Chapter Text
Later, Violet would look back and wonder what would have happened had she not showed up to Benedict’s apartment that day. She’d wonder how things would have turned out for all of them had she decided against taking a short break from her vigil, at her son’s side, to go grab his favorite comforter. Worried he was getting cold in the practically frigid hospital room.
She wondered sometimes what would have become of Sophie Baek had they not met when they did. What would have happened to her new, baby grandson, Charles had they not been made aware of his existence.
But Violet supposed it was best to not think about it. Things had turned out for the best.
—
Violet was giving herself ten minutes to get in and out of Benedict’s apartment.
She hated that she’d left his side. While he was laying, unconscious in a hospital bed on the otherside of the city. After a terrible and unexpected hit and run had left him with a shattered lower leg and emergency brain surgery. Not to mention, he’d been on a ventilator for over two weeks since the surgery to repair the fracture, with it only recently had it been removed once the doctors’ decided his brain had healed enough, but they were all still waiting with baited breath for him to wake up.
Violet had hardly slept since the accident. Since Anthony had called her that morning while on route to the hospital himself. She’d been unable to calm her mind long enough for her brain to relax and find sleep, constantly fretting over Benedict’s health and what would happen if he didn’t recover. She’d spent the past few weeks sitting at her son’s side, with no desire to leave it no matter how many times her children and in-laws told her she needed to. To at least take a moment to breathe lest she fall ill herself.
But she was certain Benedict had been shivering that morning. And she knew he had an old, crocheted blanket her mother-in-law, Alexandra, had made him before her death sitting over the couch at his apartment and thought it a good idea to grab it for him. She’d decided just to leave his side for a brief moment to go fetch it.
And, mercifully, Benedict’s apartment wasn’t too far from the hospital. John had even figured out a time for them to go when the traffic was reduced, so that she wouldn’t spend too long away from Benedict.
Ten minutes. Only ten minutes. The less time she spent here the better.
Because anything could happen.
As she stepped out of the elevator, distracted by her thoughts, Violet soon paused, stopping dead in her tracks as she was snapped from her worried thoughts by the muffled noises coming from down the hall.
It sounded like it was coming from Benedict’s apartment. And was not what Violet expected as she moved closer down the hallway, towards his door at the end. The doorman hadn’t said anything about anyone already being up there when she’d arrived. It worried her, since she initially couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation for it.
Not to mention, it sounded like yelling.
She did have eight children. While one was currently lying in a hospital bed, the other seven were worried sick about them. For all she knew, it could have been one or two of them on the other side of the door, having decided to sneak in and stay at their brother’s apartment in an attempt for simple comfort.
But, the yelling was still concerning.
Before she could do anything, reach out and knock on the dark walnut wood front door with a thick, black trim and silver handle, it sprung open. Violet stumbled back, almost losing her footing in the process as she slapped a hand to her chest in surprise. Her heartrate skyrocketed in a second. Watching as the door swung in and slammed into the french gray painted hallway in Benedict’s apartment.
And revealing, standing in the narrow hallway, two individuals. One whom Violet immediately recognized as her eldest son, Anthony, and the other, a young woman she didn’t. They’d been the ones arguing from the looks of it. Anthony had his hand wrapped around the young woman’s wrist. Looking as though he’d been in the midst of pushing her out of the apartment.
“Anthony?” Violet gasped out after a moment. After the shock wore off.
Anthony, who’d been glaring furiously at the young woman, glanced up towards her and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Mum?”
“What on earth are you doing?” she asked next, still stunned.
The young woman, a petite little thing with dark, pin straight hair pulled into a loose ponytail, glanced over her shoulder towards Violet as well. Her dark amber eyes were wide with shock and fear. She looked petrified.
Realizing what her son was doing, seeing the hand around her wrist, Violet immediately snapped. “Anthony, let go of her!”
It took him a second to comply, but the young woman took Violet’s scolding as an opportunity to tug her arm out of his grip, stepping further away from him and up against the wall.
