When I saw three figures charging at Liara, I shrieked. I gasped in horror when Samira sliced her shoulder, making her jerk. I felt as if my heart would explode. To my surprise, Liara did not back down. Instead, her body moved so swiftly, jamming the knife on the culprit’s body parts away from the vitals, enough for them to be hurt yet not fatal enough to die.

She moved towards Liara after I yelled at her. I screamed at Liara as well, but she didn’t heed me. I ran towards them and saw Liara throwing a hard kick on Samira’s thigh when she was almost near to slice her throat. Running towards them, I halted as I saw two men lying on the floor, still alive. As soon as I heard Samira’s wail, I whipped my head towards her and the scene took my breath away. 

“Liara! No!” I heard myself screaming at the top of my lungs when I saw Liara falling hard on the floor. Her body splashing the rainwater around. Her eyes closed with furrowed eyebrows. Samira limped away as soon as she saw me coming. I clutched my hand, ready to kill her, but I heard a light whimper. 

Rushing towards Liara, I held her head on my lap. Tapping on her chin, I wanted to tell her to stay awake, but I couldn’t. I felt my voice betraying me. My hands shook rigorously. 

“Anthony, please don’t notify Dima or anyone about this. I love you all.” Liara whispered and shut her eyes. I whimpered when I saw the amount of injury she had. Clutching the wound on her waist, I tried halting the blood that oozed out of it. Her t-shirt tore apart, showing her skin. “No, no, no! Please stay awake.” I patter on her cheeks, waking her up. My other hand on her wound. It drenched my clothes in the rain.

I heard the tires screeching near me. I sent a quick voice message to Drake and Charles, asking them to come as soon as possible and take care of Samira and the other two. We didn't find Samira when I searched for her. The amount of injury in her body wouldn’t allow her to run far. 

“Liara!” I heard Anthony from behind. Whipping my head at him, I couldn’t help when tears ran down my cheeks. I held Liara tightly attached to my body, halting the rain to fall on her face. Anthony looked at the blood that pooled around us. 

Immediately, with his help, I carried Liara in my arms, refusing to let go of her. “How....how did this happen? Who did this?” He questioned from the other side of the car as soon as we placed Liara hurriedly inside the car. I placed her head on my lap, securing the wound by placing my handkerchief. Her blood coloring my dress. 

“She is losing too much blood. Please, Anthony, drive fast!” My voice was hoarse. I knew I was losing it. 

I checked her vitals, avoiding his question. I knew it was all my fault. I placed my hand on her chest, checking her heartbeat that slowed down. “Drive fast!” I roared again, for the tenth time, but I did not regret it. We had to save her. 

I could hear my heart thumping louder. Placing my head on the headrest, I took a sharp breath. My mind recalling the scene again and again. Not able to close my eyes, I stared at the woman who laid on my lap, her eyes closed, but her face held pain. Unbearable pain. Her grip on my shirt never loosening up. Furrowed eyebrows and whimpers now and then made me desperate, restless. 

Suddenly, my body jerked and so did Liara’s. Anthony whirled the car in a swift turn, making Liara cry with pain. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Liara, I’m so so sorry.” He apologized for the nth time and I didn’t want to scold him as I knew what he was going through. When the faint street light shimmered on her face, her face glowed as sweat formed on her forehead. I placed my palm on her head and retracted immediately. 

“Anthony, she is burning.” I looked at him and he stared at me through the driver’s mirror. His eyes were red and held pain. I knew he was breaking from inside, so was I. He looked at Liara and swiftly turned his head towards the road. I sighed and held Liara close to me.

****†****†****†****†****†****

“She was brutally attacked. We have to inform the police about it.” The doctor barged out of the room. 

“I brought you to a Cop’s house to treat her. Isn’t that enough?” I roared at him, clutching his collar. My patience level thinning every second. Anthony and Charles held me away from the doctor.

“John, she wanted us to keep it a secret. You know how she can be when it comes to family.” Anthony told the doctor, and he sighed. 

“Can she not think about herself for once?!” The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose. 

On our way to the hospital, I informed Anthony what Liara wanted, and he freaked out, as he couldn’t think of any place to go where no one knew them. They had people everywhere. Some connected to Keryl and when it came to the places Liara owned, everyone had Dima’s number and wouldn’t think twice about contacting her after seeing Liara’s condition. 

We did not have time as Liara’s heartbeat was slowing down, freaking us out. When we were out of solutions, Charles’s name popped out in my head as my apartment was a big no. I was still unsure why Samira attacked Liara and where Julie was. 

Anthony hopped out of the car saying that he’d bring the supplements and the doctor. I rushed to Charles’s, informing him in advance. He had so many questions, but my desperate call seized it. The way Charles arranged the equipment along with all the necessities when I drove to his house filled my heart with gratitude. 

“You don’t worry Doctor, I will make sure the culprits will suffer,” Charles assured the doctor. I couldn’t ask him what happened after I drove Liara away from Shimmers, as I did not have enough energy to. 

“Who could be so cruel to her? I know she has enemies but.....” The doctor paused, looking at me and then Charles. His expression mirrored mine. I furrowed my eyebrows at him and he cleared his throat.

