Page 49 of Shadows of Recovery

“The better the evidence, the better to put this bastard away.” Ruth made her career as a defense attorney, but she clearly wanted the prosecution to win this time.

Isobel shook. “I should have told Brad more. Maybe if they raided the hospital sooner…” Tears rolled down her face.

Tristan collapsed into a nearby chair, his head in his hands. The images of Sophie’s ordeal flashed through his mind, each one more horrific than the last. He couldn’t bear the thought of what she had gone through, the pain and humiliation she had suffered.

"Why?" Tristan’s voice cracked as he lifted his head, tears streaming down his face. "Why did this happen to her?"

James crouched beside his brother, rubbing his chest. "I don’t know, but we’re going to do everything we can to help her heal. She has all of you.” He looked at her family.

Tristan shook his head. “I should have been there. I should have protected her.”

“You couldn’t have known,” James said softly, gripping Tristan’s shoulder. “None of us could. But we’re here now, and we’re going to support her every step of the way.”

As they sat together, the door to the waiting room opened, and Audrey walked in, her face drawn and serious.

Tristan stood up, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. “Audrey, how is she?”

Audrey approached them, her eyes filled with compassion. “Sophie is stable. The exam is over, and it was necessary for the investigation. We will do everything we can to ensure she gets the best follow-up care possible.”

Tristan’s chest tightened. “Did she… Was she awake?”

“No,” Audrey said gently. “She didn’t feel anything during the exam.”

Tristan nodded, relief mingling with the deep ache in his heart. “Thank you, Audrey. I… I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to,” Audrey replied. “Just focus on being there for Sophie. She needs all of you now more than ever.”

The minutes dragged by like hours as they waited for news from the OR. Tristan couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth, his mind a tumult of worry and despair. Charlotte, Molly, Ruth, and Isobel watched him. Olivia leaned heavily onto her fiancé, Jackson.

Finally, a surgeon Tristan knew emerged from the OR, his expression weary but composed. Tristan rushed to him, desperation etched into his features.

“How is she?” Tristan asked, his voice trembling.

The surgeon took a deep breath. “Sophie is stable for now. During the exam, Sophie crashed. It was necessary to remove her spleen. The fractures are set. The maxillofacial team has addressed her facial fractures, and the plastic surgery team has done their part. She’ll need time to heal, both physically and emotionally.”

Tristan swallowed hard. “Can I see her?”

The surgeon nodded. “She’s being moved to the ICU. You can see her once she’s settled in.”

As the group made their way to the ICU, Tristan’s heart ached with a mixture of love and sorrow.

* * *

Whenthey finally reached Sophie’s room, Tristan hesitated at the door. Through the window, he saw her lying in the hospital bed, her face bruised and bandaged, her body hooked up to monitors and IVs. The harsh, sterile light of the hospital room contrasted sharply with the soft beeping of monitors and the faint, rhythmic hiss of the ventilator. She looked so fragile, so different from the vibrant, strong woman he loved. He waited patiently for her family to visit.

When it was finally his turn, he took a deep breath, entered the room and approached her bedside. He gently took her hand, his tears falling onto the white sheets. “I’m here, Sophie,” he whispered. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

James stood at the foot of her bed, his face lined with exhaustion but tinged with hope.

"Now we wait.” His voice was a quiet murmur. "I think we caught the bleed in time. When she wakes up, we will know more. We may have to deal with some side effects.”

Tristan focused on his brother’s weary eyes. “What do you expect?”

James sighed. “It can vary. We could be looking at headaches, seizures, confusion, and difficulty speaking or understanding language. I've got her on antiseizure meds. Like I said, it’s wait and see.”

Tristan's shoulders sagged. He was barely holding himself together as it was. "Thank you, James. I’m grateful you were here.”

As he sat there, holding her hand and watching her breathe, he vowed, no matter how dark the days ahead might be, he would be there for Sophie, offering her all the love and support he could. Because, in the end, love was the only thing strong enough to heal the deepest wounds.

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