006

The machine beeped profusely, alerting the nurses in the room. One of them jerked up and scurried to the doctor’s office. It didn’t take long before she returned with a doctor. The doctor approached the bed to examine what went wrong.

The surgery had gone well, and they had expected her to be awake by now. But more than five days had passed, and she still hadn’t moved.

Soon, the machine’s beeping stopped. The doctor proceeded to check her vitals; everything seemed normal. He paused and turned to look at the nurse beside him.

“I need you to run a test,” he said, but she didn’t respond immediately. Following her gaze, he noticed it landing on Layla’s face. Her eyes were squinting, fighting to stay open.

They watched her struggle until her eyes finally flew open.

“Can you hear me?” the doctor asked, reaching for her hands. “Nurse, quickly inform my brother; she’s awake.”

Layla glanced in his direction, wordless, trying to figure out where she was, until she noticed his white garment.

“If you feel any pain, just nod your head slightly,” he added, his hands still holding hers warmly.

She was quiet, trying to fathom what was going on.

Why is he holding me like that? Layla thought, but she couldn’t do anything. She wasn’t in pain, just exhausted, and still felt like she wanted to sleep.

“Doctor, I think she’s lost her hearing. She’s not responding at all,” the other nurse with him said.

They were surprised when Layla nodded, catching everyone off guard.

The doctor heaved a sigh of relief and moved to sit beside her. It felt strange how closely he stayed; no doctor would cling to a patient like this, not in such a way.

“How did I get here?” she finally asked.

His face lit up with unmistakable excitement. “It's one thing to be happy after saving a patient, but it's another to see them recover.”

“You were hit by a car,” he explained gently, his voice soothing. “But don’t worry, you’ll be fine.” He squeezed her hands with surprising affection. “I’ll run a few more examinations to be certain you’re recovering well,” he added.

Before he could proceed, the door suddenly flew open. Two men marched in alongside a woman.

“Ryan! How’s she feeling?” the woman asked, her voice thick with concern as she rushed to Layla’s bedside and leaned closer to pat her gently.

“She’ll be fine, Mother. You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he assured her, his face softening into a fond smile.

Layla watched them, utterly perplexed. Nothing made sense, not the number of people in the room, not their familiarity, and certainly not the affection in their voices and gestures. All she could think about was whether the family running the hospital treats patients the same way they are treating her.

“Goodness,” the woman said, relief washing over her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. For a second, I thought we had lost you again.”

Again? Layla echoed inwardly. It sounded like they were her family members.

This time, her confusion deepened. Whatever they were talking about, it had nothing to do with what she remembered.

Before she could ask any further questions, a knock sounded on the door, diverting everyone’s attention. The door creaked open, and the moment Layla’s eyes landed on the figure, her soul almost left her body.

Her jaw dropped, her gaze fixated on him. To anyone else, it would have seemed like she was seeing someone she hadn’t laid eyes on in decades, but the truth was the opposite.

Layla was staring at someone who looked exactly like her.

There was no difference in their features. Even their hair color was the same. He was her carbon copy, with nothing to distinguish them except their gender.

The entire Hawthorne family stood before her, the family she had once belonged to, before fate tore them apart. She had three brothers, each exceptional in his field. They were the most powerful tycoons in the country, with access to limitless opportunities.

Ryan was a renowned doctor affiliated with one of the largest hospitals under the family’s control. Joshua followed his father’s path into business, while Ethan chose the spotlight and became a celebrity.

Layla felt someone tap her lightly, and only then did she realize her mouth was still hanging open.

“This is Ethan,” Joshua introduced. He's the second child of the family, taking after his father, and from a young age.

“He was the one who knocked you down and brought you to the hospital.” Joshua continued.

Everyone in the room seemed to understand what was happening, except Layla, who's still in shock.

The fact that he was the one who had hit her didn’t bother her. What unsettled her was why they looked so alike.

“Who are you?” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you look so much like me?”

Natasha, the woman who had entered earlier with her husband, sat down beside her. She reached for Layla’s hands, stroking them gently.

“I don’t know how to begin,” she said, her voice trembling. “But I am so sorry. We’re ashamed of ourselves. Every one of us regrets it.”

Layla's eyes darted from one figure to another until they landed on the man she must have assumed to be her husband.

He hasn't said anything since they walked in, and he's not making eye contact with her.

'Wait, don't tell me they are family?' she thought, but quickly brushed it off. There's no way she's related to either of them, except for the man who looks so much like her.

“Mother! I don't think now's the right time for this; we need to check her health and stamina. She's awake, but that doesn't mean she's fully recovered.” Ryan interjected; his gaze carried so much affection.

"No! We should let her know; we can't keep this from her, not now that we found her.” Mr. Hawthorne spoke for the first time, giving his wife a go-ahead.

Layla still didn't get the gist; in fact, they were confusing her even more, and it only made her more uncomfortable. Her eyes were still heavy; she wanted nothing but to sleep. At least it would wash away the pain she'd been through until she came to terms with accepting reality.

“Please! You'll let me know what you're hiding. I got knocked by a car, ended up in the hospital, and when I woke up, I met someone who's exactly like me, and you told me he was the driver.”

The only thing running through her mind was whether this was a setup. She's already been through hell; the last thing she would want is to get herself associated with another drama, not with having half a year to live.

Her heart thundered enough for everyone in the room to hear it. She was anxiously waiting for whatever they were planning to inform her. "You're my daughter.”

The words didn’t register at first. The room tilted. Layla felt her fingers go cold before the world went dark.