Semua Bab The Whispers of my heart: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Daniel had never been good at confrontation.He preferred to avoid it — to let things settle like dust in the wind.But when Emily showed up at his apartment uninvited, he knew there was no escaping this.She stood in the doorway, wearing a fitted coat and heels that clicked against the floor like a warning."I know you don’t want to talk to me," she said, voice calm but sharp. "But I need to."Daniel exhaled slowly. "Emily…"She stepped inside before he could say no."I’m not here to beg," she said, setting her bag down. "I’m just here to understand."He closed the door behind her.And for the first time in weeks, he was alone with her.And it felt like a storm waiting to happen.Emily was everything Daniel had once thought he needed.Tall.Confident.Well-dressed.She came from old money — her family owned a chain of luxury hotels across the country. Her father was a real estate mogul, her mother a former model turned philanthropist.She had grown up in a world of private schools an

The morning after her talk with Daniel, Sophia woke up with the sun already spilling through the dorm window.It was quiet.Too quiet.But for once, the silence didn’t feel heavy.It felt peaceful.She sat up slowly, hugging her knees to her chest, replaying the night before in her head.She had replayed those words so many times that she could almost hear them in his voice now.And for the first time in years, she believed him.She didn’t rush to get ready.Instead, she took her time — brushed her hair, put on a soft sweater, and finally looked at herself in the mirror without flinching.She looked… lighter.Like a weight had been lifted.Like she could finally breathe again.And as she sat on her bed, phone in hand, she hit the contact she hadn’t spoken to in days.Lena answered on the second ring.“Oh my god. I was just about to call you.”Sophia smiled. “I beat you to it.”“Okay, spill. Did he finally say the words?”Sophia bit her lip. “He said a lot.”She told Lena everything —

Sophia had just finished a long day of lectures and study group meetings — the latter now slightly less awkward since Emily had left the group.She was tired.But she also hadn’t eaten anything since morning.So after a quick call to Zara — who reminded her to eat or she’d drag her to the dining hall herself — Sophia grabbed her keys, her phone, and her worn-out black jacket and stepped out into the evening.The air had a chill to it, but it felt good on her skin. She needed the walk more than she realized.She made her way to the small grocery store two blocks from campus — Maple & Grove Market, a cozy little shop tucked between a bookstore and a bakery.She walked in at 8:52 PM, the bell above the door jingling softly.The store was quiet, filled with the scent of fresh bread and cleaning products.She grabbed a small basket and picked up a few essentials — granola bars, almond milk, and a bag of trail mix — before heading to the counter.Sophia stepped out of the grocery store, her

The next morning, the dorm was silent in a way it had never been before.Sophia hadn’t come home.Her phone wasn’t answering.And by 7:00 AM, Mira had had enough.She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “We need to find her.”Zara groaned, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. “Maybe she stayed over at a friend’s.”Claire, already dressed, shook her head. “She wouldn’t leave without telling us. Not after yesterday.”Zara finally sat up. “You think something happened.”Mira nodded. “I know something did.”They called the hospital first.It was the nurse who confirmed their worst fear.“She’s in ICU. She was hit by a bus last night. She’s still unconscious.”Zara swallowed hard.Claire whispered, “Is she going to be okay?”The nurse said what all hospital staff say in moments like this:“She’s stable. We’re monitoring her closely.”That wasn’t a yes.But it wasn’t a no.And that was enough to make them move.They got dressed quickly, grabbed their phones, and made their way to Evergre

Sophia Thomas was finally home.The hospital had released her with a long list of instructions — rest, no strenuous activity, and a follow-up appointment in two weeks.But she didn’t care about the rules.She only cared about one thing.She was out of that sterile room.Out of that bed.And finally, finally back in the world where Daniel Harper existed.They walked home together under a sky painted in soft blues and purples, the last light of the sun fading behind the hills.She was quiet, still adjusting to the world outside the hospital.Daniel stayed close — not touching, but there.Just like he had promised.And just like her roommates had said — he was the one who belonged by her side.As they reached her dorm, she stopped at the steps, looking up at the building like it was a place she had forgotten.“You okay?” Daniel asked.She nodded. “Yeah. Just… tired.”He studied her face — the way her eyes were still soft with exhaustion, the way she leaned slightly against the railing li