Chapter Thirty-Four
Flashback (A few days back)
It had been over six months since the accident yet Laurence was showing no signs of improvement. His parents had already given up hope but Troy's parents didn't. After Troy recovered a month earlier, they found a renewed hope that Laurence would also recover. They made the doctors change their treatment methodology. They left no stones unturned for Laurence's treatment. Sandra came in twice a day to talk to Laurence. She stayed, reminding him of his Aria and their baby, his sister who hadn't come home for the last six months. Sandra had gone to see Lisa at her friend's house many times but she was adamant that she would never return home.
She wept like a baby holding both Laurence's hands. "Wake up son. Aria would soon give birth to your baby. Wouldn't you want to bring them back?" She sobbed wetting Laurence's hands.
"I have no idea where your Aria is Laurence. You have to search for her. Please get up," she again shed more tears.
"Get up and bring Lisa and Aria home to you. You're all they have. You can't afford to give up. They're both lost without you. Are you listening Laurence? Why are you not listening? Troy has recovered. Won't you recover too? Your parents are after Aria's life. Don't you want to save her?" She sobbed as she reached up and touched his face. A few tears fell onto his face too.
Laurence felt someone sobbing far far away. All he could hear was the name Aria repeated again and again. He stirred and he caught the last sentence that was being said.
Your parents are after Aria's life. Don't you want to save her?
Yes he had to save his Aria. He struggled against some unknown force which was pulling him down, not allowing him to open his heavy eyes. His hands felt like lead, he couldn't move them although he wanted to. He couldn't speak, he couldn't move his tongue to utter a single word.
"Please God, help me,
Please God, save me,
Please God, give me the strength, Please God, I beg of you, help me save my wife."
He prayed and prayed in his mind.
Sandra saw his face scrunch slightly and his mouth quivering slightly. Was she seeing the truth? Was it an illusion? She again observed him. Yes, again that same expression. He was waking up. She rushed to summon the nurses. They came and saw Laurence's movements and quickly called his doctor. The hospital summoned Troy's parents as they were the ones who were always there and bore all the expenses of the treatment. They came over immediately leaving Troy under his nurse's care at home.
The next two days, the doctors treated Laurence to the best of their abilities. They revived him. They conducted tests on him. Thankfully he didn't suffer from amnesia like they had initially feared. His vision and brain functions were normal. He was released after a week and brought home.
End of flashback
His parents came to meet him in his bedroom with a relieved smile on their faces to see him alive. "How are you feeling? Your dad had been trying so hard to look after the business. Lisa also left instead of guiding your dad," said his mom with a nervous laugh.
"Where is Aria mom?" Asked Laurence patiently.
His first words after waking up had been "Aria" but it wasn't the right time to tell him about everything that happened in his absence. So Sandra somehow had comforted him till he was better. Then she slowly had updated him about everything. Laurence had wept like a baby for days. He was heartbroken and had wished that he were rather dead than lose his Aria. He had torn off the channels on his body in his frenzy. Sandra had calmed him and given him hope. She had advised him to quickly get better and then start his search for his pregnant Aria. Laurence was ecstatic hearing about his baby. He had calmed down and started cooperating with renewed energy. He had to find his pregnant wife and bring her back.
"She left home son," said his mom, looking away from his probing eyes. His dad was about to escape downstairs but Laurence stopped him.
"No dad. I want to talk to both of you," he said. His dad guiltily turned and looked at him.
"Why did you throw her out of my home?" He asked pointedly.
"It's Lisa's fault. She stole my money and hid it. I thought your wife did it. When I asked her, she just left home?" Said his mom with a casual shrug.
"It's not that simple mom. Both of you cruelly threw her out, " he accused.
"Who taught you? Sandra? I'll throw her out of work this very instant," said his mom, hurrying to the door.
"This is my home mom. I pay Sandra. You won't say a word to her. She's not going anywhere, " threatened Laurence. He was already feeling drained after facing his parents. He sent Sandra go fetch Lisa home. He called Lisa on her mobile with his new phone. His old phone was crushed beyond repair. The Sim card was also destroyed.
"Hello, who's this?" Asked Lisa impatiently.
"Sweetie, Laurence here," said Laurence smiling after hearing his sister's voice.
"Bro? Oh my God, bro. How are you? Where are you? Can I see you?" She started nonstop, as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Hush Lisa. I've come home. Why don't you come home too? I need you to take care of me," he said. Lisa cried and cried but mumbled in between.
"Yes bro. I'll come home. Can you send Sandra to help me pack?" She said.
Sandra brought Lisa home. She rushed to meet Laurence. She hugged him and cried and cried, wetting his shirt.
"I didn't steal bro. I wasn't even home. I don't need mom's money when you've already given me your card. I have everything that I need. Mom's lying, please believe me," said Lisa as more tears fell from her eyes.
"I know sweetie, don't cry. I can understand everything, " he said, comforting her. Lisa and Sandra took care of Laurence so well that in a week he was fit enough to go to his office. He contacted a reputed private investigator and asked him to search for Ariannaz giving him every possible detail.
After office he went to David Gray's house and updated them about everything that had happened. Isabella had left home after Weston announced his wedding. They had no idea where she was. She had simply disappeared from their lives without a forwarding address. Her phone number was also unavailable. Maybe she changed her number too.
Laurence was faced with a deadend. His private investigator couldn't come up with any clue even after a month of investigating. Laurence stopped all interactions with his parents. He didn't even go downstairs to eat. Lisa shifted into his apartment. His cooking was done at his own apartment and Lisa and Sandra stayed with him too. Sandra left his parents' work and they appointed a new housekeeper Jennifer for themselves. She was a bitch and Sandra avoided her like a plague.
Laurence and his PI tried to contact Arianna's phone but couldn't. Laurence had it tracked by professionals but located the damaged Sim Card in a garbage dump near the hospital where he was admitted. It was irreparable. His last hope of finding Aria was dashed.
In Russellville, Arianna gave birth to a beautiful girl, Lauren who looked so angelic that no one could look away from her face. It was as if an angel had been born to her. Arianna cried a lot that night with happiness. If only her Laurence would get to see his daughter. She prayed with all her heart that she could go back to him one day with her daughter Lauren.
Sammy helped her a lot, looking after Lauren, taking an interest in her immunizations, bringing stuff for her. Lauren loved Sammy too. She stared at him with love shining in her baby eyes and tried to hold onto his fingers, stopping him from leaving. He spent days with her, playing and cooing. Arianna had never seen a sweeter bonding as theirs. The children gave Lauren company while she completed her work.
"Laurence is well and going to his office," informed Sammy. He knew that Arianna loved only Laurence and that she could never love him. He had come to terms with the reality.
"When can I go back to Vegas?" Asked Arianna.
"I don't know. They're still hunting for you. It's not safe for you and your baby," said Sammy.
It was true that Harry Lennard was still making his goons hunt for Arianna. Laurence had no idea of this. He had no idea that his parents could stoop so low.
Months passed by and Lauren started growing up. Arianna lost all hopes of Laurence and had started accepting her fate.
