“Sophia,” I heard someone say.
I turned.
It was Ryan’s grandmother.
I tried to force a smile.
She stared at me for a few seconds before asking, “Were you crying?” Her voice was filled with concern as she noticed the tears still lingering in my eyes.
“I…” I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say anything, the doctor came out of the room.
Turning toward my mother, he asked, “Have you arranged the money for the surgery?” “Not yet,” Mom replied, clenching her fists tightly.
She looked so helpless.
Seeing her like that, a tear slipped down my cheek.
I still couldn’t believe how our lives had changed overnight.
Just yesterday we had been laughing together, and now Dad was lying in a hospital bed, looking so fragile.
Mom looked exhausted.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, as if they were waiting for permission to fall.
I was lost in my thoughts when my eyes slowly shifted toward Ryan’s grandmother.
She was looking at me with concern.
Perhaps she had understood everything after hearing the conversation.
She stepped closer and gently held my hands.
“Everything will be alright,” she said softly.
I wanted to believe her.
I really did.
But it felt as though every door in front of me had already closed.
“I know this is a difficult time for you and your family, but it will pass,” she continued.
I slowly nodded.
“But you have to stay strong, okay?
Not only for yourself, but also for your family.” I took a slow breath and wiped away my tears.
She was right.
If I broke down now, who would stand beside Mom?
She needs me.
I have to stay strong—for her and for Dad.
She gently patted my head before giving me one last reassuring glance.
Then she quietly walked away.
I turned toward my mother.
“Sophia,” she said softly, “go home and get some rest.” “Mom, I’m not tired,” I replied.
“I’ll stay here.
You should go home and rest.” She shook her head.
“No, dear.
I can’t leave right now.
I have something to take care of here.” “Then I’ll stay with you,” I said firmly.
“Please, dear.
It’s something I have to do.
You can’t do it.” Seeing how tired Mom looked, I didn’t want to trouble her any further.
So I slowly nodded.
“Okay.” I left.
The entire way back home, my mind kept drifting back to Dad.
I was thinking hard how to get that much money.
Mom’s words echoed in my mind.
“$200,000.” The number refused to leave my thoughts.
It was such a huge amount.
How could I possibly arrange it in such a short time?
Soon, I reached home.
The house was strangely quiet.
All the happy memories from the past started coming back to me.
I went to my room.
Tears started falling from my eyes as if they had been waiting to flow.
My eyes then fell on Dad’s photo frame.
I picked it up.
I placed my finger in his photo.
“I can’t afford to lose you, Dad.” “I’ve already lost my brother.” “Now…
I can’t lose you too.” “No matter what I have to do, I’ll do it to save you.” I held the photo frame close to my chest.
After a few seconds, My phone started ringing.
Chloe.
I looked at her name flashing on the screen, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer.
Right now, nothing else mattered except saving Dad.
Third Person POV Meanwhile, Chloe had arrived at the university much earlier than usual.
She stood near the entrance, her eyes constantly searching for Sophia.
She was really worried because she hadn’t been able to contact Sophia since yesterday.
As time passed and Sophia still didn’t arrive, Chloe became restless.
She dialed Sophia’s number.
Ring…
But there was no response.
She called again.
Still no response.
She was getting anxious.
Why isn’t she answering?
I hope she’s okay.
Just then, she overheard a group of girls talking about the previous night’s party.
“Do you know?
Someone slapped Ryan at the party yesterday,” one girl said.
“What?” the other girl frowned in disbelief.
“I can’t believe it.” “I know it’s hard to believe, but I saw it with my own eyes,” the first girl replied.
“Really?
It’s still hard to believe,” the second girl said.
Chloe’s eyes immediately shifted toward Ryan.
Ryan entered the university with his usual confident and authoritative walk.
The girls immediately stopped talking the moment they saw him.
He walked toward his classroom as if nothing had happened.
No one dared to mention the incident from the previous night, even though the few students who had witnessed it knew exactly what had happened.
But seeing everyone act as though nothing had happened disappointed Adrian.
He wanted Ryan to be embarrassed.
He wanted everyone to laugh at him.
“Logan,” Adrian called.
“Yeah?” Logan replied casually, his eyes still fixed on his phone.
“Do you still have that video?” Adrian asked, looking toward Ryan.
“What video?” Logan asked without looking up.
“The video you showed me last night.” Hearing that, Logan finally looked at Adrian.
“Oh, that one?
Yeah, I still have it.” Adrian glanced at Ryan one last time.
“Post it.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Mahekstories Thank you for reading Bound to My Bully.