Chapter 88
Chapter 88
୮୨୪%
+45
Owen remained unconscious, the anesthesia holding him in its grip. Even in this state, he furrowed his brow tightly, as if he were caught in unbearable agony.
Harry, after receiving emergency care, had also fallen into a deep sleep.
William watched the medical staff wheel the two away, a heavy darkness settling over him. Since Camila’s disappearance, it seemed those who hurt her faced one misfortune after another.
The realization that Camila hadn’t caused Emily’s condition, and the memory of her five long years in prison, made William’s heart ache. The guilt was suffocating.
‘Is this karma?‘ William thought bitterly. ‘Is this the universe making us pay for what we did to her?‘
William stood outside the hospital room for a long time. Finally, with heavy steps, he turned and walked away.
He had planned to return to his own hospital room, but the memory of Emily’s earlier breakdown left him uneasy. Unable to shake the feeling, he changed direction and stepped into her room instead.
Emily was lying on the bed, her eyes wide open. Ever since waking from her vegetative state, she had been unwilling to close them.
She had spent five long years in a deep sleep, missing the world entirely. The thought of closing her eyes again terrified her. She was afraid of returning to her former hollow, lifeless state.
As William entered, the first thing he saw was Emily staring out the window, her gaze unblinking and distant.
“Emily,” he called softly. But she didn’t react at all.
William sighed and walked closer, his tone tender as he said, “Emily, I’m here to see you. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Emily’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. ‘If he truly cared about me as his sister, he wouldn’t have defended Agnes.
‘I’ve suffered so much, and Camila has been dragged down with me, spending five years in prison. Instead of seeking justice, William just let it all slide. He isn’t here to visit me—he’s here to mock me,‘ she thought bitterly.
And then there was something else that gnawed at her. She had been awake for days now, yet her parents hadn’t visited her
even once.
Before she became a vegetative patient, her parents had doted on her. She couldn’t believe they wouldn’t come to see her after learning she had woken up.
The only explanation was that they didn’t know she had regained consciousness, which meant William had deliberately kept the news from them.
He knew that if their parents came, they would undoubtedly try to uncover the truth about what had happened all those
years ago.
To protect Agnes, William has gone to great lengths. Didn’t he claim he didn’t like Agnes? Didn’t he say he had pursued Camila for three years back in high school? Didn’t he want to break off his engagement with Agnes for Camila?
‘But when it comes to exposing Agnes’s crimes, my good brother suddenly changed his tune. He would rather deceive our parents, let me suffer, and allow Camila to continue bearing the stigma of attempted murder, all to shield Agnes from harm.
What a joke. Someone like him doesn’t deserve to be my brother.
‘And he even expected me to be happy to see him? Is he out of his mind? What a hypocrite, Emily thought, her laughter
1/3
09:26 Fri, 25 Apr 04
Chapter 88
cold and bitter.
Emily will refused to look at him. All she wanted was for her body to recover a quirky a joate
William noticed that Emily remained unresponsive to his words, and the smile on his face began to fater Still he finger himself to suppress his irritation and spoke to her in a ripped tone, ha you all and a me
After a brief pause, he continued, “I know what you’re thinking, but I can’t do that. You’re my inte aver and everything do is for your sake
For my sake? Emily scoffed inwardly, her heart twisting with bitterness. Is that jus an excuse to me after the d culprit walk free?
‘Before I woke up, he ruined Camila’s life for my sake. Now that I’m awake, why not send Agnes to prison for my ske Dres loving Camila mean hurting her instead?
If she could move right now, she’d slap him across the face without hesitation
Finally, Emily turned her gaze toward him, but her eyes were filled with nothing but disgust and hated Ste wared to tell him to get lost, but she couldn’t move or speak. All she could do was glare at his with kaed
William, however, acted as if she were just throwing a childish tantrum. He gently patted her head and soothed her “Emily don’t be so childish. You’re still recovering, and all this anger is only going to make things worse for you”
He kept saying things she didn’t want to hear, which only fueled Emily’s fury.
‘Get lost!‘ she screamed internally, her mind consumed by rage.
Emily hated him–hated his blindness and his inability to see the truth. She hated herself for being able to move. Her eyes blazed with a fury so intense that it felt like it could scorch the very air between them.
William felt uneasy under her hateful gaze.
He averted his eyes, pretending to busy himself with the items on the bedside table. Yet, he continued to speak. “Once you’re feeling better, I’ll send you abroad. It’ll be better for your recovery.”
Every word he said felt like a sharp sting to Emily. All she wanted was to uncover the truth, to clear Camila’s name, and to see Agnes face justice. Yet he was still thinking about sending her away.
Emily’s chest heaved violently, each breath like a burst of flames. She glared at William, finding his face utterly repulsive. If she could, she’d tear him apart piece by piece.
She struggled to gather her remaining strength. Her throat burned as she forced out a single word, “Leave.”
William froze, clearly taken aback by her fury. A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he sighed, “Emily, you’re not a child anymore. It’s time you learned to see things more clearly.”
His condescending tone only fueled Emily’s anger. Her hands instinctively clenched the bedsheets, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip.
Her lips trembled as she tried to say more, but all that came out were heavy, labored breaths.
William remained oblivious to her emotional collapse and continued his relentless chatter. “Agnes grew up with you. You’ve always been spoiled, and she was the only one willing to be your friend. I don’t want you to lose your only friend.
“And I believe in Agnes. What happened back then wasn’t intentional. I’m sure she feels terrible about it. Let’s not dwell on it anymore, okay?
“You two are best friends. Surely you know how sweet and innocent Agnes is.”
2/3
09:26 Fri, 25 Apr
Chapter 88
Every word William spoke was like a dull blade, slicing repeatedly into Emily’s heart.
Emily stared at him in disbelief, as if she were looking at a stranger.
98%1
She screamed internally, ‘Best friends? That witch destroyed my life, turned me into a vegetable, and sent Camila to rot in prison. And he dares to call her my friend? Sweet and innocent? That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard‘
45
If it hadn’t been for the conversation she overheard between Agnes and her father at the staircase, she might have continued believing in Agnes’s supposed kindness. But it was precisely because she heard their secret that she ended up like this.
The irony was that Belinda and Harry were stupid enough to protect Agnes, hurting their daughter and sister in the process.
Emily was convinced that one day, Belinda and Harry would regret their actions, and justice would catch up with them.
Looking at William, who seemed utterly bewitched and blind to the truth, Emily felt her breathing grow more erratic. It was as if an invisible hand was choking her, cutting off her air.
Her vision swam, the edges of the room dissolving into a haze. A crushing weight pressed against her chest, and with a final. shuddering gasp, her head slumped to the side.
A
