tossed the phone onto his bed.

Faris crossed his arms and looked at me, all smug.

"Chill, I've already backed it up to the cloud."

I clenched my fists, feeling the urge to deck him.

"What do you want?"

"You gotta visit me often and come whenever I call. Otherwise, I'll send the video to Ethan."

He threatened me, and I raised my bag, ready to whack him.

"Repaying kindness with enmity? God's watching," he said with a smirk.

I raised the bag in the air, then angrily put it down and stormed out.

Richard appeared at the door. He glanced at me, but I ignored him and stomped away.

Not long after leaving the hospital, Ethan called me, saying Victor was hosting a welcome dinner for Richard tonight and had booked a private room at a hotel.

Knowing I wasn't welcome and would only get mistreated if I went, I naturally didn't want to go, and Ethan didn't push it.

Since Ethan wouldn't be home for dinner, I didn't rush back. After some thought, I bought some fruit to visit Sophie.

I figured Sophie wouldn't be attending the gathering either, as the Windsor family also ostracized her and her daughter.

I didn't call Sophie before going because I thought the cold weather would keep her and the kid indoors. So she was a bit surprised to see me at the door.

As soon as I plopped down on the couch, Sophie, looking worried, said, "Christmas is almost here, and I don't know if Richard will be out. Spending the holidays inside must be awful." I was floored.

Sophie didn't know Richard was out? So, he hadn't visited them since his release?

He had time to race motorcycles with his buddies but not to see his own daughter.

I decided not to tell Sophie that Richard was out. Maybe he'd remember to visit them in a few days.

Abby clung to Sophie like glue, so I offered to cook.

I couldn't imagine how Sophie managed meals when it was just the two of them.

I quickly whipped up a couple of dishes. Sophie placed Abby on the couch, and we ate there to keep Abby close.

But Abby kept fussing, and Sophie had to keep putting her bowl down to calm her.

I had never been a mom, but just watching Sophie made me fully appreciate how tough it was.

As night fell, I stood by the window, gazing at the city's nightscape.

The welcome dinner at the grand hotel must have started by now, right?

With Richard out, Victor and Linda must be over the moon. Would Ethan share in their joy or drink alone in silence?

We finished our meal amidst Abby's cries, and I went to wash the dishes.

It was getting late, but no matter how Sophie tried to soothe her, Abby wouldn't sleep.

Seeing how hard it was for Sophie to take care of the child alone, I decided to stay the night. Even if it was just to boil some water or cook a meal, I could help a little. The clock on the wall struck ten, and there was a knock on the door.

Abby had just fallen asleep, and Sophie, afraid the noise would wake her, quickly ran to open the door.

Given the late hour, I reminded Sophie to ask who it was first.

Sophie nodded and went to the door to ask.

"It's me," Lacey said.

Sophie opened the door, and Lacey dragged Richard inside.

Richard looked hammered. If Lacey hadn't been holding him up, he probably would've face-planted.

Lacey dumped him onto the couch, and Richard collapsed like a rag doll.

"Richard, listen up. Your wife and kid live here. If you're still a man, take responsibility."

Sophie stood there, staring at Richard, speechless.

She had thought he was still behind bars, so his sudden appearance must have been a shock and a thrill.

Richard slurred, "Enough, stop yelling."

Lacey kicked Richard a few times, and Sophie hurried to pull her away, looking at Richard with a pained expression. "Lacey, don't."

This was the sorrow of loving someone.

Lacey kept laying into Richard. "Sophie is only 19. If you don't step up, do you expect her to take care of the kid alone? That's your child. Do you have any conscience?" Richard, eyes closed, grumbled, "I didn't mean to sleep with her. It was an accident. She's 19 now, an adult. Can't she handle it?"

I wasn't Sophie, but I knew Richard's words must've felt like daggers to her heart.

Lacey slapped Richard hard.

Richard barely flinched.

Just then, Abby's cries filled the room.

Sophie seemed frozen, still in shock.

I went over and picked up Abby.

Abby, just waking up, kept her eyes closed but cried harder, sensing I wasn't her mom. I had to hand her back to Sophie.

Once Sophie took Abby, her cries softened. Sophie sat on the couch, nursing Abby and finally calming her down.

Richard, lying on the couch, opened his eyes and looked drunkenly at the baby. Everyone was quiet, afraid to disturb Abby as she nursed. Abby slowly fell asleep while nursing, and Sophie gathered the courage to look at Richard.

"She still doesn't have a birth certificate."

Richard laughed and cursed, "She's just a little brat. Doesn't deserve one."

Lacey raised her hand to hit him again. But this time Richard raised his hands to block, and Lacey's hand didn't come down.

Sophie, hearing something in his words, quickly brought the baby to Richard.

"Richard, hold her. Hold the baby."

"No." Richard turned his face away, mumbling, "I'm drunk. What if I drop her?"

Sophie, disappointed, sat back down with Abby. Soon, Richard's light snores filled the room.

I remembered Ethan mentioning Lacey had been transferred to the West Coast, so I asked her, "I heard you went to the West Coast. When did you come back?" Lacey replied, "I came back when I heard Richard was out."

That night, Lacey didn't leave. She shared a bed with me while Sophie and the baby slept in another room.

I hadn't fallen asleep when I heard a door open next door, so I got up and opened my door.

Moonlight streamed in from the window, and I saw Sophie gently covering Richard with a blanket.

She didn't leave immediately but squatted beside him, staring at him. After a while, she leaned down and kissed his face.

I felt a pang of sorrow for this nineteen-year-old girl because she had fallen in love with someone she shouldn't have.

In the morning, Lacey and I were awakened by Sophie's cries.

We looked at each other and quickly got up to see what was wrong.

Sophie was sitting on the floor, holding Abby's bottle, her face covered in tears.

"What happened?" I asked.

Sophie, crying, said, "Abby's gone, and Richard's gone too."