Nine!

Author's POV

Elena came out with the maid. She was nervous, this was her first time coming out to people after so long. Her eyes timidly found Lisa and Louis, but she refused to maintain eye contact.

Her steps were slow and hesitant. Liam gestured for her to sit beside him. He was trying to pull her between people so she could ease up. Hoping it will open her a bit.

"Good morning, Elena"

Lisa smiled at her, trying to ease her even though she knew that she wouldn't respond.

Elena looked down nervously. Her memories were blurred, flashing in front of her in bits and that was very frustrating for her.

Liam looked at her. She was anxious and was sitting on the edge of the chair.

Maids were serving everyone and she was flinching whenever someone was passing behind her. Even the sound of cutlery was making her anxious more. She was one second away from fricking out.

It was obvious that she was not yet ready to be around people.

She wasn't eating, all attention was on the people around her. Scared that they might do something to her. The trauma was visible in her behaviour.

Her fists were clutching her dress tightly and her body was shaking a bit. She suddenly got up to leave and everyone looked at her.

But before she could leave, Liam grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap.

She looked at him shocked.

"You are safe here"

Liam replied, looking at her calmly like this wasn't a big thing for him.

But it was. He has never reacted like this before.

Elena sat there, without moving. For some reason, it felt much safer. She was stiff but relaxed slowly.

Lisa choked on her juice when she saw what her son did.

"I am sorry"

She placed her glass down before wiping her face.

Liam ignored her and handed Elena her sandwich.

She relaxed slowly and focused on eating. Liam was watching her, forgetting his own breakfast. Last night she wasn't eating and today he just had to ask once. There was progress.

His hand protectively rested against her waist and all he could feel were bones. She was too thin and weak.

"You should be happy. He is going exactly where you wanted him."

Louis smirked at Lisa.

She shook her head. What she saw last night was not something usual. She knows that Liam definitely has some motive behind this. It's too hard to believe that he is doing this so selflessly for a girl he has met a few days ago.

"Nahh, he is in some other direction..."

Lisa was definitely going to find out what.

Elena ate slowly, calmly like she had all the time in the world and Liam was patiently waiting for her to finish.

No one has ever seen him this patient. The maids were already shocked seeing a girl on his lap.

"Surumi was here last night."

Lisa informed him to see how he reacts.

"I didn't call her here"

Liam replied taking his eyes off Elena.

"I think you should... She was a mess."

She replied.

"I don't think you should end things so easily. You were with her for years... She really loved you... Don't you think you should give this a chance... Talk to her, maybe the is a way out."

"She wants to get married and I don't..."

Liam was straightforward.

"If her thoughts do not align with mine then there is no use of her staying by my side... She should find someone who has the same goals as her..."

"So you want a girl to stay with you without any security or commitment? Are you high or what? It's common sense that a woman needs assurance... If you want a woman then you have to get married unless you want to fuck around with just hoes."

Lisa was losing her control again.

"You can't change my decision. No one can!"

He was firm.

"If you want me to have kids. Tell me, I'll find a surrogate..."

"And what about your children who will need their mother's love. You can't be so selfish... If you can't love a woman, please don't have children at all. I don't want monsters getting groomed in this house."

She questioned.

"If they don't know something, they won't crave it..."

He replied faltly.

"You loved me too, am I not a monster? The presence of a woman doesn't change anything."

"Well, if it wasn't for your grandmother meddling with my style of grooming my son... And I don't think I have failed completely. Or else this girl wouldn't be sitting in your lap. You have a heart, you just don't want to use it."

Lisa slammed her spoon on the table and left angrily.

"What's her problem?"

Liam looked at Louis with a frown.

"Is it that hard for her to understand that I don't want a lifetime commitment?"

Louis sighed.

"She will understand with time... Just remember that she is saying all of this because she cares about you."

Liam shook his head.

Elena was looking at Liam like she was lost.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Liam asked her and she looked away.

She got up from his lap and walked away.

"Do you have an interest in this girl?"

Louis questioned.

Liam was caught off guard by this question.

"What rubbish, no!"

He got up and walked away making Louis smirk.

Liam got inside the car and cursed. Not understanding why he did that. Why are his ways changing for Elena? He wasn't supposed to care about her at all but there he hesitated again.

He couldn't understand why there was some weird pull towards her.

"Liam"

Glenn sat inside the car.

"There is an aunt of Elena... We have done the background check. She is a divorced woman, living alone. She is a professor and really kind-hearted... She left Jaffery's house because she fell in love and had to choose between property and love. She chose love... I think she will take care of Elena."

He informed.

"Should I call her?"

"No!"

Liam was quick to reply.

Glenn looked at him confused.

"No? Why?"

Liam had no answer to it. Did that mean he was not ready to let her go?