“Mum, what are you doing here?” Anthony asked.
“I should be asking you the same thing,” Violet told him.
“You asked me to pick up Benedict’s comforter,” her son told her, exhausted.
Violet blinked. Had she? She couldn’t remember. Everything had been so overwhelming and nerve wrecking, no updates or changes in Benedict's condition that it had led to the days blurring together. And it wasn’t as if she’d been sleeping well lately. She must have forgotten that she texted Anthony while he was at work.
Next to them, the young woman began to slowly inch her way towards the door, hoping to escape why their backs were turned.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to cause any problems,” she said hastily to them, cringing. “I’ll go.”
“Hold on. Wait!” Violet interrupted, quickly stepping in her path as the woman turned to flee. Gentler, but still confused, she said. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”
“S-Sophie,” the woman said. “I’m Benedict’s girlfriend.”
Violet’s eyes widened in surprise. Girlfriend? Since when had Benedict been seeing anyone?
Next to them, Anthony scoffed. “Are we seriously supposed to believe–?” he started.
“ Anthony !” Violet cut in harshly, holding a hand up to stop her son. “Let her speak.”
She turned back to Sophie, who still looked rather skittish. Ready to flee. Like a deer readying itself to run, her dark eyes snapping back and forth between them and the door. Trying to figure out her escape.
“Why are you here, Sophie?” Violet asked, gentler.
“Um…” Sophie watched Anthony for a few more tense seconds, before looking over at Violet. “Benedict wasn’t answering his phone. I’ve been calling him for weeks and got worried.”
Right. The accident.
If Violet had had no knowledge of Benedict’s girlfriend, and neither had Anthony by his reaction, it was unlikely Sophie had heard what happened. Especially since they worked so hard to keep it quiet and out of the press.
Taking a deep breath, Violet sighed, reaching out and taking Sophie’s hands in hers. She was going to have to be the one to break the news to her.
“Sophie. There is no easy way to say this but…Benedict was in an accident,” she started to tell her, being as gentle as she could.
In an instant, as she received the news, all the color in Sophie’s face drained away as she stared at them in shock. Her body stiffening as if she’d momentarily turned to stone from the shock and disbelief. The fear on her face grew more alarmed. Worry filled her dark amber eyes.
“What?” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
“There was a hit and run,” Violet explained with an exhausted sigh. “He’s at the hospital right now. He’s been in a coma for three weeks. That's why you haven’t heard from him.”
“A…a hit and run?” Sophie didn’t seem to register what she was saying. “Who–?”
She couldn’t continue, unable to find the words. Sophie looked ill.
Quite literally. As if she was about to throw up, Sophie gagged, pulling her hands away. Violet and Anthony both instinctually stepped back, away from her, as her cheeks ballooned out and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. Clutching her stomach at the same time.
“Excuse me,” she quickly muttered as she fled past them and into the bathroom that was right next to the kitchen, slamming the door behind her. Seconds later, they heard the sounds of vomiting from the other side.
Violet moved to follow her, to make sure she was okay, but was stopped by her eldest son stepping in her path.
“Mother–” Anthony started to argue.
But Violet only held up a hand, silencing him.
“Let me deal with this,” was all she told him, sternly, as she side-stepped around him and continued making her way towards the bathroom door.
Sophie was still throwing up by the sounds of it. Gently, Violet rapped her knuckles against the wood to alert her to her presence, hearing one the sounds of the young woman continuing to heave on the other side. After knocking, she waited a few seconds before speaking.
“Sophie?” she asked calmly. “Are you alright?”
Silence.
She knocked again but there was still no response. Carefully, Violet fiddled with the doorknob, twisting it and finding the door had been left unlocked. Granting her access to the half bath. Slowly, she opened the door and poked her head in, finding Sophie crouched over the toilet, her body shaking as she emptied the contents of her stomach.
“I’m really sorry,” Sophie gasped out between heaves.
