CHAPTER 4

 CAMILLA

All through my journey back to California, I was disturbed and feeling restless. I had a lot in mind that I couldn't process.

I wanted to feel happy that I would be working in a hospital where my importance would be highly appreciated. I wanted to be happy that I had gotten a chance to live the kind of life I had been dreaming of but felt bittered instead.

“Why was I feeling queasy and so frightened instead of feeling joyful? Why was I feeling this way?

I looked at my children who were fast asleep in the car, Mira was laying her head on my lap while George leaned on her. They were so adorable that I wanted to stare at their sleeping faces all day.

“How did I end up bringing these angels back to that monster's domain where their lives will be threatened?

“Why were they here with me? I could have left them in London and come alone but I don't want a nanny raising them.

Raymond, who knew about what happened between me and Lawrence back in California, had also kicked against the transfer.

It took a lot of conviction to have him accept after I decided to give working in California a try.

I planned to work in California for six months and then appeal to be transferred back to London. While I had this plan in mind, I prayed that I would be able to stay quiet without running into Lawrence until I went back to London.

 The car stopped in front of the penthouse cutting off my thoughts, the chauffeur helped me carry the luggage while I followed him, carrying my sleeping children with me.

I got settled in and thanked him as he left.

Early the next morning, the ringing tone of my phone woke me up. I searched for the phone with sleepy eyes before answering the call,

“Doctor Camilla on the line,” I said with drowsiness. I wasn't fully awake.

“Doctor, we need you right now in the hospital. There is an emergency,” and I quickly snapped my eyes open.

“What? I'll be right there immediately.”

I quickly got up and rushed to get something else to wear. I looked at my phone, the time was still 4:20 a.m. Too early for me to go out, but I knew I had to. It was an emergency, after all.

I rushed to Mira’s room, but her room was empty, only to find her in George’s room. They hugged each other as they slept on one big bed. They must have slept off while keeping each other company last night.

I didn't want to disturb their sleep so I decided to leave and call them around 7 am when they would likely awaken to inform them I was in the hospital due to an emergency.

With that in mind, I left the house and rushed to the hospital. To my advantage, the main road was free and I got to the hospital quicker than expected.

“Dr. Camilla,” I announced when I got to the hospital gate. They quickly let me through.

 “Dr. Camilla is here!” Someone screamed and soon everyone was saying it, access was granted to me. I was surprised at how highly they carried me here.

It also seems that it was a wealthy and well-known man who needed the surgery because everyone seemed to be busy. They wore my hand gloves and prepared me for surgery, saying the patient was involved in an accident that destroyed some vital parts of his body. It sounded serious, but they had confirmed he was alive and was on life support.

“Dr Myers!” I was shocked to see the man in front of me. He was the doctor who saved my babies years ago. A feeling of nostalgia washed over me as I remembered that day.

“Please save him. Please,” he said with a choked voice. His eyes were teary. I could only nod, as I didn't know who was so important to Mr. Myers that he would shed tears.

It might likely be his relative and I felt much obliged to save whosoever it was that was so important to him. I owed him that as someone grateful for what he did for me in the past.

He saved my baby’s life, it was my turn to repay his kindness.

I entered the emergency room with my assistant, who would be assisting me with the operation. I made my way to the bed where the patient lay. My eyes widened as I staggered back.

The unconscious man before me was someone I never expected to see. It was Lawrence Knight, my ex mate.

 Memories flashed into my mind, and I almost felt like giving up on carrying out the operation. If only I knew it would be him, I wouldn't have bothered driving here early this morning.

"Mrs. Wilmer?" Dr Myers tapped my shoulder, bringing me back to reality.

I looked at him, nodding my head with a heavy sigh. "I'll take over the operation." The other doctors paused while I dug my hand through the cutting they had made, he was involved in a gunshot accident.

While staring at the monitor, I was able to trace the bullet with my fingers. It wasn't as easy as I expected, and I was being careful not to touch an organ to avoid rendering his life useless.

It took me a lot of effort not to take my revenge at this slightest opportunity, I wouldn't want to let my emotions take over me.

I felt my hand touch the object. Slowly – gently, I pulled it out of his body, dropping it on the metallic plate.

I did my best to stitch it as quickly as possible so air wouldn't find its way in. As soon as I was done, I took the gloves out, and took off my mask, and I was keen to get the hell outta here.

Desmond followed by, but I wasn't making any attempt to stop. "Camila. Camila." I kept walking, and he wouldn't stop either.

He held my shoulder, bringing me to a stop. "Thanks for saving his life." He thanked me.

"Just doing my job."

"Hey, is everything alright? Your mood changed when you saw the victim. Have you two met before?" He asked,

 This was something I didn't want to discuss, it was only going to bring back memories and I don't like it.

I forced a smile on my face, which I obviously knew wasn't convincing. But I just needed to leave this place.

"It's nothing. I only remembered an emergency case like this some time ago. I wasn't able to save the victim, so the memories just came and I was shocked by it." I heaved heavily. "Well, it's over. The operation is done successfully, the victim needs to rest."

I started heading outside to contact my children. As I spoke to them on the phone, I felt tears in my eyes.

Maybe, I was wrong to have helped save his life.