Chapter 32 Pretty liars.

Chapter 32 Pretty liars.
“She's going to be fine, okay?”

Camilla paced around to and fro in passage with her arms wrapped around herself, her slippers clicking against the sterile white marble floor.

“Camilla” Ethan called softly.

Camilla forced more tears to pour.

I didn't know I was good at acting but damn, though, I hope nothing happens to Taylor.

“Camilla, hey…” Ethan said again, stopping Camilla's pacing, forcing her to face him and then pulling her to himself, embracing her tightly.

Camila flung her arms around him immediately.

He rubbed her head, running his fingers through her hair that smelt like mint.

She could hear his heartbeat.

It was loud and unsettled.

She smirked.

“I don't want anything to happen to Taylor…nothing should happen to her. I can't deal with it. I can't live in this world…she's like a sister…she's like the sister I never had…I can't live without her, Ethan. I just c-”

“Nothing will happen to her, I promise”

He gently pulled her away from him, making her look him in the eye.

“I can't bear your tears. I rather lose all my wealth and power than see you break like this, Camilla”

More tears welled up in Camilla's eyes.

“But..even if she survives this, how would she survive the aftermath of knowing you don't want her…got married to another girl…and s-still…raped her? Tell me, Ethan. How?..hmm?” Camilla said softly in a whisper.

Ethan broke eye contact, staring past her and into the passage way.

“Ethan? You're not just going to act like nothing happened, are you?” she pushed further, eyes fixed on his to know if her tactics were working.

“I'll compensate her” Ethan said, without blinking.

Camilla's brows dropped in utter disappointment.

He tried to stop her but she successfully pulled her hands out of Ethan's firm but gentle grip.

“Compensation? Is everything about money? Huh?” Camilla questioned with a brow slightly raised.

“Look, Camilla..I don't know what you want me to do. It was a mistake” Ethan explained.

“Why do you always expect your mistakes to be forgotten just because it's you?”

Ethan's shoulder sank in.

His brows lowered.

Chest caved in.

The familiar feeling but louder.

Guilt.

He knew exactly what she meant.

The image flashing over his mind's eye almost drowned him.

“Camilla, you know I-”

She turned and began to walk away.

“Camilla?” he called so softly he doubted if he even heard himself.

He cracked his knuckles.

His palms felt moist despite the air conditioning.

He watched her till she disappeared into one of the rooms that was probably Taylor V's ward.

He looked up to a sticker on the wall opposite him that read “LIFE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T BRING BACK ONCE LOST, SO TAKE CARE WHILE YOU CAN”.

Will I ever forgive myself for taking the life of my own parents? Am I even worthy of forgiveness? What should I do? Ursula must have felt so disgusted with me. Not like she matters but then..what about Taylor? I was drunk and forced myself on her..and now she hurt herself and Camilla.

“Mr Ethan Blackwood?”

He faced the nurse that stood with a file in her hands.

He searched within for his proud and commanding voice whenever his full name was mentioned but he couldn't find it anywhere.

He nodded.

“The lady at ward 297 is awake”

“Okay” found its way out of mouth in a voice that was cracked.

He avoided eye contact with the nurse and walked away.

Ward 297 was not too far off.

He turned the door knob and opened the door.

Camilla raised her head from where she had rested it as she sat beside Taylor.

When she saw Ethan, she looked away.

Taylor was in a hospital gown, a blood bag connected to her vein hung on a drip stand.

Her other hand, wrapped with a plaster.

The heart monitor beeped.

Ethan gently closed the door behind him.

“Ethan?” Taylor forced herself to sit up but Camilla made her lie back down saying “you don't have to do that for him”, side-eyeing Ethan.

“It's okay, please rest..” Ethan said.

A silence followed.

“I-uh..I have to say how sorry I am for everything, Taylor..for this and also….for last night”

Taylor's weak eyes rested on him but with lustful passion.

He tried to wave off the thought that she was actually looking at him that way.

I shouldn't still be criticising her. I should think of others for once, as Camilla said.

“I know that nothing I do will make it up to you, not after what I've done but I'll do my best…”

He read Camilla's face and knew that she wasn't satisfied with what he had just said.

“I'll give you whatever you ask for. You have my word” he added.

How was he going to keep up with what he had just said? He didn't know. Camilla being pleased with him mattered more to him than any other thing, especially at that moment.

The door swung open.

The doctor.

“Good afternoon, Mr Ethan Blackwood”

“Good afternoon, doctor” Ethan responded.

“I have some questions..was this a case of self harm? Is there any form of violence going on, Mr Ethan Blackwood?”

Taylor cleared her throat.

“No, it was when I was trying to change the bathtub curtains all by myself, then I tripped…I tried to hold something but ended up scratching my hand against the mirror” she said.

“Hmm”  the doctor tried to observe their body language.

“Yes, exactly. Ethan isn't someone who would ever engage in violence” Taylor added, still with her fake faint voice.

Ethan didn't know whether to feel uncomfortable by her “kindness” or grateful.

“Okay. I see.. Well, I was just following protocols and had to as-”

“Is there anything she needs, any special rules or…anything? Because we..would like to take her home with us” Camilla broke in.

Camilla couldn't waste any more time to ask that question.

And she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Well, uh, that's not a problem but I would suggest you be careful…she has lost a lot of blood so I would definitely advise that she gets a lot of care and avoids every form of stress whatsoever, whether emotional or physical or even mental” the doctor finally ended his long instructions, pushing his glasses up his nose, as if to look clever.

Camilla nodded and her eyes darted to Ethan, to Taylor who she slightly smiled at and then back to the doctor.

“Okay” she said.

Ethan reached out for the doctor's hand, shook him and then said “thank you”