Chapter Nine
The sound of the familiar voice made me freeze over Liam’s bed. It was just my luck today that they would hear me say that. Turning around, I came face-to-face with Lilly and Adam. Lilly looked shocked, confused, and angry. Beside her, Liam’s father just stared at me with an even expression.
“What do you mean ‘wasn’t part of the deal’?” Lilly asked in a steely tone.
“I…I uh—” I started to say, but couldn’t find the words to say anything. This was not how they were supposed to find out. The small amount of hope that they would understand and not be angry was fading away. The look on Lilly’s face was making my heart crumble even more than it already was.
“You made a deal with my son for money?” she asked. “What kind of deal did you make?” Her voice kept getting louder and louder.
I knew I had to be honest with them right now. I was thinking of lying to keep her from getting mad at me, but before I could stop myself I heard myself speak.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was in a really bad situation before I met Liam, and when he offered me money to be his ‘wife,’ I took it without thinking. I didn’t want to hurt you guys or anyone else.” I found myself rambling. I mentally slapped myself for voluntarily spilling the beans. But, seeing Liam’s parents staring at me like that, I couldn’t stop myself from finally telling them. I never was the greatest at lying and keeping things from people.
“So you were using my son for his money? Like every other whore in this town.” Her words felt like she was slapping me in the face. “You lied to everyone just for some cash.” My tears had stopped when I heard Lilly’s voice, but now they were coming back.
This was exactly what I thought would happen. I was stupid enough to believe that his family wouldn’t be mad and forgive me for making this dumb deal. Now here we were, inside a hospital room with Lilly’s accusing eyes making me want to die right then and there.
“And to think I trusted you!”
I gulped, willing myself not to cry in front of her.
“Lilly, I’m sorry! I—”
I was interrupted by a new person clearing their throat.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I am Doctor Marshall.”
I quickly wiped my tears away as we all turned to the doctor.
“Hello, I am Adam Stanford, and this is my wife, Lilly. Is Liam going to be okay?” Adam said first. As soon as their last name was mentioned, I noticed the doctor’s eyes get a little wide. Everyone knew who he was. In that moment I was glad they did because that meant they would do everything they could for Liam.
“It is very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Stanford.” He shook their hands before coming more into the little makeshift room. “Liam will just fine.” As soon as those words left his mouth, I sagged a little against the bed.
“Right now he is in an induced coma to get the swelling in his brain to stop. There is no big damage besides his broken left arm and a few broken ribs. The coma will probably last about three to four days before he wakes up,” he said, tucking a chart under his arm.
“There is no brain damage?” Lilly asked, clenching Adam’s hand tightly.
“There could be a possibility that he won’t remember exactly what happened during the accident, but that is not very likely. He will not suffer any amnesia or impairments. He is a very lucky man, especially since the car hit his side.”
“Thank God.” Lilly sighed, leaning against her husband.
“We will be moving him into his own room in a little while. Since it is 11:20, you are more than welcome to sit with him and stay in his room tonight.”
“Whatever needs to be done, we will pay for. I want the best for my son while he is here,” Adam stated.
“Yes, sir, we will definitely make sure that he is well taken care of. For now, you can rest assured knowing he is just fine. I will need you to come sign some papers so we can have on file you allowed us to treat him.” Adam nodded as the doctor started leaving the room. “Liam is very lucky, but he does have quite a bit of recovery ahead of him, just so you are aware.”
With that, the doctor left the room. I looked away from Lilly to gaze down at Liam. Knowing he was going to be okay was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I just couldn’t believe this had happened. One second we were laughing and singing in the car, and the next we were in the hospital.
“I’m going to go sign those papers. I’ll be right back, sweetie,” I heard Adam say before I heard the sound of the curtain being pulled closed. Knowing Lilly was still in the room with me I tensed, with my back still to her. I knew an onslaught of angry words were on their way, and I didn’t blame her. Lilly was just worried about her son, and finding out that our “engagement” was fake didn’t help.
“You caused this,” she whispered, moving to Liam’s other side.
“Lilly—”
“No. You are not allowed to call me that anymore. You are the cause of this. You are the reason Liam is laying here in this hospital bed when he could be home right now.” Her voice was low, monotone. She wasn’t even looking at me, only at Liam.
“Why he thought of this dumb-ass deal I don’t know, but you shouldn’t have accepted. Especially just for money. You played every single one of us, having us think you were really engaged to our son. Was any of it real?” I went to go answer her question, but she interrupted me.