Chapter 006

"Our marriage has been beneficial to both of us. You've had a comfortable life, and I've gotten what I needed."

"You knew what you were getting into when you married me. You knew I needed a kidney, and you knew I would take care of you financially."

"Where are you going?"

"Take your hands off me!"

Her voice cut through her foggy mind like a knife, and Camila's eyes fluttered open, but they were met with an inky blackness that seemed to swallow everything.

She tried to lift her hands to touch her face, but there was this numbness she felt, as if it were wrapped in a thick layer of cotton. As she raised her hand, a sharp pain shot through her head, making her wince.

She refused to back down and raised her hand, ignoring the pain as she reached for her face. Yet the feeling she expected didn't come. Instead, her fingers grazed against a thick layer of bandages, covering her face like a mask.

Her face... why couldn't she feel her face?

Panic set in as Camila's mind struggled to comprehend what was happening. She tried to remember how she got there, but her memories were hazy and unclear.

Fragments of her argument with Lawson echoed in her mind, but everything after that was a blur. She attempted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the pillow.

She attempted to speak, but her voice came in short gasps. She tentatively reached up to touch her face again, still nothing.

Why couldn't she feel her face? What had happened to her? The questions swirled in her mind, making her head spin.

But then she heard footsteps approaching, and a faint voice called out, "Camila? Can you hear me?"

That voice... It sounded familiar.

"C-Cole," she called but couldn't hear the sound of her own voice.

"Camila, you're awake." As Cole's voice washed over her, Camila's mind struggled to clear the fog. She tried to speak again, but her voice was barely a whisper. Cole's footsteps drew closer, and she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.

"I wish I could hug you right now." Cole's voice was soft and soothing, but Camila's anxiety spiked. This was all starting to come back to her. The arguments... the accident... the explosion.

"Cole..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What... what happened to me? Why can't I feel my face?"

Cole's grip on her shoulder hesitated, and for a moment, Camila wondered if she'd imagined the whole thing. But then Cole's voice came again, soft and gentle.

"You're safe now, Camila. You're in the hospital. You've been hurt, but you're going to be okay."

Camila's eyes stung with tears as she tried to process Cole's words. Hurt? To what extent?

"Why can't I feel my face, Cole? Why are there bandages over my face?" Her voice trembled as she reached out to touch Cole.

Cole's hands found hers, and he squeezed them gently. "Don't worry, Cami. Your face is still beautiful."

That reply sounded evasive. Camila knew something was wrong; this was how her brother spoke out of context whenever he was hiding something.

"Cole, I don't need a compliment; just answer the question."

Cole sighed, squeezing Camila's hands tightly.

"Your face is bandaged because you suffered some injuries, but the doctors are taking good care of you. Let's focus on getting you better, okay?"

"Cole—"

"Please, Cami, just rest." Cole cut her off, his voice soft and reassuring. "We'll talk about everything else later."

Camila's instincts screamed that he was hiding something. She tried to pull her hand away, but Cole's grip held firm. "Cole, tell me what's going on. What happened to my face?" Camila's voice rose, despite her weakness.

Cole's sigh was audible, and he hesitated before speaking. "Cami, you... you were in an accident. There was an explosion, and... and you were hurt pretty badly. You need time to recover—"

But Camila didn't let him finish. "I know that; I'm asking about my current condition."

Cole took a deep breath before speaking. "Your face... it was badly damaged."

Camila went silent, struggling to comprehend the extent of her injuries. She felt a wave of panic wash over her.

Cole's voice dropped to a whisper. "The explosion caused severe burns and fractures to your face. The doctors will have to perform reconstructive surgery to... to try and restore your appearance."

Camila felt a cold dread creeping up her spine as she realized that her face, her identity, had been forever changed.

"Why... didn't you tell me earlier?" Camila's voice was barely above a whisper.

Cole hesitated before speaking. "I didn't want to hurt you, Cami. I wanted to protect you from the truth until you were strong enough to hear it."

Camila's fingers twitched beneath the bandages, desperate to explore the unknown terrain of her own face. Would I even recognize myself? Would Lawson…? She paused on that thought, memories of Lawson's words, their bitter arguments, his accusations that had led to this moment, the one that had left her broken.

The tears that had threatened earlier now began to fall, and worst of all, she couldn't feel the tears tracing her cheek as they should. All she felt was numbness, like a part of her had died.

"Lawson did this," Camila whispered, her voice trembling with rage. "He caused this."

"Lawson's?" Cole's eyes narrowed. "I've been trying to reach him for days now."

Camila didn't respond, lost, her mind consumed by her thoughts. She was trapped in a living nightmare, and Lawson was the monster who had put her there. Who had made her feel so heartbroken and shattered that she was drowning in her pain and now... she lost herself in the process.

"I'll never forgive him," she vowed as her fists clenched at her sides, anger simmering just below the surface. But deep down, she knew anger and resentment wouldn't solve her situation at the moment. She first had to survive, to heal, to move on.