In his heart, my son's and my lives combined were worth less than a single hair on Vanessa's head. We were merely tools he used to prolong Vanessa's life, tools he could discard at will once he was done with us.
I managed a weak, bitter smile, tears silently streaming down my face. The strength in my fingers gradually loosened until they finally fell limp. My consciousness was overwhelmed by the tide; I finally couldn't hold on any longer and drifted into an endless, unconscious sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, the blinding white light made me squint instinctively.
The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils as I lay in a regular hospital ward, the sheets beneath me stiff and hard.
Liam sat by the hospital bed, his eyes red and his face full of worry as he looked at me. When he saw that I was awake, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then his eyes reddened even more, and he couldn't help but shed tears. He reached out to hold my hand.
"Clara, you're awake!" His voice choked with emotion, filled with lingering fear. "The doctor said you lost too much blood and that's why you fell into a coma. I was so scared... Thank goodness you're alright. I almost thought you'd never wake up again!"
He pulled me into his arms, his warm tears falling into the crook of my neck, crying so hard it felt like the world was ending, his emotions so genuine and heartfelt.
But all I felt was a bout of physical nausea.
He was the one who pushed me into hell, he was the one who didn't care about my life or death, so why is he pretending to be all lovey-dovey in front of me now?
I pushed him away without making a sound, the force not strong, but carrying an undeniable distance. I forced a smile, my tone as calm as still water: "I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
I paused, thinking of the child lying alone at home, and felt a pang of pain in my heart. "I'm worried about leaving our son alone at home. You should go back and take care of him."
When his son was mentioned, a trace of sorrow appeared on Liam's face. He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing the emotions in them.
Seeing him like this, I assumed he was talking about his son and felt somewhat guilty. After all, he was his own flesh and blood.