Chapter 451
The first thing I hear is the steady beeping of a machine and for a moment, I don’t understand where I am. Everything feels heavy; my body, my head and even my eyelids feel too heavy to lift.
Slowly, I force my eyes open, but the sharp light immediately burns through me and I shut them again with a groan.
“Sierra?” Mom’s voice reaches me softly.
I frown slightly before whispering weakly, “Light p>
I hear movement before she speaks again gently. “Okay, sweetheart. You can open your eyes now p>
This time when I slowly open them, the light isn’t as harsh.
Mom’s face comes into view first. She’s smiling at me, but her eyes are swollen and tired like she’s been crying for hours.
I try to sit up instinctively, but pain immediately pulls through my side, making me suck in a breath.
“Easy,” Mom says quickly, moving to help me. “Take it easy p>
She carefully adjusts the bed until I’m sitting more comfortably before settling beside me, and then she reaches up and brushes my hair away from my face.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she whispers shakily.
Guilt immediately twists inside me: “I didn’t mean to p>
“I know,” she says softly. “But I really hope this is the last time I ever have to see you in a hospital p>
Despite everything, a weak laugh escapes me.
“But I want more children,” I mumble. “Where exactly am I supposed to give birth if you never want me in a hospital again p>
Mom snorts softly through her tears, “You can do home births… I’ve had enough of hospitals when it comes to you p>
I laugh weakly at that before silence settles between us afterward. The moment it does, my mind immediately rushes back to everything that happened.
Fuck, I can’t believe that it was Benji all along. I can’t believe how cleanly he and his mom had hatched and executed a plan to destroy all because of something my dad did, which, by the way, I’m yet to prove if he even did what they accused him of.
I part my lips, about to ask about my daughter, but suddenly the hospital room door bursts open and Lilly walks in first, arguing loudly with Juliette.
“I’m telling you, you’re annoying p>
“And I’m telling you that you’re jealous because Sierra likes me p>
They both stop dead the second they notice me awake. Behind them, Noah and Adrian walk in looking exhausted.
Noah’s hair is messy, like he’s been dragging his hands through it nonstop and Adrian looks like he hasn’t slept in days.
Lilly eyes immediately fill with tears as she whispers, “Oh my God p>
She rushes toward me so fast she nearly trips over herself before stopping beside the bed.
“I thought I lost you again.” Her voice cracks completely on the last word and my heart squeezes painfully.
I immediately grab her hand and squeeze it. “I’m here… And I’m not leaving anytime soon p>
She cries harder before she suddenly throws herself at me in a hug. Pain immediately explodes through my side.
“Ah—shit p>
Lilly jerks back instantly. “Oh fuck, I’m sorry p>
I groan before disbelief once again freezes me. “He shot me, Lilly. I can’t believe Benji shot me p>
She shakes her head immediately, still looking horrified. “Of all the people I suspected, I never imagined it would be him… Hell, at one point I thought it was Juliette p>
Juliette gasps dramatically before smacking Lilly’s shoulder. “You’re such a bitch. Why would you think I’d hurt Sierra p>
Lilly shrugs unapologetically. “You barely knew her and suddenly wanted to become best friends… And let’s not forget you used to be in love with Noah p>
Noah immediately clears his throat awkwardly, but nobody really pays him any attention.
Juliette scoffs loudly. “I was blind back then. Sierra helped me see clearly p>
“Doesn’t matter, you were still on my suspect list,” Lilly mutters.
“You’re just jealous p>
“What the hell do I have to be jealous about? Your vanity p>