Chapter 161
{Lisa’s POV}
By the crack of dawn, I was still wide awake. Humming under my breath.
'Cause my love is mine, all mine
My love mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
My baby here on Earth
Showed me what my heart was worth
So when it comes to be my turn
Could you shine it down here for him?
The window cast a pale stream of light across the room, and the silence seemed unbearable. Ronan slept soundly beside me, his arm draped heavy over my waist. His breathing was steady, calm, utterly unaware of the storm inside me.
My throat tightened as I stared at him, memorizing the way his brow eased in sleep, how unguarded he looked. I ran my hand through his hair, going along his jaw which had gotten rough from stubble.
Tears pricked my eyes, and I carefully shifted, trying to slip free from his arm. My chest ached with each inch of distance I tried to put between us. But just as I lifted his arm and turned to get out of the bed, his grip tightened.
“Lisa,” he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. He pulled me back against his chest, his warmth swallowing me whole. “Don’t leave. Stay in bed a little longer.”
The plea broke me. My resolve wavered, and I buried my face in the pillow, wishing I could stay. But I couldn’t. Not after what Lena had threatened. Not after the choice I had already made.
“I have to,” I whispered, though my voice cracked. “I’m doing this for you. For your own good. Maybe… maybe later in the future, when you’ve gotten everything you’ve worked for, then we can be together. But not now.”
He blinked at me, confusion clouding his sleepy expression. “What are you talking about?” His hand cupped my cheek, but the drowsiness in his eyes deepened. He was trying to focus, but I could see it slipping away.
“Don’t fight it,” I said gently, brushing his hair back from his forehead. “It’s the drug. I laced your food with it last night. It’ll wear off soon.”
Shock flared in his gaze. His body tensed, his eyes lit with something between betrayal and disbelief.
“Lisa…” His voice came strong, and then grew weaker, “What did you—”
But the words died as his strength drained from him. His lashes fluttered, and his hold on me slackened. In seconds, he was gone, drawn into a deep sleep he couldn’t claw his way out of… But I could still see his eyes move from side to side behind his heavy lids.
I covered my mouth, choking back a sob. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to him, again and again, like a prayer. “I’m sorry for abusing your trust, for hurting you like this. Please forgive me, Ronan… Please.”
His stillness was unbearable. I leaned down, pressing a trembling kiss to his temple, lingering until the tears spilled free. Then I forced myself to move.
I dressed quickly, pulling together only the essentials, shoving them into a bag with hands that shook too much to fold anything properly. If I stayed a minute longer, I would never leave.
My legs carried me to the door, each step heavier than the last.
The only thing that took my mind off the pain was continuously humming a song to soothe myself.
Moon, a hole of light
Through the big top tent up high
Here before and after me
Shinin' down on me
Moon, tell me if I could
Send up my heart to you?
So when I die, which I must do
Could it shine down here with you?
I let out a shaky breath finally. The estate was quiet as I slipped out, the halls dim and familiar. I whispered a silent goodbye to the walls, to the staff who had treated me with kindness, to the life I was about to abandon.
Before long I was at the bus station… the air was cold, biting against my skin as I stood at the counter. My ticket was in hand, but the attendant gave me an apologetic look. “Ma’am, I’m afraid the bus has been delayed. Maintenance issue. It’ll be another hour.”
Panic rose in me. An hour? By then Ronan might already be awake. The drug would wear off. I couldn’t risk him finding me before I was gone.
“No,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.
I forced a smile for the attendant, muttering thanks as I backed away. My pulse thundered in my ears. I needed another way.
Outside, I raised my hand for a cab. One pulled up, and I slid into the backseat, giving the driver the name of the airport. My hands clenched in my lap as the car pulled into traffic.
I sighed with relief. It was barely a half hour ride to the airport. But fate, it seemed, was crueler than Lena’s threats.
The cab barely reached the main road before a pickup truck swerved violently from the next lane.
“Wha—” The driver exclaimed as we were hit.
The impact rattled my bones, throwing me sideways as the cab spun. The driver shouted even louder, trying to steady the wheel, but the force was too strong. Tires screeched, and the car veered off the road.
I barely had time to brace before the front struck a jagged rock. Metal shrieked as the cab flipped, the world tumbling in a blur of sky and asphalt. My head slammed against the door, a burst of pain so blinding it stole the air from my lungs.
“Ronan!” The cry tore from my throat before I even realized it.
When the cab finally landed, the silence was deafening. Smoke curled from what used to be the hood. I tried to move, but the seatbelt had me pinned, tight across my chest. My hands clawed at the buckle, but my vision swam.
The driver slumped over the wheel, motionless. He couldn't be…
“No, no, no…” My voice cracked as I twisted, panic clawing through me. “I need to get out. Please…”
I yanked at the belt again, my strength faltering, head pounding.
Tears blurred everything as I came to dread every second… and with each breath the world tilted further out of reach.
My limbs grew heavy, the edges of my sight darkening. I fought against it, fought to stay awake, but the exhaustion was merciless.
“Ronan,” I whispered.
His name was the last thing I managed, a fragile source of strength as everything slipped away.