Chapter 110

Clara's POV

DAYS LATER

It took a few days before the doctors could clear me out and send me home. I was being discharged today, and I had decided it would be the start of my new life.

Derek hasn't come over as much, at least not to see me. It meant he was starting to get it. This way, we'd both be able to move on eventually.

I was packing the few items Mom had brought to make me more comfortable when I heard a knock on my door. Layla peeked through the door before walking in.

She has been responsible for ensuring a fresh batch of flowers in my room every day. She visited me a few times. I was glad she never pushed anything between Derek and me. Without me explaining, she said she understood.

Today, there was something different about her. She didn't look like she was dressed for the runway, nor did she carry around her fancy handbag. She was wearing flat shoes. I noticed her eyes were red.

"I'm so sorry I haven't visited you much in the last few days. How are you, sweetheart?" she asked. She smiled at me weakly.

"I'm fine; I'm being discarded today," I answered. I closed my bag and finally finished packing."Is there something wrong?" I asked.

She remained hesitant for a while before speaking. "No, it's nothing." She answered, shaking her head. "I just thought since I was already at the hospital, I'd stop by." She answered.

I'd say she was an excellent actress, but even then, I couldn't help but notice the sadness in her voice. Who was she here to see?

"I'm so glad to see you are doing well. I hope I'll be able to see you soon," she added. She smiled and then walked out without another word.

I pushed away all negative thoughts. Maybe she was just here to see a close friend or something.

I didn't get to overthink Layla's visit as my mother barged in. "Are you finally ready to go home?" Mom asked. Her voice was filled with excitement.

I nodded with a smile. The hospital food was better than expected, but I wouldn't miss this place.

"It's very kind of her to show up," she pointed towards the door. "Especially with everything happening to her son." She added with a sigh.

My brain was suddenly on full alert. "What happened?" I asked, concerned.

Come to think of it, Layla acted strangely. She implied that she had been here to see someone. I hope it wasn't what I was thinking. I hope it was Derek and her having a fallout or anything else that might explain this. Just not that, not him.

I crossed my fingers as I waited for Mom to explain. I hoped he had left the country or something, even if it meant I would never see him again.

"You were going to find out about it anyway." She paused. “Derek was in a terrible accident. He was very drunk when he drove into a truck. He is in pretty bad shape, and they don't know if he will make it." She explained.

My world crumbled down on me. I was first hit with the shock, then the realisation that I might never have to see him again.

I couldn't think straight. It wasn't like him to get drunk and drive. What could have led him to that? And suddenly, all the words I said to him came back to bite me, all the things I didn't mean to say and those I should have said instead. It was all my fault, and now he could be gone forever.

Mom looked at me sympathetically with a small smile.

"Where is he?" I asked. I could barely see as tears threatened.

"I'm not sure; I think he is two doors down the hall." She answered.

Without another thought, I hurried out of the room and into the hallway.

Sure enough, I noticed the door Layla and her husband were standing in front of. Her husband seemed better than how Layla was doing, clueless even. I walked as quickly as I could and approached them.

Layla looked up at me with tears filling her eyes. "You probably shouldn't go in, and I can't bear to see him like this." She sobbed. She then walked to her husband and cried into his arms.

I leaned on the door and peeked through to stare at Derek's motionless body. My eyes were quickly whelmed in tears. I never wanted things to end this way.

Without thinking, I pushed open the door and walked in.

I collapsed into his chest, held onto him tightly, and sobbed.

"Please wake up and get back to me; I'll do anything. I love you." I whispered. I held onto him even tighter.

I wish I'd said this when he wasn't fighting for his life. There were so many things I would have loved to have done differently, but now I can't take any of it back.

I suddenly froze as I felt a hand patting my head.

I looked up.

I blinked at Derek, who was staring back at me. For the first time, I saw clearly. Derek wasn't covered in bandages or had wounds all over his face, as I expected.

"It's okay, I'm alright." He answered.

I wiped away the tears, my vision becoming clearer. "You are not hurt?" I asked, finally realising what had happened.

"No, but I will be if you continue squeezing me like that." He answered.

I assessed the situation as I composed myself.

My mother and Layla tricked me into this. Layla knew I'd never take her word for it, so she put up an act and had my mother involved. After everything, I should have learned not to trust her.

To confirm my suspicions, I heard a click at the door as it locked.

I wiped my cheeks. "Well, I hope you have a nice life. Don't do anything stupid or scare me like that again." I said, standing up straight.

"I'm not okay. The doctors said it was serious. I might need open-heart surgery because you broke my heart," he said.

If he could still joke around, he was okay.

I turned to leave, thinking through my options, and it was not as if I could leave the room.

"Wait," Derek stopped me. He grabbed my arm, and I landed on the bed beside him, pulling my arm away.

“Derek..." I whispered, settling beside him. He finally stopped.

"I thought about everything you said." He interrupted. "I'll keep fighting for you until you change your mind. And maybe it would be easier if I didn't love you, but I do. There are probably a million things we need to figure out, but I'm willing to bet on anything for you. just say yes." He continued.

"Why are you so sure that we'll even work out?" I asked.

"Because of my love for you and how you look at me. Your eyes say a lot even when you don't. I know you feel it, too. Let's fight against the odds together as long as you are with me." He continued.

Although many things could go wrong, I found something worth risking.

I wrapped my arms around him. "I love you," I whispered.

"I know, you were just begging me to wake up, don't you remember?" He laughed. "I love you too," he whispered in my ear.

"If you weren't hurt, how did you end up here?" I asked instead.

"It's kinda embarrassing." He answered, scratching the back of his head. "They were having a blood drive in the hospital, and I decided to join considering how in demand O negative blood group is. There was only one flaw in that idea. I had forgotten how much I wouldn't say I liked needles. I was nearly two minutes in when I fainted." He explained.

"You fainted from a needle?" I laughed.

"It was a very long needle. You would have been proud of me. The blood bag was sitting there next to me. Besides, I have very low sugar and iron levels. Someone should fire those nurses for not checking first." He answered.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"You'll never believe the dream I just had. We had two children, twins. A boy and a girl. Our daughter looked just like you." He whispered.

"Were they disappointed to know their father was afraid of needles?" I interrupted.

"Just wait until I get to the best part of the story." He answered.

A/N Thank you so much for reading 🥰🥰🥰,I hope you enjoy this chapter.please tips me.