Fernando's eyes widened in response to the doctor's words, causing a momentary pause as surprise overtook his anger.
Alessia joined him in looking at the doctor, her brows furrowed in confusion as she sought to comprehend the situation.
"Camilla wants to see him?" Alessia inquired, her voice a mixture of disbelief and concern.
The doctor affirmed with a serious expression, nodding in agreement. "Yes, she specifically requested to see Mr. Cena."
Fernando, torn between his worry for his daughter's well-being and his issue with Alexander, voiced his confusion. "I can't understand why she would want to see him but not us."
Alessia's gaze shifted to her husband, observing his intense focus on Alexander, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Fernando... We mustn't let our conflicts overshadow our daughter's well-being. If she wishes to see him, we must respect her choice."
Fernando's jaw tightened, his agitation evident, yet he found himself unable to refute her reasoning.
Releasing a frustrated sigh, he acknowledged the persistence in Alessia's eyes, reluctantly accepting her perspective.
"You're right," he conceded, his voice laced with resignation.
"Camilla's welfare should be our foremost concern. If it brings her solace to see him, then we must set aside our differences."
Alessia's expression softened with gratitude, and she offered her husband a grateful smile, gently squeezing his hand for reassurance.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice laden with emotion.
Alexander, feeling a sense of relief that Fernando and Alessia did not oppose Camilla's request, exhaled deeply.
As he approached the entrance to Camilla's ward, Fernando's intense gaze followed him, a lingering hint of menace in his eyes, until Alexander vanished beyond the threshold.
Upon entering, Alexander's gaze immediately sought out Camilla, his blue eyes tenderly fixating on her delicate form lying in the hospital bed.
As his gaze locked with Camilla's, his heart ached at the sight of her frail condition.
Her face looked worn and pale.
In that moment, his deepest desire was to rush to her side, enveloping her in a comforting embrace and never letting go.
But he knew he couldn't act on those impulses.
Their eyes held an intense connection, conveying a complex blend of emotions.
Within Camilla's gaze, vulnerability mingled with longing, while determination and anger simmered beneath the surface.
And Alexander approached her cautiously, aware of the overwhelming emotions that threatened to engulf him.
Sensing the need for privacy, the doctor nodded to the nurse standing nearby.
"We will be outside if you need anything, okay?" she said, redirecting her gaze to Camilla, who simply nodded in response, her eyes still bearing the weight of her emotions.
As the nurse and doctor exited the room, Alexander took a deep breath, bracing himself for the challenging conversation that awaited him.
"How are you feeling?" he inquired, his voice a blend of apprehension and genuine concern.
Camilla's brow furrowed at his question, and a hint of derision colored her response.
"How I feel is no longer any of your concern," she retorted sharply, her gray eyes piercing his gaze from beneath her long, dark lashes.
Alexander nodded, though his heart clenched with the sting of her words, he resisted the urge to react, understanding that it would only complicate matters further.
Camilla observed him intently for a few moments, attempting to gauge his response.
Yet, Alexander remained composed, his gaze unwavering.
Observing his steady demeanor, Camilla nodded, as if permitting herself to continue.
"Regarding the divorce papers... I'd like to sign them as soon as possible. When can I expect them to be delivered?"
Her tone adopted a clipped, businesslike quality, yet beneath the surface, Alexander detected a trace of pain.
Alexander felt a lump form in his throat as he swallowed, his voice carrying a hint of stiffness.
"I can have it delivered to you first thing tomorrow morning," he responded, his usual smoothness absent from his words.
Camilla nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.
She averted her gaze, clutching the blankets tightly between her fingers to shield her vulnerability from Alexander's view.
Taking a shaky breath, she struggled to regain her composure. "Great," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The sooner we sign it... the better it would be for both of us," she added, briefly meeting his eyes before looking away again, a single tear tracing its path down her cheek.
Alexander's heart ached at the sight of her pain, his instinct to wipe away her tears and comfort her, conflicting with the need to maintain a calm and detached demeanor.
"Of course...I understand," he responded.
Seeing her silence, he took it as a sign to leave.
Just as he turned and began walking towards the exit, he heard her softly call his name.
"Alexander." Her voice was feeble, her breaths uneven.
Alexander hesitated but eventually turned to face her once more.
His eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "Yes?"
She hesitated, summoning her courage before replying, "Please take this with you."
Her words strained, her eyes welled up with tears.
A pang of pain constricted Alexander's chest as he beheld the glistening, round object placed on her outstretched palm; it was her wedding ring.
His jaw clenched involuntarily.
Slowly, he retraced his steps and approached her bedside again.
He reached out, delicately accepting the ring from her trembling hand.
As he held it in his palm, his gaze fixed upon it for a moment before he closed his fingers around it.
"I wish things could have been different," Camilla's voice quivered as she spoke, her gaze fixated on the world beyond the slightly open curtains.
Alexander's heart ached at her words, his own pain mingling with hers. "So do I," he replied, and with that, he turned to leave, pausing only briefly at the door to give her one final glance before he walked out, gently shutting the door behind him.
With Alexander gone, Camilla's tears fell freely, exposing her vulnerability.
