She was going in and out of consciousness not really sure of what was real and what wasn't anymore. She saw images of her family moving in and out of focus and the curtains being drawn to let the sunlight into her room. Her eyes were sensitive to it but Carla was much to weak to even lift an arm to shield her eyes. She just heaved and heaved against her pillow, her black hair soaked through from all the sweating and her mouth becoming more and more increasingly dried. She was weak and in a state of delirium.

"Can't you do something about this?" she hears her mother shouting

"I had Robert call for the doctor Sharon," Carla's father booms impatiently, "And he better come quickly for what I am paying. I couldn't bare if something happened to my baby."

"She'll be fine Edward. She's just being dramatic. Anything to not plan her own engagement gala."

Carla wishes she had the energy to turn her head because if she did she would make sure to glare at her mother with all her might and let it being known to world just how much she hates her. The woman never had any compassion when it came to Carla. She didn't understand the physical state of pain that came with a broken heart. Her mother didn't understand that a world with out Liam wasn't a world worth living in. She knew she had agreed to Antony's proposal but as soon as she sent the letter on its way to be looked over by her parents she knew she had made a grave mistake. Carla didn't love the man and she tried to take the letter back but her mother wouldn't permit it. Carla and her mother had a big screaming match that resulted in Sharon smashing wine glasses on the floor and threatening to do much worse of Carla didn't obey her. Carla's father finally got control of his wife and Carla plummeted up the stairs to her room locking herself inside and shutting the blinds closed. She wanted to be in absolute darkness because all she felt was dark inside.

She hoped that wherever he was that his heart was breaking and would continue to break everyday at this selfish decision he had thrust upon her. She hoped that he would never find true happiness again if he could so easily give her up and close his heart to her. Carla even wished him dead and as soon as she wished it she felt complete guilt over everything that had happened with Paul. Why did Liam have to be like this? Why couldn't he just miss Paul and love her at the same time? He was acting like it was impossible to do both at once and it irked her to no end. It wasn't impossible to love her and miss Paul all the same. There was no reason to feel guilty about it.

Carla had sat herself down at her dresser again determined to write another note. She was going to tell him that he had to fight harder than that letter if he ever wished to get ride of her.

Liam,

I will haunt you. I swear it. You can lock yourself away on a little sailboat and run to the ends of the earth, have your fun. I don't care. But one of these days you're going to realize that I'm the only person that gets you. I swear Liam, you'll never be free of me!

She read it over and over realizing that it was more hostile then it was heartfelt or romantic. So she tried again but all other attempts were just back to the usual:

Liam,

I love you. I just love you and I don't know how else I can convince you that your place is back here with me…

But then she wondered why she should have to convince him to come back to her. Why should she have to force him to come home? Shouldn't it be something already existing from within his heart? It was then that she began to cry again and then beg God to have some mercy on her. She knew that with her mother's enthusiasm for a big wedding, a long engagement was not likely to be in the picture. And then Carla's mind shifts to Michelle. How would she take the news of the engagement? Probably not very well, she'd probably label Carla as a traitor and make her out to be the bad guy. This was all too much to take, because Carla felt like a traitor every time another man so much as smiled at her. So she cried some more because everything was just so confusing and she didn't know whether she hated Liam so much that she wanted to throttle him or loved him so much she'd do the same.

She wanted to give her mother a show of defiance. She considered smashing stuff in her room and putting on a show. Her father would likely give into her but her mother was much more stern and hateful. She had scanned her room trying to figure out what to do and then it hit her, she'd rather be dead. It would teach her mother a lesson and it would teach Liam one too. He'd be filled with guilt for ever having left her behind. Quickly she grabbed for a vile of medicine on her dresser and without even a second thought downed all it's contents. What she remembers next is being bed ridden and sweating soaking her cotton white gown through. From what Carla can gather in all her parents bickering she had been in this state for two days. It certainly wasn't her smartest idea.

Her chest was so congested and she felt like her airways were closing. She saw her father come forward and his hands wrap around her chest briefly trying to prop her up on the pillows. Her breathing improved at bit and she now watched as her mother paced back and forth across Carla's room impatient at the doctors arrival.

"The engagement gala was supposed to be in three weeks time! We haven't even sent out the invitations much less agreed upon the possible designs!" Sharon frets.

