A Hopeless Pursuit (Forbidden Love Series Book 10)

Liam stared at his mobile phone, too stunned by Lisa's statements to even speak. She had disconnected the call as abruptly as she had called him. He tried to call her back but it seemed that she had blocked his number as the call didn't go through.  Liam slumped onto the couch in his room. He did not believe a word that she had said. His heart knew that she loved him, her gestures, her behavior when she was with him, everything indicated that she too had feelings for him. Then why did she lie to him? He knew that she didn't care about Leo. He wouldn't ever believe her. 

He was concerned about Lisa and the punishments that she might have had to go through. He decided to lie low for some days and do as she had asked him to do. Once everything died down he could try to find out the truth. Till then, although he would miss her immensely, he could see her from a distance without her knowledge. He called up Serenity to inform her that he wouldn't be able to visit her on Saturday. 

"That's fine Liam. Tomorrow Laurence is dropping me off home since he's going away to France for a month or two. So we'll meet anyway, " said Serenity. 

An incoming call from Sofia made Lisa raise her tear-stricken face and check her mobile phone. She accepted the call eager to pour out her heart to her best friend. 

"Hey Lizzy, I'm back girl," squealed Sofia. Lisa was too heartbroken to answer her. "Lisa? Hello? Are you there?" Asked Sofia with concern and the sob that Lisa was holding back with so much difficulty, broke out. 

"I'm right here Sofi but I wish I was dead. I hate my life," she sobbed brokenly. 

"Shh, calm down and tell me what happened, " said Sofia. Lisa told her everything that happened in her absence. Sofia sighed after hearing everything. 

"Why did you have to lie about Leo? You could lose Liam forever. You love Liam, don't you?" Asked Sofia. 

"Yes. That was the only way to stop him from coming home," said Lisa with a heartbreaking sob. 

"Do you think he believed you?" Asked Sofia with concern. 

"I don't know. I disconnected the phone after that," said Lisa.  

"See whether he comes tomorrow or not. Let this die down then we can talk to Liam," said Sofia. 

"It will never die down Sofia. My parents never give up," Lisa said with frustration. 

"Come to my house with all your stuff and stay with me till you're eighteen," suggested Sofia. Lisa thought about it for a minute. 

"I might take up that offer Sofi, " she said with a sigh. She would look out for an opportunity to escape if things get worse. 

"You're most welcome, Lizzy,  now stop crying and go to sleep. I'm sure Liam would never give up on you," she consoled her friend. 

"You think so?" Asked Lisa with hope.

"I know so, now sleep. I'll talk to you again tomorrow, " said Sofia. They disconnected the call and Lisa went to sleep thinking about what Sofia told her. Did Liam really love her so much? She felt bad for saying those things to him. She loved him so much, if only she could also confess her feelings for him. She wished she had a normal loving family like everyone. Then her life would have been so much better. It would have been worth living. She really hoped that what Sofia said was true, that Liam really didn't believe her, that he really didn't give up on her. 

The next whole day her parents plotted and planned how to trap Liam and Lisa was too disgusted too even utter a single word to them. In the evening, however they received the shock of their lives when Serenity packed a suitcase and came with Laurence to inform about her plans of going home for a month or two. 

Her mom's jaws dropped open. "Liam was supposed to come home for dinner, wasn't he?" She asked Serenity, with a lost expression on her face. Lisa wanted to do a happy dance seeing her expression but controlled herself somehow. 

"No, aunt Penny, Liam's busy so Laurence is dropping me home. I'll return when he returns home from France, " informed Serenity. Penny and Harry Lennard's face fell at the news. 

"When are you going Laurence? You didn't think it necessary inform us?" said Harry Lennard. He needed money badly and with Laurence away he was thinking of ways to procure it from his office in his absence.

"I would have informed you all tomorrow, " said Laurence. 

"When will you return, son?" Asked his mom, going to sit down on a couch nearby pretending to be sick. 

"It might take me a month or two or maybe more," said Laurence rubbing his temples. 

"I'll come back and discuss this mom. Right now I'll drop Serenity home," said Laurence. 

"Why does she need to go?" Asked his mom stubbornly since she knew that if Serenity went home, Liam wouldn't come to their house and all her plans would fail.

"Please mom, can't leave Serenity alone upstairs with no one to look after her in this condition," said Laurence. 

"Why should she be alone? I'll take care of her," said her mom.

"You're sick mom. No, Serenity will go home," said Laurence stubbornly. 

"Sandra will take care of her," said his mom.

"Sandra already has too much work to do. No more arguments. My decision is made. Come on Serenity, " he said sternly, leading Serenity into the elevator. Lisa went upstairs to her room, happy and free that her parents' plan had failed. 

The next day Laurence gave Lisa his card in case she needed it. He gave some money to his parents so that they could run smoothly the next six months. He was feeling suffocated at home and wanted to get away. He knew he wouldn't return home the next six months. 

After Laurence left, Lisa led a lonely life locked up in the house. Her only solace was her music. Her teacher came to teach her regularly. Everyday she carried some of her stuff in her school bag and transferred them  to Sofia at school. She took them to her house. Lisa knew that soon her mom would think of a way to go ahead with her plan and Lisa had to be prepared for it. Everyday, after school she went out of the back gate and waited and looked around for Liam. For ten minutes she just stood there with a forlorn and sad expression on her face. Little did she know that two people watched her, Megan who was appointed by her mom and Liam himself who watched the two of them discreetly from a vantage point. He watched her with a lot of heartache and longing, wanting to pull her into his arms, comfort her, take her home with him but he couldn't with Megan watching. Not that he was scared but he didn't want Lisa to suffer and get more punishments.

Days passed and then weeks and eventually months. There was no news of Laurence nor was there any improvement in Lisa's condition. Five months had gone by and yet Lisa hadn't heard from Liam. She missed him with every cell in her  body. There never went a week day when she didn't wait outside her school back gate waiting for Liam. It broke Liam's heart watching her from afar. But neither did Megan give up nor did he. Both watched Lisa every week day when she had school. 

She was just leaving the dining room after having her breakfast alone when her mom rushed inside the room bursting with excitement. "Be ready in the evening today. It's Eric's birthday and we're going to the Parker mansion to celebrate his birthday party. Try to sneak into Liam's room tonight. We must act tonight," said her mom, excitedly gesturing with her hands.

"Okay," said Lisa. There was no point in arguing with her mom as her decision was made. She wouldn't return home from school. She would directly go to Sofia's house and stay there till she turned eighteen.

She went up to her room and got ready for school. Thankfully she had already packed her stuff and sent it away to Sofia's house. She quickly packed all her books and other important necessities into a trolley bag and went down the elevator to the parking lot. 

"What's in the bag Miss Lisa?" Asked Scott with curiosity. 

"There's a charity stall at school today. Everyone's donating their old stuff away," she told him and loaded the bag into the car. 

Scott nodded and drove her to school. He helped her with the bag. "It's too heavy, miss. Will you be able to handle it?" Asked Scott.

"Yeah, my old books are there too. Don't worry I'll drag it along," said Lisa nervously. She went into her school and found Sofia waiting for her. She handed the suitcase to Leo who went to the school's parking lot to load it into his car. 

"So you're moving in permanently today?" Asked Victoria. Lisa had already called Sofia and informed her of her plans. 

"Yes. I can't take it anymore, " said Lisa. Sofia hugged her to comfort her. 

"You're welcome to live with me forever Lisa. I'm glad to have you staying with me now. I was very worried about you, " said Sofia.