Bound By Love

Chapter 20 The Price of Silence

Evelyn sat silently, her hands clasped tightly, her mind spinning with regret and disbelief. She had orchestrated every aspect of Sophia's future, arranging her engagement to James, never once considering what Sophia might truly want. It was inconceivable—how had she overlooked the depth of feelings between Sophia and Liam, right under her own roof? Guilt tightened in her chest as she recalled her insistence on pairing Sophia with James, hoping to fulfil a vision that Sophia had clearly never shared.

Robert, too, sat with furrowed brows and a look of silent dread on his face. He had used such venomous words against Sophia, a girl who was now carrying his grandchild. How could he, knowing her all her life, have failed to see the truth in her eyes? His stomach churned at the thought of the cruel things he had said.

James stared vacantly, his own guilt weighing heavy. He'd never once stopped to ask Sophia what she wanted. He'd assumed she would comply, out of gratitude perhaps, and for his part, he had been swept up in the plan without a second thought. But looking back now, every memory of Sophia's hesitance made sense. She'd never smiled when they talked of marriage; she'd withdrawn, become quiet and reserved. James understood now why she had been so unenthusiastic. And it stung him to realize that he, too, had hurt her by ignoring her silence.

Meanwhile, Liam drove through the city in a daze, blinking back tears that blurred the road before him. Every bitter word he'd thrown at Sophia came back to him with painful clarity. He recalled her hesitant approach one night, as if trying to tell him something—how he'd dismissed her without hearing her out. Now, he knew what she had been trying to share with him, and the weight of his own blindness crushed him. Desperate, he dialled his closest friend.

"Mark, I need you," Liam choked out when his friend answered.

"Liam? What's going on? Are you okay?" Mark's voice was laced with concern.

"It's Sophia. She's gone, she ran away... she's pregnant, Mark. She's... she's carrying my child, and I didn't even know," Liam confessed, his voice cracking.

"What?" Mark nearly shouted. "Pregnant? Are you serious? Why—what about the engagement with James? What happened?"

"I'll explain it all," Liam replied, his voice low with guilt. "Just meet me. I'll pick you up; I need your help finding her."

Minutes later, Liam pulled up outside Mark's apartment, and as soon as Mark got in, he began to spill everything—how he and Sophia had loved each other, how she'd tried to reach out to him, how his own anger and jealousy had blinded him, and how she'd finally been pushed to leave under the weight of his family's expectations.

"She tried to tell me one night, Mark. I just... I didn't listen. I was too angry, too proud. And now... I don't know where she is," Liam confessed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Mark rested a hand on Liam's shoulder. "We'll find her, okay? We'll make this right."

As they continued searching through the city, a call came in from James.

"Liam," James said, his voice tense. "I filed a report with the police, and they're looking for her now. I sent them her picture, so they're working on it. We'll bring her back, I promise."

"Thanks," Liam replied quietly, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "I can't lose her, James. This is all my fault. She was right here, and I... I pushed her away."

For hours, Liam scoured every place he thought Sophia might go, wracking his mind for clues, until finally his phone rang. It was an officer from the police department.

"Mr. Whitford," the officer reported, "we have located a young woman by the name Sophia at City Hospital. She collapsed at the airport, and we brought her here. You may want to come at once."

Liam's heart raced as he sped toward the hospital, Mark beside him. When they arrived, they found the rest of the family gathered outside a hospital ward, worry etched into each face. Liam was the last to arrive, his chest tight as he took in the scene.

"Where is she?" he asked, his voice breaking.

James turned to him; his own eyes troubled. "She's inside, Liam. The doctors are checking on her now."

"I need to see her—I need to be with her," Liam pleaded, trying to push past, but a nurse stopped him gently.

"Please, sir, let the doctors finish their assessment. She needs rest."

Liam's desperation grew as he paced the hallway, his gaze flicking to the closed door every few seconds. He had to see her; had to know she was okay. Evelyn's gaze followed her son, and she felt a deep stab of guilt watching him suffer. She whispered, more to herself than anyone else, "This... this is all my doing. I never asked her what she wanted... I only pushed  her away, forced her into choices that weren't hers to make."

Robert nodded beside her, silent, his face haunted with regret. He thought of the harsh words he had flung at Sophia, never imagining that he was speaking of his grandchild's mother. James, too, looked up at his mother with pained understanding. "Mom, I think we all missed it," he murmured, "and we all hurt her. Now we have to make it right. Sophia and Liam deserve that."

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally emerged, and Liam hurried to him. "How is she?" he asked urgently.

"She's stable," the doctor replied, "but very weak. She hasn't been eating, and her health has deteriorated significantly. The pregnancy is laced with risks , and she should be getting regular, nourishing meals, but instead, she's malnourished. Her vitals are low, and she's suffering from severe stress. We'll need to monitor her closely for the remaining weeks."

Relief mingled with guilt in Liam's chest. "Please, just tell me what I need to do. I'll do anything to help her and our child."

The doctor nodded, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Right now, she needs rest. She's sedated, but you'll be able to see her soon."

Liam glanced through the small window into the ward, his heart aching as he took in the sight of Sophia lying pale and fragile, her once vibrant face now so hollow and drawn. His gaze softened as it drifted to her rounded belly, the unmistakable sign of the life they had created together. As he looked, tears filled his eyes, and he whispered to himself, "I'm here, Sophia. I won't leave you again."

Everyone remained silent, absorbed in their thoughts, until James approached and placed a supportive hand on Liam's shoulder. "I didn't know, Liam. I never understood. But she'll have a place with us, I promise."

Liam said nothing, his gaze fixed on Sophia, his heart breaking with every second he waited for her to wake.