"Woman be quite!" shouts Carla's father.

Just then the door to Carla's door swings open. Her younger brother Robert comes into view followed by a tall gentleman with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is dressed in a suit and wearing a black top hat and carrying a cane.

"She's there doctor," says Robert in a panicked voice, "My sister is right there. She is terribly ill."

"Yes," says the doctor his eyes drifting over Carla he looks momentarily stunned by her before recovering and saying, "I can see that," he says this with an air of cockiness and quickly takes off his hat as a sign of respect handing it and his cane to Robert.

He walks over to her parents briefly shaking hands with her father and exchanging a few words in a whisper before they both look over in her direction. Carla observes him still heaving as just hoping he could give her something to put her out of her misery. She didn't know exactly what she wanted but Carla wanted this whole ordeal to be over.

The doctor then walks over to her, carrying his medical case and setting it on the foot of her bed he quickly opens it getting out a few instruments. He strides over to her sitting down facing her at the head of the bed right near her pillow.

"If you would miss," he says, "Open your mouth."

Carla is still so weak but she complies letting him stick the instrument inside her mouth and under her tongue. He dark eyes bore into her making her feel a little uncomfortable. But he just held her eyes for a moment before carrying on.

"Have you had any vomiting?"

Carla looks at her father afraid of telling the truth in the presence of her parents. They would freak if they learned she had swallowed a vile of medicine on purpose. Her father looked ready to cry at the prospect of losing his princess and was clutching Carla's younger brother Robert. Her mother Sharon still stood impatiently tapping her foot about and pacing.

"Hey," the doctor says lightly tapping her cheek with his fingers, "Don't look at them. Look at me and be honest. Have you had any vomiting?"

Carla nods her head weakly indicating yes with the instrument still under her tongue. He slides it out from under her tongue gently.

"How many times? Do you remember?"

Carla manages to speak rather weakly a little put off by his coldness towards her, "No sir."

"Well at least the sickness hasn't taken her manners Mr. Donovan," the doctor says smirking in the direction of her father. Then turning back to her he says, "Your breathing isn't well. You're heaving quite a bit and you seem congested. I will have to have a listen. Your parents will be in the room of course."

"I will be leaving as will my son Robert," says her father, "We shall wait outside. My wife Sharon shall stay."

"Fine," says the doctor abruptly.

He didn't really seem to care Carla noticed and he went back to his bag putting away his instrument and retrieving a stethoscope. He came back to her prodding at her face and eyes trying to see if her focus was up to speed.

"Sit up if you please, Miss," he says again with that air of coldness.

Carla could barely manage and struggled against her pillows before she finally felt his hands on her back and front lifting her forward. He doesn't waste anytime as he presses his ear against her chest in her cotton nightgown. She knew the doctor was being professional but again it made her very uncomfortable. She was just glad her father and brother weren't in the room.

"Would you breathe for me Miss…what is your name?"

"C-Carla," she manages to wheeze out."

"Breathe for me very controlled breaths if you can, Carla. Just a deep breathe in and a deep breathe out."

Carla did as he commanded his head still pressed against her chest making her uncomfortable. She tried to look ahead and focus on anything so she would not have to focus on him and the awkwardness of having a stranger so close to her like this. She did it a few times for him and he took his head away for a moment to slip on his stethoscope before prodding it against her chest.

"I am going to need you to open your gown a bit Carla," he states his brown eyes had a bit of a glint in them.

Carla looked over at her mother unsure of what to do. Sharon gives a slight nod indicating she wants her daughter to get on with it. The doctor glances between mother and daughter before smiling.

"That's why you're mothers in the room Carla," he says with surprising gentleness, "To make sure I don't do anything unbecoming. I assure you this is all for medical reasons. I'll be the upmost professional."

Before Carla even had a chance to respond he pulled at the lace to the opening of her gown prodding the stethoscope against her chest. She felt his fingers gently brush her breasts and their eyes meet briefly at this violation of comfort before he continued to move it about her bare skin.

'Continue breathing as I asked," he says curtly while moving the instrument to her back area resting her against his hand for support, "hmmm," he remarks.

