But every passing second was forcing her to think about the one decision she didn’t want to make.
She was still lost in her thoughts when her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Mom.
She immediately answered the call.
“Hello, Mom?” “Sophia…” Emma Parker, Sophia’s mother, said in a desperate voice.
“Come to the hospital.
Right now.” “What happened, Mom?” Sophia asked, panic rising in her chest.
Before Emma could answer, the call suddenly disconnected.
Emma looked down at her phone.
The battery had died.
She had forgotten to charge it.
Sophia’s heart started racing.
Without wasting another second, she rushed out.
Fifteen minutes later, she reached the hospital.
She ran inside and found her mother standing outside the doctor’s cabin.
“Mom…
is everything okay?” Sophia asked breathlessly.
Tears filled Emma’s eyes.
“The doctor said Michael needs surgery immediately…
or he won’t make it.” Sophia froze.
It felt as though the ground beneath her feet had disappeared.
“How…
how will we arrange that much money?” Emma whispered helplessly.
She slowly sank to the floor, all the strength leaving her body.
“No…” “I won’t let him die…” Sophia clenched her fists.
Ryan.
His condition echoed in her mind.
Fine…
if that’s what it takes to save Dad…
I’m ready.
She wiped away her tears and knelt beside her mother.
“Mom…” “I can arrange the money.” Emma immediately looked up.
Her tear-filled eyes were full of hope.
“You can?” “Yes,” Sophia replied firmly.
She helped her mother stand up.
“You wait here, okay?” “I’ll be back with the money.” Emma nodded silently.
Sophia walked out of the hospital.
She checked the time.
11:00 PM Taking a deep breath, she dialed Ryan’s number.
After a few rings, he answered.
Ryan had been lying on his bed, wondering what Sophia’s decision would be.
Seeing her name on the screen surprised him.
“Hello,” Ryan said.
There was a brief silence.
Then Sophia spoke.
“I’m ready to marry you.” “Please bring the money to the hospital.” Ryan was silent for a moment.
Deep down, he had expected Sophia to agree eventually.
But he hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.
Her father’s condition must have gotten worse, he thought.
“Have you checked the time?” Ryan asked calmly.
“Please,” Sophia whispered desperately.
“Please bring the money now.” “I’ll do whatever you say.” “Please…” Her voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ryan remained silent for a second.
Then he replied, “Fine.” He ended the call.
About thirty minutes later, Ryan arrived at the hospital with the money.
Without saying a word, he handed it over.
The hospital staff immediately began the necessary formalities.
Soon, Michael was taken into the operating room.
Sophia stood outside, her eyes fixed on the doors as they slowly closed.
Ryan looked at her for a few moments before speaking.
“We’ll get married tomorrow morning.” Sophia slowly lowered her head.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment.
She had no other choice.
“…Okay,” she whispered.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably.
From tomorrow…
my life would never be the same.
She closed her eyes.
I just hope I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.