“Oh, it’s alright,” Violet assured her, stepping into the small half bath and almost closed the door behind her. “Do you want me to get you something? Tea? Water?”
“I-I think I’m okay,” the young woman answered shakily, before gagging again. “I don’t t-think my stomach can handle anything right now.”
“Let me at least get you some water,” Violet said. “I’ll be right back.”
As she slipped out of the bathroom, heading into the kitchen to grab a glass of water for Sophie, Anthony reappeared at her side.
“You seriously cannot be believing her right?” he said to her, voice a hiss.
Violet frowned, her eyes narrowing as she glanced towards Anthony through the corner of her eye. A dark brow slowly rose on her face as she stared at him.
“We have no proof they know each other,” he added. “Did you know Benedict was seeing anyone?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“He’s never once mentioned her and we’re just supposed to trust they know one another?”
“I think we should give her a chance,” she told him with a stern edge as she spotted, in the corner of her eye, a small photo of Benedict and Sophie taped to the side of the fridge behind Anthony, hidden away from sight. It was a selfie, with the pair smiling happily at the camera.
Turning off the tap and making her way back to the bathroom, she added. “Wait here,” and stepped back into the small room.
Where she found Sophie still kneeling next to the toilet, one hand clutching the rim and the other rubbed at her upper chest. She was taking deep breaths as she rubbed a hand over one of her breasts, squeezing at the muscle in the hopes she could just message the pain away. And Violet couldn’t deny that she looked exhausted.
“Here,” she said, handing the glass to Sophie. Violet watched as she started taking small, patient sips, making sure she didn't drink too much too fast and upset her stomach further.
Poor girl. She must have been sick with worry. So much she’d made herself. Violet was certain Benedict had medicine somewhere in the apartment. Something to help with the nausea.
Then, as if she’d been struck by a bullet train, Violet froze.
Nausae. fatigue, breast tenderness, vomiting.
Her eyes widened. She knew those symptoms. Went through them eight times herself over a period of two decades. To the point that she knew exactly what that meant when put together. And there were other signs as well. The loose fitting closing, that would help conceal a slow growing bump and breast changes. The not wanting to eat anything because she could barely keep it down, anything except water.
“Sophie? Are you pregnant?” she inquired quietly, before she even realized the words were leaving her mouth.
Now it was Sophie’s turn to freeze. Her already pale face went white, as she suddenly looked shaken by the question. Her eyes widening in fear was all Violet needed to confirm her suspicions.
“How far along are you?” she then asked, softer.
“Eleven weeks,” Sophie replied weakly after a few silent seconds.
“Does Benedict know?” Violet then asked and Sophie nodded, before her face slowly twisted up and her eyes began to water.
“I’m sorry,” she suddenly blurted out as she began to cry.
Violet blinked, surprised by the sudden outburst, watching Sophie descend into panicked sobs. Confused as to why she would be so apologetic. Why on earth would she feel like she needed to apologize? This was wonderful news in Violet’s opinion. Her maternal instincts quickly kicked in, worried that Sophie might make herself ill again.
“Oh! Oh sweetheart, it’s alright,” she said, quickly reaching out and wrapping her arms around her, pulling her into a hug. She let out a small laugh. “You did nothing wrong.”
The poor girl. She’d spent weeks worrying about Benedict, with no idea where he was or what had happened to him, and all while pregnant. What must she have been thinking these past few weeks? She must have been out of her mind with worry and fear. And Violet knew that kind of stress could be harmful to a pregnancy.
When he woke up, Violet was going to give her son one hell of an earful for keeping Sophie a secret from them.
“There, there,” she said, rubbing her hand up and down the woman’s back. Comforting her. “It will be alright.”
A few moments of providing tender, maternal comfort, Violet was able to help Sophie calm down. Helping her breath slowly until her body relaxed and the tears slowed. She got her to drink some of the water finally, which helped in calming Sophie’s erratic nerves. Violet even pulled some toilet paper from the roll to gently dab Sophie’s watery eyes as she sat on the floor with her, before grabbing some more so she could blow her nose.
