Chapter 3 — Discarded

Renee's POV

"Please, you have to help my wife, Camille!" Gregory repeated himself like he was a broken record. "If the cut on her hand gets any worse, it could get infected!"

In the midst of his pleas, he'd somehow managed to spare a glance at me.

However, there was no concern or worry in his features.

Instead, he rolled his eyes and shook his head like he thought I was just being dramatic.

Even if this was supposed to be for publicity sake… I still couldn't deny how his reaction stung. It was like salt being poured onto an open wound.

The nurse looked at my husband warily but complied anyway. 

I squinted hard as the nurse examined Camille's perfectly manicured hands but was baffled at the sight of the cut Gregory was barking up such a fuss about. 

It looked like a damn papercut! 

THAT'S what was getting his boxers in a twist? 

Just the other day while I was cooking dinner, I got burned by the cast iron skillet that I was trying to take out of the oven. I ended up getting blisters, and it hurt for me to even just move my fingers…

But all I got from Gregory was an indifferent response: "You'll be fine. Just put some gloves on for when you cook breakfast tomorrow. Now can you move? You're blocking my view of the TV."

The nurse smiled politely. "Well, Mr. Bennett, it seems Miss Camille's injury isn't too serious. Just a small cut that poses no risk of infection." 

"What do you know?!" That was when Julian ran into the classroom. He ran right past me and yanked Camille's hands into his own. "Mommy was pushing me on the swings when she cut herself on the chains!" 

"And you think that those rusty chains won't cause an infection?" Gregory scoffed. "If something happens to my Camille, I'll make sure your license gets revoked for negligence." 

"Mommy needs help more! How can she be the world's best violinist if her hands aren't perfect? She's never been hurt like this before!" Julian insisted. "The nanny has a lot of fat, which makes her stronger than my mommy! She can wait!" 

I couldn't believe that a small cut was warranting all of their attention and worry, yet not the fact that I couldn't even MOVE without being in so much pain.  

Just as I was about to argue, I fell back over onto the floor, unable to hold myself up without the nurse's support. The pain that shot up my back was like hot lava underneath my skin. 

Camille looked over at me then. A small smirk twitched across her red lips, but she quickly fixed her expression to make herself look like a fragile, pathetic victim. "Boys, boys… Please don't fuss over me so much. It looks like your nanny is in a lot of pain, too, and I don't want to hog all the nurse's attention…" 

Gregory's eyes snapped towards me, and for a moment, confusion and worry flashed across his usually sharp features. "What happened to you?" 

I sucked in a sharp breath, and it felt like I was being stabbed just below my ribs. Before I could say anything, Julian spoke up first. 

"She's fine." He rolled his eyes as he dismissed my pain like it was nothing to him. "It was just a little box that fell. She saved me, okay? But she's strong, she can handle herself… Can we just focus on helping mommy first?" 

The concern that was on Gregory's features vanished into thin air like a puff of smoke, as he nodded his head at son's suggestion. "You're right. We need to tend to Camille's injury first." 

"I-it wasn't a little box…" I barely managed to say with the pain now spreading across my arms. "It was full of books, and it hit my back hard! The pain is unbearable! Please—" 

"My mommy needs help first!" Julian shook his head adamantly. 

"But I'm—" 

"That's enough." Gregory's voice was full of authority. "I went ahead and called an ambulance since Camille's bleeding. I don't want her injury to get worse!" 

"I understand, Mr. Bennett." The nurse nodded her head sympathetically. "Until then, let me attend to your nanny, okay? She seems to be hurting badly and she needs help, too." 

"Shes right." Camille pouted. "Let the nurse do her job, sweetie. The nanny won't be able to care for my precious boys if she's too hurt." 

Gregory took Camille's 'good hand' in his. "You're so kind and thoughtful." His expression was truly soft as he looked at her with adoration. "Please, don't waste your energy on caring for a nanny. You're the important one here." 

At this point, other parents, children, and teachers had gathered outside of the classroom to see what was happening. They seemed to mirror his sentiments as they all rushed inside to crowd around Camille. 

This was humiliating in the worst way possible. Gregory may have claimed that this was all for show, but the opposite was written all over his face. He genuinely cared about Camille, and his heart only seemed to be moved by her fake show of sympathy. 

"Your breathing sounds a little labored…" The nurse's expression was full of worry. "Can you sit up?" 

I nodded my head weakly and tried to sit up as she instructed, but the pain set my whole lower back on fire as I sank back down to the tile floor. "I-I can't… I can barely move!" 

"Okay, okay. Just lay on your side and let me see—" 

"What are you doing?" Gregory stepped up to the nurse and grabbed her arm. "I told you to look after my wife first!" 

I grabbed Gregory's sleeve. "P-please, I need help! L-let the nurse—" 

"Stop!" Julian pried my fingers away from him. "A nanny isn't supposed to touch my mommy's husband like that!" He looked at the nurse with pleading eyes. "Please, help my mommy!" 

Just then, the already crowded room made way as EMS personnel rushed inside with a gurney. "We're here for Camille?" One of them asked. 

"Right here!" Gregory scooped Camille in his arms like a knight would for a princess and gently sat her on the gurney. "Please take her to the hospital right away. I need to make sure that the cut on her hand doesn't get infected!" 

The EMS personnel wasted no time rushing her back to the ambulance, as everyone followed with hushed murmurs of concern. 

And just like that, the classroom was completely emptied out—except for me. Not even the nurse that had expressed concern stayed behind. 

I couldn't believe it. 

My own husband… my own son…

Leaving me to suffer on this floor by myself and not giving a damn about me or my injuries.

It was like I was a piece of trash that they couldn't even be bothered to discard properly.

"P-please…" I still tried to call out weakly. "H-help me… Someone…"

Yet, all I was met with was the sound of a ticking clock and the faint shattering of my heart.