Filed to story: The Billionaire Trying Hard to Win Her Heart Novel (Sophie & Tristan) >>
Arius lit a cigarette and started puffing away while staring at the night sky outside the window.
He was halfway through the cigarette when Sophie came over to see him.
“What’s the matter? Is there a problem with my grandpa’s surgery?”
she asked. Arius only smokes when he’s under a lot of stress. I haven’t seen him smoke in a really long time…
“Oh, not at all. I’m the one in charge of his surgery, so why would there be a problem? Rest assured that he is in good hands!”
Arius knew how much she cared about Josiah, so he would never joke about it no matter what.
“Okay.”
Sophie felt relieved when she heard that.
“What do you think of Tristan, Soph?”
Arius hadn’t had a chance to ask her that as she had been busy looking after Josiah since her return.
“Why are you asking me this all of a sudden? What I think about him has nothing to do with you, Arius. You shouldn’t have to compare yourself to him,”
Sophie replied after giving it some thought.
Arius felt a lot better when he heard that.
“You’re right. No one could possibly surpass a talented individual like me anyway!”
Was my statement that convincing? Well, whatever… I’m just glad he’s feeling better now.
She then asked Arius about the surgery procedures
and things to take note of before returning to the ward. Josiah had already fallen asleep by the time she got there.
The butler felt relieved to see that she was actually serious about keeping Josiah company.
“Morgan, you should head back and get some rest. The medical staff and I will take good care of Grandpa.”
“I know, but I’ve been working for Old Mr. Tanner for a very long time now. I know his needs and preferences like the back of my hand, so I think I should stay here with him.”
Morgan used to be a member of the armed forces before an accident forced him into leaving the military. Josiah was the one who took him in when he was jobless and had nowhere to go.
That was why he shared an incredibly strong bond with Josiah.
“All right. You can rest on the bed over there, then.”
Since it was a VIP ward, there was a spare bed in a corner for family members who were staying overnight.
“You should have the bed instead, Ms. Sophie. I can sleep anywhere, so go ahead and get some shuteye.”
“I’m not tired. I’ll be heading out for a bit, so you can sleep if you want to.”
After glancing at Josiah and making sure that he was fast asleep, Sophie opened the door and left the ward.
She paused in her tracks when she got to the end of the corridor and just stood there, staring blankly into space.
Tristan had just returned from taking a phone call when he saw her standing there all by herself. For some reason, he felt his heart ache when he saw her in that state.
He then walked up to her and hugged her from behind.
Feeling the warmth from Tristan’s chest, Sophie relaxed completely and leaned against him.
“What are you doing here all by yourself?”
“Grandpa is asleep, so I came here to get some air.”
“Hmm… I told you to go back and rest, but you refused. I’ve asked the hospital director to prepare the ward next door. You should go and get some rest. It’s not time for the surgery yet, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Okay, Mr. Tristan. Thank you.”
Apart from that, she truly did not know what else to say.
“No need to thank me. Come on. Go and get some sleep. You’ll only need to keep watch after the surgery.”
“Okay,”
Sophie agreed reluctantly.
I just wanted to spend more time with Grandpa. After all, no one can predict the outcome of the surgery. If it weren’t because there was no other choice, I wouldn’t have wanted him to undergo surgery.
When Tristan led her to the ward next door, she saw a hospital bed and an extra bed inside.
“I’ll sleep on the extra bed. Since you’re tall, it won’t be comfortable for you,”
said Sophie, nudging him toward the larger bed.
“Be good and go to sleep.”
Without giving her the chance to refuse, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
“Mr. Tristan —”
Why is he willing to suffer for me? Tristan also lay on the hospital bed next to her. The bed was not that big, so it was actually quite a squeeze for both of them to lie on it.
Nonetheless, it felt very warm and toasty to hug each other in the chilly weather of early winter.
“Sleep,”
he murmured in his pleasant and utterly mesmerizing voice.
“Okay.”
Sophie closed her eyes and leaned against his arm.
Perhaps because she was too tired, it was not long before she dozed off.
As Tristan listened to her gentle breathing, he lifted a hand to brush the hair from her face and tucked the loose strands behind her ear.
“Sleep well, Soph,”
he said softly. As long as I’m here, I’ll shield her from all the problems and worries.
Sophie woke up early the following morning. Sitting up in bed, she spotted Tristan’s tall figure curled up on the extra bed, fast asleep.
Her heart ached when she saw him sleeping so uncomfortably.
Climbing out of bed, she went over to the extra bed and gazed down at him as he slept soundly.
He must be exhausted after the past couple of days. Managing Lombard Group is already a tiring job, yet he’s always by my side.
The moment Tristan opened his eyes, he saw her face close to his.
He reached out his hands instinctively and hooked them around her neck, then drew her toward him and kissed her right on the lips.
“You’re
awake.”
“Yes.”
Sophie was still a little dazed after being kissed so suddenly, and Tristan could not resist pinching her face gently when he noticed it.
“Do you have any idea how enticing you look right now? It’s enough to stir one’s desire to have their way with you,”
he murmured.
She’s simply too alluring!
“I’ll go and check whether my grandfather is awake or not,”
Sophie said quickly. I wonder whether he ate anything last night. Anyway, he must be hungry by now.
Tristan could not help but laugh when he saw her scurry off.
He then had his assistant buy breakfast from The Crown, and the latter brought back plenty of food. Since Josiah relished a lively atmosphere, everyone gathered in his ward to have breakfast with him.
Just as they were eating, Arius arrived.
“I can’t believe you didn’t invite me for breakfast. Isn’t that a bit too much?”
Arius complained. He still had one other surgery scheduled that day. It was a very tough surgery, so he had come to ask Sophie to join him and learn from it.
“Ari! You’ve not had breakfast yet, haven’t you? In that case, come and join us. Tanny bought lots of food!”
Josiah called out. The Crown’s breakfast was delicious, and he had eaten a lot.
“You’re the only one who thinks of me,”
Arius said to Josiah, going over immediately to eat breakfast with the elderly man.
After they finished their meal, Tristan had to leave for Lombard Group as there was some business he had to attend to personally.
Since Josiah wished to take a stroll, Morgan went with him while Arius led Sophie away to prepare for the surgery.
Having heard that Arius would be performing surgery at the hospital that day, Constance had arrived early that morning to wait there. However, it never crossed her mind that she would meet Sophie, who was wearing a surgical gown.
“What are you doing here?”
Constance asked darkly, her expression souring as soon as she saw Sophie.
She harbored a deep dislike for Sophie and felt the latter’s appearance signaled misfortune for Mason.
“Does that have anything to do with you?”
Sophie answered bluntly. She had no wish to be polite to Constance.