A Hopeless Pursuit (Forbidden Love Series Book 10)

Lisa's eyes filled up with tears upon seeing Laurence at her bedside. "I'm sorry to disappoint you bro. I shouldn't have run away," she spoke in a hoarse and choked voice as a few tear drops escaped her eyes and fell from her cheeks. Laurence came to his senses. He sat down beside her and held her hand, wiping her eyes with his other hand.

"No Lisa. It's not your fault at all. Dad compelled you to take the extreme step and Leo took advantage of you. If anyone should be sorry it should be them and not you. I'm so glad that you're safe Lisa. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you," said Laurence choking his tears down. He couldn't break down. He had to give support, hope and courage to his sister. He hugged her gently, glad that she didn't react the way he was dreading she would.

"Bro, take me home please," pleaded Lisa.

"Yes Lizzy, we will go once the doctor gives you permission," said Laurence. "Do you know someone else is outside, eager to see you," said Laurence softly.

"Who?" Whispered Lisa.

"Liam," said Laurence watching her for her reaction.

"No bro, I don't want to see him. I couldn't save myself for him. I'm not worthy of his love. Please I can't face him yet," said Lisa brokenly.

"You're thinking wrong Lisa. Liam loves you as you are. It will break his heart if you don't see him once. He's very worried about you Lisa," said Laurence. He knew that the doctor had asked him not to force her but he felt that he needed to correct her thought regarding what happened to her.

"No no please I beg of you bro. I can't face Liam," said Lisa. The trauma therapist came to talk to Lisa so Laurence had to leave. He went to sit with Liam who looked at him questioningly.

"I'll go and see her now," said Liam but Laurence caught his hand.

"No wait Liam. The therapist is checking her," he informed Liam. He wanted to tell him that Lisa didn't want to see him but couldn't. It would break his heart.

"Oh okay, " said Liam. The therapist spoke to Lisa for two hours. After that talk to the therapist, Lisa felt much better with her situation. She didn't feel guilty anymore, realizing that it was nothing more than an accident. The therapist came out of the ICU satisfied with the treatment.

Laurence stopped her outside the ICU. "Doctor, how is my sister Lisa Lennard?" He asked anxiously.

"She's a brave girl. I spoke to her and she has responded positively. We don't need to detain her here anymore. You can take her home but she needs thrice a week therapy. I shall recommend a good doctor for her. In the meantime we'll get the release documents ready," said the doctor.

"Can I go and see her now?" Asked Liam and the doctor nodded. Before Laurence could say a word, Liam went inside. He approached her slowly.  Did she remember him? Would she want to talk to him after so many years?  Hesitantly he stood beside her and she opened her eyes and looked at him. Then to his surprise, she opened her arms out for him just like he always did. Liam simply went close to her. His arms went around her and he picked up her frail body close to his heart and hugged her, pouring out his love for her.

"Liam," she breathed out. She felt so happy to see the man she loved after so many years. The therapist had cleared the mental block she had about meeting Liam and she was glad.

"Shh, I love you, Lisa," he whispered, his face into her neck as he breathed her in, feeling alive for the first time after two years. They stayed in that position both not wanting to let go. Liam wanted to show her how much he loved her through that simple, heart-warming hug. A throat cleared and they slowly released one another. The doctor came towards them accompanied by Lisa's nurse and Laurence.

"You're fine now, Ms. Lennard. So we're releasing you. You can go home, " smiled the doctor. Lisa smiled back, relieved to be able to go home. Laurence had already taken care of the hospital formalities. The doctor explained to Laurence the medicines and the therapy that needed to be continued. He instructed the nurse to get Lisa ready to be discharged.

After half an hour, Liam drove Laurence and Lisa home. She was too exhausted and slept throughout the car ride. They didn't utter a single word between themselves lest she woke up. It was a silent ride back home but both them were glad that Lisa was safe and with them. They reached home late after dinner time. Sandra and Arianna behaved normally with Lisa just as Laurence had instructed them to. Lisa had a light soup and went to bed. Sandra slept with her in her room. Liam left after dinner with a promise to come to see her the next day. Troy had employed security guards to protect the house in case her dad tried to contact her again.

"Has he come out of hiding?" Laurence asked Troy before going to sleep

"No, he has switched off his mobile phone too. I tried today in the afternoon," informed Troy. 

"Still we need to be careful. I don't want him anywhere near Lisa, Arianna and Lauren, " said Laurence. Troy agreed and they planned some more. The police would come the next day to record Lisa's statement.

The next morning, Sofia came to see her. She spent the whole day with Lisa. The police arrived to record Lisa's statement. She told them that her dad was threatening her so she left home but Leo took her to the cabin against her will. He spiked her drink and raped her when she was unconscious. The police recorded everything and left. Since Leo had admitted to his crime, their task had been made easy.

Troy and Laurence had to go to work and Sofia and Lisa spent the whole day discussing which program they wanted to study. Sofia wanted to take up fashion designing while Lisa wanted to study music. They researched about the undergraduate courses and colleges available to them. The whole day Lisa waited for Liam to come and see her but she knew that he was at college. It was his last year and his final exams were just round the corner. It was evening already and Sofia left to go home. The doorbell rang and Sandra opened it and smiled at an anxious Liam waiting outside on the doorstep.

"She's upstairs in her room," said Sandra as he came inside. Liam thanked her and rushed up the stairs to Lisa's room. He opened the door and peeped inside. He saw Lisa sitting on the bed with her laptop. She looked up the moment she felt his presence.

"Hi," said Liam. "What are you doing ?" He asked, sitting beside her and looking at her laptop.

"Checking the undergraduate courses available at different music colleges," answered Lisa shyly. 

"Good choice. You're very good at it. Did you shortlist any course?" Asked Liam curiously.

"I'm confused. Come and help me please, " she said and Liam gladly sat near her, as she showed him the courses that she had shortlisted. They together discussed the courses available and ultimately shortlisted a few undergraduate programs. One of them being the Bachelor of Music from the University of Nevada while the others were all either in New York or California but they were the best in the country.

"I'll choose the first one since I don't want to leave Vegas," said Lisa looking up at Liam who was sitting close to her, watching her quietly. He longed to pull her into his arms, to taste her sweet lips again but he didn't have the courage after what she went through. He noticed that her body had matured and bloomed perfectly. He had felt her curves when he held her yesterday. She had grown more rounded in the last two years.

"Why?" He asked quietly staring at her upturned face.

Lisa quietly looked at him. "I don't want to be away from you," she said quietly, taking in his harsh intake of breath at her admission.

"Why?" He whispered, watching her closely.

"Because I love you Liam, " she whispered back. Liam stared at her wordlessly. His eyes portrayed the longing that he felt for her. His hand stretched upwards and tucked her hair behind her ear, his fingers caressing her cheek in the process.

"I missed you Lisa," he whispered. Lisa's arm went around his neck. Her fingers tangled into his hair and she pulled his head towards hers.

"Kiss me please," she begged him. He held her cheek gently and claimed her lips in a hot and lingering kiss, tasting her mouth, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She tasted the same as he had remembered. She kissed him back with equal fervor. This kiss was different from the ones they had shared before. It was more passionate, yet gentler and more emotional than before. It was full of love, longing and promises for one another.