Eight!

Author's POV

Elena was sitting on the edge of the bed, her head was resting on her knees and her long hair were curtening her. Her room was dimly lit, looking sad just like her.

She was struggling with everything, her body was hurting everywhere. Mind was in mess, she was remembering one thing now and forgetting it the next second. Her life was flashing in front of her in bits.

She was trying to remember who she was since she had woken up but she was failing to recognise herself. The constant thought of who she is, where she is, and how she ended up there was throbbing in her head.

She was lost in thought when she heard someone entering her room, she thought they must be the same ladies who were trying to feed her earlier.

She has lost her appetite, there is no will to eat.

She looked up and saw the same man. Same handsome protector who saved her. First man from the last few days that hasn't raised a hand on her. She has started fearing men since then but not him even though he looked more dangerous than all those men.

And she is still figuring out why.

Liam entered, and she was watching him silently. Her blue eyes stared at him blankly yet he saw how confused and lost they were.

He walked towards the table and uncovered the bowl of soup. It was untouched.

"Hmm!"

He put the cover back and leaned against the table.

"Why are you not eating?"

He crossed his arms over his chest.

She stared at him silently but didn't speak.

"My mom thinks I can make you eat but I don't know how to do it."

He confessed.

"Especially in a gentle way... So just eat something and end this... Aren't you hungry after starving for so many days?"

She doesn't even recall what she ate last time.

Liam saw how her eyes were drifting into the past again like she was trying to remember something. There was some weird sadness in it.

There was a strong urge to read her thoughts, he wanted to know what she was thinking.

"Elena"

He called her and her head snapped towards him. He loved the way she responded to his call.

Her name never sounded so gentle yet so dominating before.

Liam noticed how she reacted to her name. He has never liked this reaction from anyone before. She felt different the moment he saw her.

They kept staring at each other. She was clean now and her features were prominent. She was beautiful. Liam has met actresses and models, daughters of the richest empires and everything you name it. Yet he finds the lost, bare-faced and scared girl the most beautiful among them. She had something unique in her which was holding him in one place.

There was something serene about her which he couldn't recognise.

"Come here!"

He ordered.

She didn't follow. She just kept looking at him.

No one has ever defied him and yet he didn't feel offended when she did.

Instead, he gently extended his hand for her to take. He could have just grabbed her hand and pulled her up but he wanted to see what she would do.

Elena stared at his hand for a good time, and finally placed her hand in his. Liam didn't realise that there was a small smile on his lips. He never enjoyed this attention from anyone.

He gently pulled her up and she stood in front of him.

"You want freedom?"

He asked and she looked at him confused. She didn't speak but her eyes did and he was reading everything.

"Well, I can only give you that when you are healthy and for that you have to eat..."

He opened the lid again and the soup was still fresh there.

"Eat, Elena!"

She stared at the soup blankly. She has forgotten how it tastes. There is no appetite, no will to have anything and she was not able to express it.

Liam noticed it and grabbed a spoon, placed it on her lips and gently forced it into her mouth. She scowled but gulped it down and felt her taste buds getting active and her stomach growling with hunger.

He pulled a chair for her and made her sit. Handed her the spoon and she started eating.

His work was done, he should have left but he stood there, admired her with a faint smile without realising it.

They both didn't notice the third person who was watching them. Surumi walked away from the door with glossy eyes and started rushing out, but collided with Lisa.

"Surumi, what's wrong?"

Lisa held her gently as she teared up.

"I thought, maybe I overreacted and

I should talk to Liam but now I realise that he never actually loved me."

She sounded disappointed.

"What do you mean?"

Lisa asked confused.

"We were together for two years and he never fed me with his hands as he did with Elena."

She confessed.

"She is sick, Surumi and she trusts only Liam... He is just helping her."

Lisa tried to calm her down.

"Maybe, Lisa... But what will you say about his eyes?"

Surumi wiped her tears.

"He never looked at me the way he was looking at her... I was stupid... Maybe this is over for good... I should leave."

Lisa sighed when Surumi walked away heartbroken.

Lisa walked towards Elena's room to see what Surumi saw which made her so heartbroken.

She stood at the door and saw Elena had finished her soup under his supervision and Liam was cleaning her lips with a tissue.

The window slammed because of the strong wind and Elena flinched before hugging Liam's hand tightly.

Someone else would have been pushed to the floor but Liam didn't do that with her. Instead, he placed his hand on her back and gently caressed her.

Someone else would have been fooled into thinking that he is being caring and gentle to her. But Lisa noticed the sinister smirk on Liam's face while unaware that Elena was hugging him innocently.

That smirk was something else. Lisa knows her son.

There was something which only Lisa was able to see and she couldn't understand why.

What did that smirk mean?

What was Liam trying to do with the girl?