Chapter 47 Chapter 47 -Laila 2274 EX 65 vouchers 165 I wake up to an annoying beeping sound . It's loud and consistent . I try to reach out to turn off the alarm clock but my hand feels like it weighs a ton . Heavy , slow ... and it aches dully . What's this ? Why do I feel like I was run over by a truck ? My eyes slowly come open . I squint as the bright lighting stings my eyes . Where am I ? What is this place ? My head is spinning , an ache pulses in my skull and my mind feels fuzzy . My vision spins and it takes a moment before I'm centered enough to take in my surroundings. The first thing I notice is that I'm in a hospital . There's only one place where the smell of disinfectant is so strong , it overpowers everything else . It doesn't take long to figure out why I couldn't move my hand . I'm hooked up to an IV machine . The weird beeping sound is from the heart monitor on my left and the sting is due to the bright , white hospital lights . The second thing I notice , is the warmth of a hand in mine . It's moving in a slow , stroking motion , thumb rubbing a soothing circle over the back of my palm . Whoever it is , the smell of their cologne is familiar and soothing . Turning my head slightly , my brows furrow to find Cameron sitting beside my bed , his head hung low . " Cameron ? " I call , my voice hoarse . His head jerks up , and his eyes widen as they meet mine . He leans forward , careful to avoid the IV line . " You're awake ? " He asks , his tone heavy with concern . " How are you feeling ? Can you recognize me ? " I frown slightly . Of course I can recognize him . Why wouldn't I ... ? My thoughts trail off as the memories of how I ended up here slowly return . The cuisine tasting ... Sarah , the slap , and then the fall . I can still feel a light sting around my cheek where Sarah hit me . My lips purse into a thin line , anger stirring in my veins . The camera flashes at the last moment surfaces in my mind ... Sarah must have already set up reporters to capture the scene of me pushing her down , so once again , I'm made out to be the vindictive woman . To think she'd planned something like this only a day into the family trip . 18:50 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 47 It doesn't surprise me , but I hate that she's the reason I'm in the hospital . 55 vouchers Then , I had to make a split second decision . But now , I can only think of how much Liam's going to cry his eyes out if he sees me like this . Liam hates hospitals . I hope no one has told him anything yet . " Should I get the doctor ? " Cameron asks again , when I don't respond to his questions . " Why are you here ? " My voice cracks , and he quickly reaches for a glass of water , holding it to my lips . I hesitate for a moment . " It's just water , Laila . " He says gently , " Drink it . You need it ." I take a small sip , the cold liquid soothing my parched throat . His expression turns guilty , his eyes searching mine . " I ... I came as soon as I heard . " " I ... I'm sorry Lails . This shouldn't have happened . " His tone is pained . " I can't believe Sarah would do something like this . " " I know she didn't intend for you to fall , but she should never have hit you in the first place . " His words don't surprise me . Sarah must have already spun a tale to shirk off the blame " You don't deserve this ... whatever else , it just isn't right ." The words are meant to comfort me , but instead , I feel a measure of wistfulness . Why does she get the benefit of the doubt when I never did ? He can't believe Sarah would push me down the stairs simply because she claimed she didn't ? I fell on my own after she hit me ? Does he trust her that much ? Or is he just too blinded by the mate bond to know better . I can't tell . I don't know how much blame to put on him . Or if he's just a victim of the feelings he can't help having for Sarah . I've never experienced a true mate bond , how can I know what it feels like ? Only a few are blessed with it . And Sarah ... is Cameron's blessing . The thought is more painful than the fall was . I thought I was over it , but with Cameron staring at me with a guilty gaze , I can't help but wonder if he would still be the same if things had gone Sarah's way . Or would I be banished again ? His tone holds sincerity that he has no rights to . And my chest constricts , still painfully aware of him . If anyone has hurt me more than Sarah has , then it's Cameron . 18:50 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 47 65 vouchers He's the only reason she's in our lives in the first place . All those nights alone in bed , longing ... hoping , while knowing he would always choose her . Because fate had chosen her first , while me ? I wasn't even his own choice . Three years by his side all meant nothing . He'd thrown it all away in the blink of an eye . Now , he's sitting by my hospital bed , telling me I don't deserve it . And yet , still choosing her . If I don't deserve this , then did I deserve any of that ? Did I deserve any of the pain he's caused me ? " Why ? " I ask , Cameron's brows furrow in confusion . " Kelly almost died because of me . So why don't I deserve it ? " I say , my tone is colder now . He doesn't respond immediately , a complicated look in his eyes . When he finally speaks , his tone is soft , barely audible . " That's in the past . I don't care to bring it up again . " I smile coldly . " You don't care to bring it up because you weren't the victim . It wasn't your name dragged through the mud . It wasn't your face plastered across every headline . It wasn't your reputation ruined . You moved on . Because it wasn't you . " His jaw clenches. " Laila ... that's not what I meant . I just don't want us to keep fighting ... " I cut him off , shaking my head slightly . " And you still believe I did it . " His silence tells me everything I need to know . My cold smile grows even colder . " There is no ' us ', Cameron . " 田 AD