Chapter 3 Chapter Three
Lila's POV
The blinding lights were the first thing I was greeted with when I opened my eyes.
I blinked and tried to turn my head but it was as stiff as a board.
“Water,” I muttered and a woman rushed to my side, staring at me in surprise
“Sir! She's up.” She said in a loud tone, making my ears ring from the sound.
“Don't be too loud.” He scolded her and walked up to me, staring down at me with no expression on his face.
“How do you feel?” He asked and I tried to speak again but no words were coming out. He nodded and began scribbling away on the clipboard that he held in his hands.
“You broke your neck when you got hit by a truck and you've been in a coma for three days.”
Three days? Was Caelum worried about me? Was he outside the doors waiting for them to give him permission to see me?
I attempted a smile but I was only met with hurt so I stopped.
“C-caelum is ou–outside?”
The doctor looked confused and didn't reply. He checked my pulse instead and other parts of my body before going back to scribbling on his board. The nurse stood behind him just staring at me.
“We have tried reaching out to your emergency contacts that we found in your purse but…”
He didn't need to complete his sentence. I knew what he was about to say. None of them came for me.
“Oh-” I simply said, turning my face to the other side so they wouldn't see the tears flowing down my cheeks and setting the pillowcase.
“One other thing.” The doctor said,
I turned to him and he looked like he would rather be anywhere than have this conversation with me.
“Your bills are piling up. The longer you stay here, the more you'll have to pay. So-”
I frowned and pointed at my bag. “ Would you please help me with that? I'll pay the fees right now.” I told the man and he nodded towards the nurse.
She grabbed the bag and handed it to me and I took out my three cards and handed them over to them.
“You could charge everything to these accounts.”
The doctor hesitated but he collected the cards and walked out of the room, leaving the nurse and me.
She just stared at me with a bit of disgust on her face and I could tell that she was judging me.
“Why would you jump in front of a truck?” She said, staring me down.
“I-I– didn't. I didn't see it coming.”
She didn't look convinced and just turned her face away.
The doctor walked back in with my cards in his hand and he dropped them on the table.
“Are you trying to play a cruel joke on us?”
“Sorry?” I asked, confused. What happened?
“None of those worked. There are no funds in your accounts.”
My brain went blank for a second before I regained myself.
“No money?”
“Yes. Now I would advise you to find someone to cover those bills for you.”
He stared at me for a second longer before turning around and walking out of the room. The nurse whom I had forgotten was here and handed me a bottle of water, not even bothering to assist me since I was in quite a bind and walked out too.
The scratching sound left my throat before I could control it and the tears began pouring down like a waterfall.
I had no one. No one wanted me.
I spotted my phone in the distance and got out of bed, taking my steps one after the other so I could reach it but before I could, I crumbled to the floor.
What had I expected? I hadn't gotten out of bed in days.
I crawled over to where it was and grabbed it, scrolling through my contacts till I found my father's name.
Maybe they hadn't called him, I comforted myself and dialled his number, hearing it ring out loud in the room.
He picked on the third ring.
“Why the hell are you calling this number?” He yelled into the phone and I froze.
“F-father. It's me, your daughter.”
“I am aware that it is the embarrassment that I birthed talking to me right now.”
I sniffled and gathered all the courage I had. “All my accounts are empty, Father.”
“Yes, they are. I took all my money from an ungrateful piece of nonsense like you. Why should I find the lifestyle of the one sent to my name?”
His words stung but right now, I needed his help. Even if it meant begging and grovelling for it.
“Father, I'm sorry. Please… forgive me. I didn't mean–”
“Are you done?” He interrupted and I heard rustling in the background.
“Father, I am stuck here and I need help, please,” I begged, more tears streaming down my face.
“Don't you dare call this line again Lila. You are no longer my daughter. Not since you chose to drain my reputation and caused Caelum to break off the engagement. You are nothing but a disgrace.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I tried to force back my son's but nothing could stop them. My heart shattered into a million pieces.
“Who are you talking to dear?” I heard my stepmother's voice and my father whispered to her, definitely telling her that it was his sorry excuse for a daughter calling.
She let out a hearty laughter and there was more rustling before the line went dead.
The phone fell out of my hand and I crumpled to the floor, more tears spilling out of my eyes till I couldn't cry anymore.
The door opened and I turned my neck trying to see who it was but the sight of them staring at me with that satisfied look in their faces almost sent me into a heart attack.
“What are you two–”
“Wouldn't you like some company?” He said with a smirk.