She had hoped for a different reaction when she agreed to the divorce, perhaps for him to realize it was all a mistake, apologize, and try to reconcile.
But now it was clear that their relationship had reached its breaking point.
The weight of her decision settled heavily on her chest, making it difficult for her to catch her breath amidst her tears.
The door swung open once more, and the doctor entered the room with purpose, striding briskly to Camilla's bedside.
Despite maintaining her professional demeanor, her genuine concern for Camilla's well-being radiated from her.
Standing by the bed and observing Camilla's distress, the doctor calmly inquired, "Are you sure you don't want me to bring in your parents?"
Her voice was gentle, yet resolute, indicating her readiness to accommodate Camilla's wishes while also considering her fragile emotional state.
Camilla shook her head, her voice quivering with tears.
"After what they did to me... I don't think I ever want to lay eyes on them again," she replied, her voice laced with a potent mixture of sorrow, anger, and unwavering determination.
•~•~•~•~•
Flashback
•~•~•~•~•
Perched on the edge of her parents' expansive king-size bed, Camilla delicately savored a bite of Arancini, relishing its flavors.
Suddenly, a muffled sob reached her ears from beyond the room
She halted, her gaze fixed on the closed door, knowing it came from her mother, who had stepped out just moments ago.
The awareness that her present situation caused this anguish filled her with a profound sense of guilt.
Witnessing others' sadness was something Camilla loathed and determined to ease her mother's sorrow, she set aside the Arancini, rising from the bed.
Grabbing hold of the dangling blanket at its foot, she wrapped it around her shoulders, cocooning herself within its warmth.
With quiet steps, she slipped out of the bedroom, compelled to investigate her mother's desolate state.
However, upon reaching the hallway, her mother was nowhere in sight, prompting Camilla to surmise that she might find her on the veranda.
She descended the stairs, making her way towards the veranda, hopeful to offer solace to her grieving mother.
But when she reached the veranda, Camilla discovered the door slightly ajar.
Drawing closer, she caught the sound of her mother's anguished sobs, punctuated by broken words.
"What kind of mother drugs her own daughter and a stranger just to manipulate her into a relationship?"
Camilla's entire being seemed to freeze in shock as if she had misheard her mother's words.
Her heart raced within her chest as she leaned against the wall, struggling to comprehend the weight of her mother's admission.
"All because of my selfishness? Tell me, have you ever heard of a mother doing such a thing to her daughter simply because she wasn't ready for a relationship?"
Alessia's words pierced Camilla's ears, evoking a tumultuous mix of anger and betrayal within her.
Overwhelmed by the surge of emotions, she couldn't bear to listen any longer.
Hastily, she retraced her steps, nearly colliding with Genevieve in her haste.
"Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am," the older woman apologized.
But Camilla, consumed by her own turmoil, didn't have the presence of mind to respond.
She walked past Genevieve and hurriedly made her way back up the stairs, seeking solace within the confines of her old bedroom.
Slamming the door shut behind her, Camilla's legs gave way beneath her, and she slid down to the floor, gasping for air, her breaths heavy and labored.
Her mind raced, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling within her.
The weight of what she had just heard from her mother was overwhelming, cutting through her like a knife.
The depths of betrayal seeped into her being, igniting a wave of fierce anger within her.
Tears streamed down her face, blending with the mix of sadness and fury that consumed her.
She felt deceived, manipulated, and used.
The realization that her parents had orchestrated her relationship with Alexander, going as far as drugging them both, struck her with a profound sense of disillusionment.
"They planned it all..." The bitter thought echoed in her mind as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes, revealing the true nature of her parent's actions.
Her breaths grew more rapid, her chest heaving with a mounting surge of anger that seemed to fill every crevice of her being.
She rose slowly to her feet and made her way to the bathroom, opening the door with deliberate movements.
With the same measured pace, she turned on the faucet, allowing the water to flow into the tub.
Without hesitating, she eased herself into the warm embrace of the bathtub, finding solace in the enveloping stillness.
As the water filled the tub, time seemed to blur for Camilla.
The weight of her recent discovery had sent her emotions spiraling, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
Acting on impulse, she allowed herself to be submerged in the soothing depths of the water.
Lying there motionless, she lost track of time.
All that mattered was the sense of calm that gradually washed over her.
She felt the water caress her skin, her heart rate rising steadily, but she made no effort to resist.
As she sank deeper beneath the water's surface, her body gradually grew numb, her mind became consumed by a hazy detachment, momentarily shielding her from the tumult of her emotions.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Flashback Ends
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
The doctor remained steadfast by Camilla's bedside, her eyes filled with concern as she observed the distressed woman.
A subtle frown tugged at her lips, reflecting her empathetic nature.
"Camilla, I have spoken with your parents, and I believe seeking therapy could be beneficial for you given everything you've experienced in the past months," the doctor gently proposed, her voice laced with compassion.
Camilla finally shifted her gaze away from the window, her eyes gleaming with determination as she faced the doctor.
"Can you recommend a therapist for me in Paris?" she asked, catching the doctor off guard.
A hint of confusion furrowed the doctor's brow as she sought clarification.
"Paris?" she inquired, seeking confirmation.
Camilla nodded resolutely, her voice unwavering. "Yes, Paris."