The next morning, Leonard arrived at the hospital just after dawn, his heart racing as he walked through the quiet halls. He hadn't slept at all—being away from Sophie even for a second felt unbearable. When he stepped into her room, the silence hit him hard. Sophie lay still and pale, her chest rising and falling slowly. She was alive, but so fragile it made his heart ache.
Without a word, Leonard sat beside her and gently took her hand. He laced their fingers together, careful not to disturb the IVs, and pressed her hand to his lips. "Sophie…" he whispered, voice thick with emotion. "I'm here." He gave her hand a soft squeeze, eyes fixed on her face. "I know you can hear me. Please… come back to me."
For a while, there was only silence—just the soft hum of machines and the steady beep of the heart monitor. Then, as Leonard lowered his head, he felt it—a small twitch in Sophie's fingers. His eyes flew open in shock. "Sophie?" he whispered, watching as her eyelashes fluttered. \
Moments later, her lips moved, and in a weak, raspy voice, she said, "Leonard…"
The sound hit him like a wave. "Sophie!" he cried, jumping up and hitting the emergency button. Relief rushed through him as doctors hurried in to check her condition. After a quick assessment, the lead doctor turned to him with a calm smile. "Her vitals are stable. She's out of danger, but "She'll need plenty of rest to recover from the head injury."
Leonard didn't let go of her hand for a second, even during the check-up. When they said she should sleep again, he stayed close, watching her like she might vanish if he looked away. Once the room was quiet again, Sophie slowly turned her head and gave him a faint, tired smile. "I'm okay now, Leonard. You don't have to hold my hand so tight," she teased softly.
But Leonard didn't smile. His jaw tightened, his emotions bubbling beneath the surface. "You scared me," he said in a low voice. "Why did you push me away like that?"
Sophie gently brushed her fingers against his. "It was instinct… I just wanted to protect you."
Leonard looked down, swallowing hard. "Don't do that again," he said, voice thick. "Let me be the one to protect you."
Sophie's smile faded into something more tender. "You're the future of the Yan family. Of course I wanted to keep you safe—"
But Leonard cut her off, shaking his head. His grip on her hand tightened. "You matter too, Sophie," he said firmly. "More than the family. More than anything. I'd give it all up—just to keep you safe."
And in that quiet moment, his words became a silent promise neither of them would forget.
Hearing the seriousness in his voice, Sophie felt something shift inside her. This didn't feel like the Leonard she was used to—the one who playfully begged for kisses and pouted like a child.
Instead, the man beside her was calm, steady, and completely sure of himself. Confused and a little unsettled, she looked up at him. That's when she noticed it—his eyes. There was no trace of innocence in them, only clarity and quiet strength.
"Why does it feel like… my husband is suddenly speaking like a normal person?" she asked carefully, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.
Leonard met her gaze without hesitation. "Because your husband is a normal person," he said calmly.
Sophie's breath hitched. Her lips parted in shock as his words sank in. "You… you're not…?" she whispered. Leonard gave a slow, honest nod. "I've always been normal. I was just pretending."
Her world seemed to spin. The color drained from her face, then rushed back in a hot wave of embarrassment, disbelief—and confusion. She thought of all the times she'd cared for him, guided him, protected him. All the patience she'd shown, believing he was fragile. And he had known all along. Her cheeks burned, her fingers tightening around the bedsheet. But deeper than the embarrassment, a quiet fear crept in.
If Leonard had never been who she thought he was—if the man beside her had only played the fool—then what did that mean for everything they'd built? For their marriage?
Her chest ached. "Then… are you going to divorce me?" she asked in a soft, trembling voice, finally voicing the fear that had been growing inside her.
Leonard's face changed in an instant. His eyes darkened, his whole body tensed with disbelief. "What? Divorce?" he said, his voice sharp with emotion. "Why would I ever do that?"
Sophie looked down, her voice quivering. "Because now that you're normal again… you deserve someone who matches you. Someone more capable. Someone who matches your family background…"
Leonard gently cupped her face, his touch so tender it made her breath catch. "Sophie," he said softly but with steady conviction, like her name alone grounded him. His thumbs brushed her cheeks, wiping tears she hadn't realized were there. "You're my wife—not by mistake, not out of duty. I chose you. And I'm never letting you go."
His voice held no doubt, only truth.
Sophie looked at him, overwhelmed—relief, love, and uncertainty flooding through her. "I can really stay by your side?" she whispered.
Leonard smiled, warm and sure. "Of course, silly girl," he said gently.
Then he leaned in, tilted her chin, and kissed her
Just as their kiss ended, a gentle knock sounded on the hospital room door. Leonard pulled back slowly, his forehead resting against Sophie's for a heartbeat longer before straightening up. Madam Yan stepped in quietly, holding a small thermos and a bag of fresh fruits. Her expression softened as she saw Sophie awake, sitting up with a faint flush on her cheeks and Leonard at her side, his hand still wrapped protectively around hers.
"Sophie," Madam Yan said, her voice warm and steady as she approached the bed. "You gave us quite a scare."
Sophie tried to sit straighter, her voice soft. "Mother…"
Madam Yan sat by the edge of the bed and gently took Sophie's free hand in both of hers. "Thank you," she said, her eyes misting slightly. "You didn't just save Leonard—you saved all of us. If anything had happened to him…"
Sophie shook her head, overwhelmed. "I just reacted. I didn't think, I just… I couldn't let anything happen to him."
"I know," Madam Yan replied, brushing Sophie's hand affectionately. "And that's why you're exactly the kind of person Leonard needs by his side. Brave. Loyal. Selfless."
Then her expression turned more serious. "The police arrested Victor the very night the accident happened. Leonard had already gathered the evidence—and with everything that happened to you, the charges were swift and heavy. Attempted murder, conspiracy, corporate fraud. He won't be getting out anytime soon."
Sophie's eyes widened, her breath catching. "It was… his uncle?" she asked, turning to Leonard in disbelief.
Leonard nodded grimly. "He was behind everything. My accident. My father's death. And now… you."
Sophie's heart sank. She'd never imagined someone in Leonard's own family could be capable of something so cruel. "All this time…"
Madam Yan placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "You don't have to carry this weight, Sophie. You've done more than enough. Just focus on getting better now. We'll take care of the rest."
Sophie nodded slowly, her throat tight with emotion. As Madam Yan stood to leave, she leaned in and placed her hands on Sophie. "I am really glad that you are awake, my dear. And thank you—for loving my son the way you do."
When the door clicked shut behind her, Leonard turned back to Sophie, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I told you," he murmured softly. "You matter more than anything."
And for the first time since waking, Sophie allowed herself to believe it. Completely.