“You’re alright,” Violet told her gently. “We’ll figure this out. Trust me.”
Then there was sudden and aggressive pounding on the door behind them. Surprising them both and making them jump. Alarmed, Violet quickly got back to her feet to open it. Swinging the door open to find Anthony standing on the other side, looking panicked.
“What? What is it?” she asked, on alert the second she saw the expression on his face.
“Colin just called. Benedict’s awake.”
—
They decided to leave Sophie behind at the apartment.
The poor girl was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and in her current condition the less stress put on her the better. Violet’s orders. So, she had to stay behind and get some rest, with Violet promising to come back and check on her after she’d seen Benedict. Update her and probably even give her a ride back to the hospital to see him.
They left Sophie on the couch, since she’d refused to take Benedict’s room or the bed in the guest room. Her eyes half lidded and body teetering on the edge of sleep as they left, Violet had made sure to wrap her in a large, soft comforter before they left. She would most likely be fast asleep by now.
Anthony had sped them back to the hospital, even after Violet had told him to slow down and stop speeding. Violet hated driving in Anthony’s Porsche, but they’d decided to take his car and go. They’d come back for her car and check on Sophie then. Give her the update on everything and figure out the next steps.
As they finally pulled into the hospital, Violet was already out of the car and rushing in before Anthony could even stop the car. Her sharp heels clicked against the clean, linoleum floors as she and Anthony hastily rushed down the hallways, up the elevator, and down a few more matching halls to the VIP room Benedict had been set up in by the hospital.
Where they found Colin pacing back and forth in front of the door.
“Colin! Sweetheart!” Violet gasped out as they approached. She quickly threw her arms around him and gave him a quick hug. Scanning him over. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Benedict’s in speaking with the doctor right now. But before you go in–Mum, wait!,” Colin was barely able to say as Violet then raced past him and into the hospital room. Unable to stop herself.
Into a room where she’d been spending the past few weeks practically imobile as she remained at her son’s side. A room where she now found her second born son sitting up in bed, completely alert and awake, chatting politely with the doctor standing next to his bed.
“Benedict!” Violet couldn’t hold back her excitement any longer, rushing to her son’s side and throwing her arms around him.
Feeling the hot tears coming on, she quickly tried to blink them away, knowing Benedict would no doubt chide her for it, but she couldn’t help but feel relieved that he was awake and well. Speaking to her as if nothing was wrong. So, she kissed his forehead instead, to hide her reddening eyes, as she continued to clutch him against her.
“Hey Mum,” Benedict said back with a slight chuckle as he hugged her back.
“Oh, sweetheart, I was so worried,” Violet told him, pulling back and cupping his face in her hands. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to let go of him. She then stroked a hand over his hair a few times, pushing the strands back, before enveloping him in another hug. “Do not ever put me through that again. I don’t think I’ll be able to take it.”
“I’m okay Mum,” he assured her, still smiling. One of his hands reached up and rubbed her arm comfortingly. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
She pulled back to get another look at him, unable to speak without crying and just wanting to confirm he truly was okay, while Anthony came closer.
“Hey Anth,” Benedict said with a smile.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you right now,” Anthony told his brother with a relieved sigh as he moved around to the other side of the bed, leaning forward to give his brother a hug as well. Stepping into the room last was Colin, looking between the two with an alarmed, worried expression. Looking like he wanted to say something to them but unsure how.
Benedict clutched his brother back before giving him an assuring pat on the back as Anthony pulled away.
“Good to see you too,” he told his brother as he smiled.
“Sophie’s at the apartment right now. She’ll be so relieved to know you're awake,” she then said as she smiled at him, using her hand to gently continue brushing Benedict’s limp hair off his forehead.
But Benedict’s smile only twisted higher as he frowned up at her, the first sign something was wrong, and he gave her a confused smirk. Like she’d said something funny that he didn’t understand.
“Who’s Sophie?” he asked, simply.