007

SOPHIE

When I opened my eyes again, the wrong Laurent brother was seated right beside my bed.

I blinked repeatedly, a constant ringing in my head totally refusing to go away disoriented me further.

I took in my surroundings in one go.

White walls, a beeping machine, some needles connected to the vein of my hand. The hospital.

I had survived. I didn't die, at least not yet.

“Dominic?" I tilted my head a bit to get a clearer view as he stared at me, his bloodstained sleeves rolled up.

"You're awake.” He simply stated, taking his seat.

How…how is he here?

And where is Ces—

Hold on. I called him. It wasn't Cesca. I called Dominic Laurent, Hayes' elder brother and the one everyone feared not to disturb.

First off, how did I even have his phone number?

“What…happened to me?” I carefully asked, turning to the nurse who was attaching a drip fluid.

"You were poisoned.”

I turned to him immediately. He looked bored, pokerfaced, almost tired of the fact that he was here, dealing with this.

“Poisoned? That's…that's not possible. I hadn't eaten the whole day.” My lips trembled as fear coursed through my veins.

I was poisoned.

How could I have been poisoned?

"Nothing at all? Not even a snack, a drink, anything?”

I shut my eyes briefly, trying to remember. My head began hurting almost immediately as fragments of thoughts flooded in.

The wine.

The one Olivia handed me! That's it!

She poisoned me?

“The look on your face says otherwise." I clenched my teeth, anger surging through my veins as my hands curled up into fists.

She tried to kill me.

“It was Olivia. She gave me something, wine and she—"

“And you drank it because you didn't think that your husband's girlfriend would try to kill you." He cut in abruptly and I felt the saliva dry up in my throat.

His voice hoarse, dry, almost condescending. Now I see why Hayes feared him, why the entire Laurent answered to him.

He sure was…cold.

"It wasn't—”

"You could have died today, Sophie. Do you know how bad that would have been for the Laurent's? A death scandal?" His gaze hardened and I glared back.

That's all he was thinking of? I get him being angry that I might have disrupted whatever he had going on but between death and a scandal, I wasn't even that important?

This was the kind of family I married into?

Because I loved Hayes?

"So it's suddenly my fault that I was poisoned? You're the elder and you're going to take your brother's side because his wife got poisoned and it was her fault?” I half yelled.

“I didn’t say that." He shut down flatly.

“Then what are you saying? Because to me, that's exactly what I'm hearing.” He peered at me and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pity cross his eyes.

“I'm saying, you shouldn't be so trusting. Don't you have a single care in the world for your life?” His voice dropped an octave, sounding softer now.

“Sir, the patient’s husband is refusing to leave. He says—” Dominic didn’t even turn fully before replying.

“Then keep him outside.” His tone was that of finality and the nurse hesitated, briefly staring at me.

“But sir—”

“I said, he remains outside.” A random wave of dizziness hit me and my chest tightened.

“Hayes is here?” I asked quietly. I thought he had left with Olivia. How long had he been here?

Had he fin—

“Yes.” He answered after staring at me for a few seconds like he was exhausted.

“I want to see him.”

“Your choice.” He said simply, signalling the nurse to let him in.

“Soph—” Hayes' voice cracked the moment he saw me as he rushed in, stopping in his tracks.

“Sophie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t—” He rushed towards me and the next second, he dropped to his knees.

And were those…tears in his eyes?

Tears?

His hands reached for mine and for some reason, I didn’t pull away immediately.

I just looked at him, like I was seeing him properly for the first time.

“I came as soon as I heard. Olivia…she collapsed, I thought you were resting and I—”

“You thought I was resting.” I repeated.

“Yes, I—”

“I was poisoned.” I slammed back, irritation filling my voice.

“That's what Dom—" He continued and I raised a hand to stop him.

“I was poisoned, Hayes. You know who did it? Olivia. I might have no proof but she—” His grip loosened slightly then tightened again.

“No… no that’s not, Sophie you’re confused, you’re—”

"Confused? I'm on a hospital bed and you still think I'm making things up? Hayes, i…” I trailed off.

I can't do this.

I really can't do this anymore.

I was entirely done with this family and everything.

Almost dying opened my eyes for the better. My husband wasn't just trash. He was scum!

"Hayes, our divorce papers will be sent to you soon. Please make sure you sign them.” I finally said changing the topic and he let go of my hands immediately.

" Sophie, can you stop saying things you don't mean? You're ill right now, what do you want? I'll get it for you." He said, slowly standing to his feet.

“A divorce." I intercepted.

“Sophie!"

“I want to be free from you!" I yelled back.

“We're not getting a divorce, Sophie. I'm not signing any papers, stop it." He retorted.

“Then be sure as hell that I'm dragging this to court. I do not want you anymore." My lips were trembling.

If I could get closer to that glass vase just across the room, I would have smashed his face with it.

“Court? Sophie, please. Stop being unreasonable. You want to take our divorce to court? How about our son? Don't you want him too? Or do you think the court will grant you custody of him, because I won't let that happen." I squinted my eyes.

Was he trying to threaten me into not getting a divorce?

Was that a threat?

“Custody? You can keep him, Hayes. He doesn't want me anyway.”

"Sophie!”

"Dr Dominic, Miss Sophie's treatment is to start in the next 2 weeks so she should start getting her flight ready. Should we schedule the transfer to Germany—” One of the doctors was saying as he walked in.

Germany? When was I even going to Germany ? I hadn't decided yet.

" Germany ? You're going abroad? For what? What treatment?”