Sophia Sullivan hadn't even finished speaking when the old butler scooped up Emma Sullivan without hesitation, hurrying upstairs to settle her in.
"Thank you, Miss Sullivan!"
He had always harbored an inexplicable trust in Sophia. Perhaps it was because of the young master's particular fondness for her—any woman who could earn Ethan Sullivan's confidence and affection was clearly no ordinary person.
"Be careful."
After settling Emma, Sophia turned to assist Ethan, guiding him slowly to the sofa.
Ethan was in too much pain to speak, his face as pale as paper.
When neuropathic headaches struck, the world spun violently, and sharp tinnitus pierced his ears. Yet he clenched his teeth so tightly that not even a single groan escaped.
Sophia pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the cold sweat from his temples. "The doctor will be here soon."
As her fingertips brushed his forehead, a faint, familiar scent lingered in the air. Amid the agony, Ethan caught a whiff of that fragrance, and his mind cleared slightly.
"This scent... I recognize it... You blended it..."
His words were fragmented, his head splitting with pain.
Sophia suddenly remembered what he had mentioned earlier. Swiftly, she retrieved the remaining perfume from her bag and spritzed it around the sofa a few times.
The familiar aroma filled the space, and the tension in Ethan's expression eased slightly. The bulging veins on his arms gradually subsided, though the pain only lessened marginally—it still raged relentlessly.
Beads of sweat slid down his face, his thick lashes trembling faintly. When emotions ran high, his eyes would redden, and now, he looked alarmingly fragile.
Sophia pressed her fingertips against his temples, trying to alleviate the agony. "Just hold on a little longer."
But Ethan suddenly lifted his hand, his burning palm covering her forearm.
His skin was scorching. Their posture was almost intimate.
From Sophia's perspective, even his fingertips were trembling slightly. Despite being in such excruciating pain, he refused to make a sound.
Ethan took a few deep breaths, his voice weak but clear. "I'm sorry... for letting you see me like this. I invited you as a guest, yet I'm being so discourteous."
Sophia shook her head. "It's fine. Illness is part of being human."
Seeing him endure so stubbornly, she found it unfamiliar. This man had always been strong and composed, graceful even in life-or-death situations. When had he ever shown such vulnerability? And even now, he was still worrying about being a poor host.
"Wait here. I have medicine that can ease neuropathic headaches. It won't cure it, but it can temporarily relieve the pain."
Leaving the perfume behind, Sophia grabbed her handbag and strode out.
Back in the Winston household, she had seen similar symptoms. Mrs. Winston had suffered from chronic headaches for years. Neuropathic headaches had complex triggers—both physiological and psychological—but the one thing they all shared was unbearable agony. Some patients even chose suicide to escape the torment. To this day, there was no global cure.
Sophia had once invested in MDH Pharmaceutical Research Institute overseas. Later, she learned that it was the only organization in the world to have developed a drug that could alleviate this condition. Their Calming Capsules couldn't eradicate the pain, but they could significantly reduce the symptoms. Three years ago, she had used this very medicine to treat Mrs. Winston.
Just as she opened the car door, her phone rang. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. The moment she answered, Liam Winston's voice pierced through the receiver.
"You actually blocked me? You—"
His tone was thick with disbelief.
Sophia had no time for this. She hung up immediately.
Beep—
The dial tone was sharp. On the other end, Liam glared at his screen, his expression dark. If not for his mother's sudden relapse and desperate need for the medicine, he would never have stooped to contacting Sophia.
He dialed again, using different numbers each time.
The ringing persisted, relentless. Finally, Sophia answered, her voice icy. "If you have something to say, say it quickly. I don't have time for this."
Hearing her cold tone, Liam's anger surged, but he suppressed it, remembering he needed her help.
"Sophia, could you bring over the medicine you used before for neuropathic headaches? I'm willing to pay for it. My mother's condition has flared up again. She's been in unbearable pain for the past two days and can't take it anymore... That's why I'm bothering you like this."