After hanging up the phone, Sophie stood frozen in place for a long time, clutching her mobile.
Her two Chinese roommates, both university students, stood at the door and asked with concern, "Sophie, what's wrong? Has your mom's condition been stable lately?"
"I'm fine. Mom had surgery yesterday and she's stable now. Thank you! I'm okay, just a little tired." She forced a smile, shook her head, and gently closed the bedroom door.
Sitting down at her desk, her gaze fell on the photograph of her and her mother.
In the picture, both of them were beaming. Anyone could see at a glance that they were a mother and daughter bound by deep, overflowing love.
"Mom… I know I shouldn't have fallen in love with Ned, but I want to follow my heart just this once. Would you support me?" Sophie whispered to the photograph, staring at it intently.
Then, scene after scene from the past six months came flooding back, vivid as if they had happened only yesterday.