"What is it Doctor Foster?" says Sharon Donovan in a sugary sweet fake voice, "Is my darling going to be okay? Is it anything serious like consumption—"

"Consumption?" says the doctor gently removing the stethoscope from Carla's back. He is staring at her again with his dark brown eyes, expressionless, "Heavens no. I reckon food poisoning. Nothing to be frightened about."

"Oh my god!" says Sharon trying to play up her part as the concerned mother.

"Oh my god is right," says the Doctor, "She's too young to be so sick like this and it's even more for her silly to bring it on herself."

"Oh my daughter is only eighteen," exclaims Sharon, "She can be rather silly with overeating."

"Only eighteen?" the doctor whispers again staring at Carla in an uncomfortable manner. His brown eyes were blazing.

"Yes," says Sharon babbling on, "And newly engaged might I add. We can't afford such setbacks like this. Her engagement gala is in just a few weeks. I can't believe it still, my only daughter engaged—"

"And just as well," says the doctor now packing up his instruments, "The sooner she is off the market the better," again he seems to be in a daze his eyes drift over Carla taking her all in, "Can't have such a beautiful creature running about."

Carla gives him a haughty expression. Just who did this gentleman think he was looking at her in such a manner?

"Mrs. Donovan," he says his eyes still plastered on Carla, "Would you collect your husband? I shall like for a gentleman to be present when I give my diagnosis and medication."

"Of course Sir," Sharon quickly leaves the room.

Carla is left in the mercy of this strange gentleman. She is still so weak and felt sticky from all the sweat.

"It isn't good to take a whole bunch of medicine when you don't know what it's for," he remarks to her, "I hope you'll be more careful in the future Carla."

"How do you know?" Carla spits out stupidly before thinking. She is admitting to everything.

"Well," he says once again settling in front of her and placing his hand on her forehead feeling her temperature, "Because I'm a doctor of course. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out and as soon as your mother mentioned the engagement I knew it for certain."

Carla was annoyed with this doctor and his cockiness. She detested his touch already and she didn't even know him. She glared at him because she was too weak to bit back with a retort as he smirked at her. He began to move his hand down to touch her cheek and Carla fidgeted to get away

Before he could react her parents walked back into the room. Her father hovered anxiously in the background as the Doctor quickly rose and proceeded to give his diagnosis, "Food poisoning," he lied, "I will give her some antibiotics and I recommend a few more days in bed. She needs to be well rested for her fiancé."

"Oh yes indeed," says Carla's father happily shaking the doctors hand as her mother gives out a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank you so much doctor Foster. We are indebt to you! You must come to tea, to dinner, my daughters engagement gala!"

"Oh I wouldn't want to intrude upon you all," the doctor says briefly glancing at Carla.

"It wouldn't be an intrusion at all. Carla would host a dinner or tea in your honor. I mean it is because of you she can still have an engagement gala."

"Indeed," he says, "If your daughter doesn't mind of course?" He was glancing intensely at Carla now.

Before she could protest her mother Sharon glared giving her a warning, "Of course she wouldn't mind! She'd adore your presence!"

"The I guess it is settled," says Doctor Foster holding out his hand to shake Edward Donovan's and then kissing Sharon's, "I shall have to check up on her for a while anyways. I have to keep track of her progress. Make sure she has lots of fluids as well."

"Of course," says Carla's father, "We'll have the servants right on it."

"Good," he says now retrieving his top hat and cane, "Miss," he says nodding his head in Carla's direction before leaving. Her parents followed after him still singing his praises.

Carla was left alone now. She was upset again because whenever she was left with her thoughts all on her own she would just think about Liam. And then that would mean tears and anger were soon to follow. She was so angry that her plan to die hadn't worked and that she was still stuck in this engagement. She'd have to think of something fast to prolong that stupid gala and quick. She couldn't imagine having to spend a whole day in the clutches of her fiancé whom she would never love like Liam. And even more she couldn't imagine having to entertain the pompous cocky Doctor Foster. However she was surprised he hadn't gloated and jumped at the opportunity to rat her out to her parents. He had lied on her behalf and said she had food poisoning and Carla wanted to know why. But even such a question wasn't on her mind to long before she was back to wondering about her Liam. What was he doing at this very moment? And why was she hurting herself thinking about him? Her mother wasn't right about much in life, but perhaps she was right about love when she said nothing good ever came of it. Carla wants to cry again for being such a fool.