The Secret Obsession of the CEO
Chapter 72: Lost(IV)

Chapter 72: Lost(IV)

Liam found everything around him go weird. He couldn’t discern what was in front of him. The trees around him looked like they were all dancing in circles around him. His ears started to ring and he heard nothing.

He looked at Rory. She was the only one without any movement as far as he can see. His hands holding Rory started to tremble and he hugged her close to his chest.

"Cherry..." He mumbled. "Don’t do this to me, please..."

He slowly placed his ear over her chest to check if he can hear her heart.

*ba-bump* *ba-bump*

He pressed his lips to her forehead and started shaking. His life force has not left him still.

He sat on the ground and carefully placed her on his lap. The wind picked up speed and the sky started to darken. He parted her hair to find out where she is bleeding from. She was still bleeding and he needed to give her first aid.

He couldn’t find the spot as her hair was drenched in blood and clumped up. He couldn’t see the spot clearly as blood was still oozing and dripping.

"So much blood..." He mumbled and his head started to spin.

’I still love you, Fizzy...

Your wife... Same ending as your mother...

Her care for you won’t be forever...

I’ll kill you if you hurt her...

I’ll f#cking end you...’

Different voices got mashed up making him unfocused. He looked up and he saw the trees bowing down and sneering at him.

’This is on you!’ ’You did this to your wife!’

Those voices said. Liam covered his ears with his hands and screamed at the top of his lungs.

Bright lightning lit up the place with a flash and that was followed by a loud clap of thunder. That was followed by a heavy shower that even the grand spring leaves of that dense forest could shield them from.

Liam covered Rory with his body but very soon the ground got wet as the rain poured. She started to get wet and he picked her up.

Carrying her, he walked to the truck. He decided to wait there until the rain let up. He can check the map to find the proper route and...

Liam grunted as his knees started to wobble. She was light to carry at first but then she slowly gained weight as if she is a cotton sack gaining weight in the rain.

He could see the truck in the distance. But he saw the elevation he has to get through to get there and he sucked in a deep breath. He has to do it. He has to bring her to safety.

The forest turned dark as if it was night and only the flashes of lightning served as a light source. Liam’s face softened seeing her pale face. Her damp face looked translucent as the lightning flashed and her lips were red as a cherry.

"Our baby needs you, Cherry... So, wake up," he whispered in her ear.

*Flash*

Another flash of lightning lit up the forest. Liam winced as he saw a pale figure critter from the truck.

His heart skipped a beat and he squinted his eyes to have a good look. The rainwater flowed through his face blurring his vision. He wiped his face and took another look.

There was nothing and no one there. He let out a short sigh wondering if he caught the same scaredy cat-bug as his wife.

She sees shadows in the dark and he sees pale ghosts in the lighting... What a pair we are!

Little by little he climbed the elevation and got closer to the truck. The rocks around we’re all drenched in water and through the gaps, small streams were running.

He carefully placed her inside the truck and took another look around to check if there are anyone else there. The chance for someone to be here was nil.

But he has heard of the convicts who escaped from the high-security mental health facility on the other side of the forest a decade ago. That facility is where notorious criminals with mental disorders are held at. Most of them would be held in solitary confinement and there are rumors that one wannabe Hannibal Lecter was one of the convicts who escaped and he wanders around the woods looking for humans to prey on.

The longer Liam stayed there, the more he got scared. He waited for the rain to let up. But the rain was not stopping.

He wiped her head and found that her cut was not very deep. She must have bled a lot because it was a scalp wound. But he was still worried because she didn’t wake up yet.

Is it a severe concussion?

"Aurora..." He poked her cheek. "You are always right... I should have listened to you... Wake up... wake and tell me how much of a fool I am... Wake up and show me the way..."

He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t feel this helpless except for the day he saw her writhing in labor pain. He could do nothing to help her that day and today too... He had no idea what he could do.

Useless...

He blamed himself.

-----

"Shouldn’t we check where they are?" Claire asked.

Everyone was having lunch and the table was filled with laughter and merriment but she couldn’t enjoy anything. She could see from Frank’s face that something bad is going on. He didn’t look fine.

"Yes, call her, " Frank said, rubbing his forehead. "It might start raining soon."

"Stop worrying, Uncle," Derick waved his hand. "They probably went to their " spot" and..."

His eyes ended up at Claire and he wriggled his brows.

"Don’t you want them to have a hearty talk?"

Claire was not convinced but she didn’t say anything. It would be better if they talk and settle the differences and decide not to go through the divorce.

But...

Her eyes ended up on Frank. He was fiddling with his fingers.

"What did you two talk about?" She asked. She understood that whatever Frank told Liam pushed him to the extreme. He almost hurt Rory which he would never do.

Frank wetted his lips. "I... "

As he was speaking, they heard a car entering the driveway.

"Who’s that? Did they return?" Dorothy stood up with a smile on her face. She wanted to see Liam more than anything else.

"Mom," Frank held her hand and stopped her.

Derick let out a long sigh, Claire sucked in a deep breath and Julia was perplexed.

"What?" Dorothy asked not understanding why she is not allowed to welcome her grandson and Rory.

"It’s not my truck... It’s..."

Derick’s face turned plain for a moment before he smiled at his fiancee. "It’s Uncle Lennon."

"Uh?" Dorothy’s smile was wiped off her face. She threw the napkin on the table and walked up the stairs not turning back. Frank followed his mother.

"We’ll finish up here," Derick smiled at Claire and she stood up and picked up their plates.

Julia watched Claire leave the first floor in a hurry.

"What’s going on?" Julia asked Derick.

"Oh, dear!" Derick placed some more mashed potatoes on her plate. "I so wish Rory was here. She’d explain it much better than~"

"Rory, again?" Julia cocked her head and raised her brows.

"Yep, Rory...She’s..."

"I know, I know..." Julia with a smile interjected him. "She’s the most important person in this family... Your grandma promised her skillet to Rory after her death. I know what that means. I have a grandma too. And I know the importance of that one skillet that grandma never washes so not to lose the flavors..."

"My dear," Derick kissed the tip of her nose. "You understand it all very well..."

Lennon entered the home and it was normal for him to have no one welcome them. He didn’t mind. He carried his daughter Skyla and walked in.

"Careful, Sid," he supported his wife as she got up the stairs.

He heard another car entering the driveway and he stopped to see who that was.

But then Derick was at the door.

"Uncle!" He held out his hand for a shake. "I didn’t know you’d be this early for our wedding. I thought you’d be too busy to attend..."

"Haha... The groom!" Lennon hugged Derick and patted his back. "You know me... I’m never too busy to be here..."

"I know..." Derick said. There was no mirth in his eyes.

"Is this the lucky bride?" Lennon smiled looking at Julia.

"I am the lucky one..." Derick smiled and led him in.

Derick looked out the driveway to see which arrived.

What the... Rory’s baby?

"Mrs. Delport," he ran to her. "Wait...I’ll help..."

He helped unlock the car seat and carried the baby in.

"Ohhh.... Stop crying, little one..." Derick spoke softly but his voice only made Ellie scream more. His face twisted with annoyance.

What a brat!

"Where is Aurora? The baby is hungry and she is not drinking from the bottle," Mrs. Delport was in a hurry. "I’ve tried everything and... She needs her mother."

Derick gulped.

"Wait what is..." Mrs. Delport asked seeing the lock of Rory’s hair swirling on the porch.

"Where is she?" Her tone got deep.

Derick took a step back.

Now what?