“But what?” Anthony asked as I moved past them and looked at Liara, her body covered in a duvet. Her face was peaceful as the doctor sedated her. Equipment around her beeping now and then making us aware that her condition is better than before. 

“But the way they attacked her, it’s called wolf attack. The attacker has a pattern of harming his prey. Liara’s injury showed the same pattern. I have seen very limited cases where the patients hardly survived.” He froze, and so did all of us in the room.

“She is a survivor, a fighter,” I said, still gazing at her figure.

“I guess I need to leave. I have an emergency operation in the hospital, but I’m just a call away.” He assured us. 

Tapping at my shoulder, he spoke, “Liara got twenty-one stitches all over her body. I will send my assistant to change her dressing tomorrow. And yeah, the sedatives will not last long as it’s almost five hours after I gave it to her. She will need proper food, care, and a few painkillers.” My grip around the doorknob tightened when I heard him explain her condition. 

“What do I need to do, doctor?” My voice is breaking. Inhaling deeply, I looked at him as if pleading with him to ease off her pain. He nodded, understanding my prayer. “I will prescribe a few pills that should be given to her on time. The stitches will take time to heal and I strongly suggest keeping her away from her damn workaholic phase.” 

“Do you think that’d be possible?” I asked, and he chuckled. 

“Nope, not in this lifetime. She’d go crazy if we keep her away from the only distraction she needs.” I nodded at him, acknowledging every word he spoke.

‘’Is she out of danger?" My heart was uneasy. Unbearable pain was suffocating me, and I had to make sure she was safe.

“Zearo, what do you expect from a person who has been through such a horrible fight? Her waist, shoulder, and thigh have severe cuts. I had trouble stitching them up. And her entire body has gashes. My hand shook when I looked at her.” His eyelids filled with water, and so did mine.

“She survived. I guess that’s enough for now.” He patted me and walked away with Anthony. I stared at his retreating figure, recalling every single word he spoke. 

“Master?” Charles looked at me worried but I walked towards Liara who laid on the bed. Her mouth agape, holding a pipeline IV strip in both her hands. “Charles, she is in this condition because of me,” I whispered and sat near her, letting tears fall from my eyes. 

“Master, she is a fighter. You need to take some rest and please get changed.” He said, and I looked at my attire. My t-shirt had Liara’s dry blood marks. 

“I... I need to talk to Drake. As soon as possible, I have to locate her. I rose from my seat and made my way away from Liara’s unconscious figure.

“Master, Samira is hospitalized as well. She is in no better condition than her.” I whipped my head after heeding Charles’s statement. 

“What?!” I exclaimed, but soon walked away from Liara’s room and dragged Charles with me.

“You did not even consider telling me you found her?” I questioned him furiously.

“She was unconscious when we found her two blocks away from the club. She lost too much blood and Drake hospitalized her when I arranged stuff for Liara.” He explained. His voice was steady and had no emotion. 

Punching the nearby wall, I said, “I will kill her.”

“You can’t.”

“You know her father. Are you sure you want to be his enemy?” Charles asked and I couldn’t find an answer. Her father was a powerful man, but Samira joined me instead of helping her father in his business. Her father did not step into my life because he was of the impression that we loved each other. 

“You think I fear him?” 

“No, but looking at the current scenario, I guess you have to.” 

“What do you mean?!” 

“Master, all your life, you were alone. You did not have anyone to take care of other than us. But look at the people in your life now. You have a family, fame or not. A wife who gets affected by your deeds.” He explained. I took in every single word he spoke, and I hated to admit that he was right. 

“Julie found out about all this and apologized all because of her.” Drake walked towards us.

“What do you mean?” I asked. It was too much for me to take in all the information.

“I made sure Samira stayed out of your business, but yesterday, Julie called her and informed her you married a rich woman hurting her feelings. She was unaware of Samira’s grudge with Liara.” We walked towards the hallway and Charles locked the door.

Handing us a glass of water, Charles said, “Samira arrived here and took Julie with her. Julie said that she was unaware of Samira’s plans. She wanted mental support, but it turned out Samira had her plans. Julie was not even in the club when Samira planned her moves. She was with me.” 

Drake and I looked at each other and then at Charles. He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged.

“She wanted to talk to you. But you did not pick up. She was drunk and called me. I found her in a cheap motel bar by tracking her call.” He informed me. So much happened in just a few hours. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“I guess I will get changed and stay in your guest room near her. I don’t think I’d be at peace if I left her alone.” Unaware why I was so restless, I took in a long breath, fisting my shaking hand. 

Peering at the two boys, I asked, “Drake, inform me when Samira wakes up. I need to have a serious chat with her. And Charles, I need to talk to Julie. Where is she?”

“She wanted to hang around until Samira woke up,” Drake answered instead of Charles. I nodded and walked to the other room next to where Liara rested.

**†*****†*****†******†******†****

I feel like I'm some kind of maniac who enjoys hurting her MCs. Do you think Liara had suffered enough?

Are you also my kind of writer?

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