Epilogue
One Year Later
"Mommy, Aries is hungry," said a four year old Lauren. She was too bright for her age and effortlessly helped her mom with her one-month old baby brother, Aries. Their nanny, Sarah Browne was always astonished by her accomplishments. She had started going to school and Arianna and Laurence were called immediately by her class teacher. Lauren picked up so fast that they were at a loss whether to keep her at playschool or promote her. But given her age, Arianna didn't want to rush it, she decided to let her enjoy play school with children of her age.
Lisa had already given her exams and were awaiting her results. She had turned eighteen last week and acted more grown up than everyone at home.
Arianna had gone to meet uncle David and aunt Henrietta after getting better. They lived in the same house with Weston who had cancelled his wedding and was still waiting for Isabella. Hudson had twins and visited often. Only one missing from their lives was Isabella. She just disappeared from their lives without any means of contacting her.
Troy made friends with Athena but she already had a boyfriend and Troy spend his days wallowing in self pity. He still came over to their house but only to play with the children and talk to his best freind. He had given up hope of Athena and refused to talk about her.
Laurence's mom's case was closed since the police proved that it was a suicide case. Laurence did not probe into the matter. He lost interest.
After a week, Troy one day rushed into his office with Lauren in his arms and informed that Lisa had fled with her boyfriend. Laurence was devastated.
"I didn't know that she had a boyfriend, " said Laurence.
Sandra took them to Lisa's friend's house and it was there that they found out the exact details. Harry Lennard had involved goons to follow her around giving him updates of her whereabouts. He tried to force her to meet Liam. Lisa was headstrong and stubborn, she hated being forced into anything. Even if she liked Liam, she wouldn't want to be forced to have a relationship with him.
"Why did she have to flee? She could have come to me," said Laurence wild with worry.
"She didn't want to bother you or endanger you and your two children. Your wife had just given birth and you were so busy. Anyways your dad never listened to you," said her best friend Sofia.
"Still, I would have done something, " said Laurence disappointed at himself for not being able to protect his sister.
"Do you know who her boyfriend is?" Asked Laurence.
"My cousin Leo," said Sofia. Laurence sighed.
"Since when did she start dating?" Asked Laurence.
"Just last week," lied Sofia not meeting his eye. He was suspicious. Something was wrong but he couldn't guess exactly what.
He couldn't contact the police since his dad was the culprit and he didn't want his family name to be in the news. He contacted his PI and asked him to find out about Lisa and her boyfriend Leo.
"She could have come to me," said an upset Sandra. She had always stood by Lisa like a mother but now when she really needed help, she fled without a forwarding address.
"She was close to me too. Why didn't she come to me," said Arianna with tears in her eyes.
"I'm really disappointed with dad," said Laurence. He rushed out to blast his dad. Troy followed him scared that he would take matters in his own hands.
However they came back in twenty minutes. His dad had disappeared somewhere, maybe he was hiding to avoid Laurence's wrath.
in the evening, Laurence's PI called informing them that Harry Lennard had approached Liam Parker to search for Lisa and her boyfriend. Laurence, Troy, Arianna, Sandra sat with their mouths hanging open. What the hell! Why would Liam Parker hunt Lisa down? Was this another of their dad's shrewd ploys? They had no idea. Only time would tell what Lisa and Liam had in store for them. Laurence swore that this time he would teach his dad the lesson of his life once he came out of his hiding place. He couldn't hide forever.
It was high time that their dad learnt his lesson. After playing with their lives now he was again doing the same mistake, he was playing with destiny. He should have known better. You cannot play with destiny and fate. It had it's own designs.
He saw that for Laurence and Arianna all his evil plans had failed. Even destiny too had to bow down to their true love for one another. Although they had lost one another, it was a momentary phase. In the long run, they had to be reunited.
Laurence and Arianna was sure that his dad's evil plans would never work in the long run in case of Lisa too. Whatever was destined to happen in Lisa's life would happen. They said a silent prayer that the girl finds the true happiness she deserves wherever she might be.
