17.39 % Chapter 5 Evelyn woke to find herself in a hospital bed , her body aching as if she had been crushed beneath a truck . When she shifted , a searing pain ripped through her left shoulder and back , the bandages there already spotted with blood . She pressed the call button . Minutes dragged by , but no one came . Gritting her teeth , she forced herself upright . If no one would come , she would find a doctor herself . Every step wrenched at her wounds , cold sweat breaking across her forehead . She limped along the hallway , one hand braced against the wall for balance . As she passed a half - open door , familiar voices froze her in place . Graham Sterling - and Sophie Monroe . Through the narrow gap , Evelyn saw Sophie crying in Graham's arms . His left hand , bound in a thick cast and strapped to his chest , hung uselessly . His right hand , however , stroked Sophie's back with heartbreaking tenderness . " Don't cry , " he murmured , his voice gentler than Evelyn had ever heard it , steady with reassurance . " My hand's been fixed , hasn't it ? We both made it out alive - that's what matters . " Once , that tenderness had been hers . Sophie lifted her tear - streaked face . " Graham , I don't understand ... If you could destroy your hand for Evelyn , if you love her so much , then why - why did you save me first in the river ? " Evelyn's breath caught . That was the very question burning inside her , too . Silence hung heavy in the room before Graham's low , deliberate words struck like ice through her chest : " One is duty . The other is love . " Duty ... and love ? Evelyn stood motionless , her blood gone cold . Had all those years of careful devotion , that envy - stirring affection , even the possessive passion Chapter 5 21.74 % in the dead of night - been nothing more than obligation ? His kindness , his protection , his everything ... just duty ? And Sophie ? The past Evelyn had never been part of , the memories he still held dear , the choice he made without hesitation - was that love ? Sophie seemed to understand perfectly . Her sobs grew harder as she clutched his waist . " Graham ... if only we hadn't been so stubborn back then , if we'd just let ourselves give in ... maybe we wouldn't have lost all those years . " Graham said nothing . He didn't return her embrace , but he didn't push her away either . He simply stood there , silent , his dark eyes clouded with regret , pain , and a weight Evelyn couldn't name . In that moment , her heart splintered into pieces . She didn't know how long she lingered outside the door , until Sophie's voice finally cut through : " I'm going to grab you a hot cup of coffee . " The words jolted her like fire . Evelyn stumbled back , desperate to flee . But the door swung open . Sophie stood there , not a trace of tears left , only the faint curve of a mocking smile . " No need to hide . I know you've been standing out here . " Evelyn stiffened , keeping her back to Sophie , unwilling to let her see her face . Sophie stepped closer , her voice low and sharp , laced with challenge . " You heard everything , didn't you , Evelyn ? Graham still carries me in his heart , and I've never stopped loving him . I'm divorced now - nothing stands between us anymore . So ... will you step aside and let us be together ? " Chapter 5 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!