AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She’s still unconscious, but the doctors say she’s going to be okay.”
I don’t want to give him any more information than I have to, because I don’t know how much Greer would want him to know. The last thing I ever want to do is betray her trust.
“I want to see her.”
Nodding, I motion behind me and lead him into Greer’s room.
Sophie’s head pops up when she hears us, and her red-rimmed eyes are clues that she’s been crying, too. “Mr. Hawthorne,” she says, composing herself as she stands, still in her dress from the reception.
“Sophia.”
“Sterling!” A woman’s distressed voice comes from down the hallway, Sophie tenses.
From across Greer’s bed, we make eye contact and I see the worry in her expression.
The woman enters the room, her hands flying up to cover her mouth when she sees her daughter. I would hope her motherly instincts are kicking in about now, but I can’t be sure. From what Greer has told me, the Hawthornes aren’t people I want to know.
“Molly,” Greer’s father says in a chastising tone.
I watch as her mother’s countenance shifts and she morphs from distraught to collected.
“Can you tell us what happened?” Sterling Hawthorne’s attention turns to Sophie and then to me. “Who did this?”
Sophie sniffles, crossing her arms over her chest as she looks down at Greer. “It was Lydia.”
“Lydia?” he asks, confusion marking his forehead. “Lydia Dalton?”
Sophie nods. “She's been stalking Greer and she came to the wedding with one of the guys from the team. Apparently, she’s had some crazy obsession with Greer since we were in high school.” Her shoulders shrug and she looks so exhausted.
I hate this for her.
I hate it for Greer more.
But this should be the happiest day of Sophie’s life and it’s been tainted because of a psychopath. And more than anything, I know Greer is going to feel guilty about it all and that kills me.
“I had no idea,” Mr. Hawthorne says, shaking his head in disbelief. “She always seemed interested in Greer, but I assumed it was because they were friends.”
Mrs. Hawthorne clicks her tongue in disgust. “Greer was never friends with that girl. She was a scholarship student.”
“Greer wasn’t like that,” Sophie says, defiance thick in her tone. “But you didn’t really know her. All you were ever concerned about was her living up to your expectations and her last name.”
An awkward silence settles over the room until I decide their visit is over.
“When Greer wakes up, she can call you,” I say, looking down at my girl, who seems so peaceful. Even with the bandages, she’s still the most beautiful woman in the world. “But only if she wants to. From what I understand, you’ve lost the privilege to have a front row seat to her life, and that really sucks for you, because she’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”
The fact they don’t even argue with me, lets me know I made the right call in asking them to leave. Sophie’s shoulders relax the second they excuse themselves from the room and the whole atmosphere changes.
“Thank you,” Sophie whispers, lowering herself back into the chair by Greer’s bed. “I’m not even sure why they showed up or how they knew to, but I’m assuming Sterling Hawthorne is like my father, and he knows everything going on in this city, even when it doesn’t concern him.”
Her words sound distant and detached.
I know Sophie’s relationship with her parents isn’t as bad as Greer’s, but I know it’s not a picture-perfect relationship, either. However, unlike Greer, she maintains a close bond with her family. If I had to guess, that’s mostly due to her siblings. I could tell from watching them at the reception tonight that her brothers dote on Sophie and her sister, although not as friendly as one might like, cares about Sophie.
Greer and I are alike in so many ways that have nothing to do with money or status.
She grew up with every opportunity and chose a path that is her own.
I grew up with limited opportunities, but also chose a path that is all my own.
