Chapter 113 Chapter 113
Liana's Pov
The automatic doors of the hospital swooshed wide as we stepped out, the warm summer air shining on my face. The sun bathed the parking lot in golden light making me squint after the hospital's clinical low illumination.
This time, though, the brightness wasn't an issue, It felt like a benediction.
Stanley had gone to get the car around while my mum was holding Cam's stuff… a small bag with her things, a worn-out coloring book, and her fox. Cam gripped my hand hard with her own hand smaller but somehow tighter than I remembered.
The car stopped in front of us and Stanley jumped out, his strides deliberate but noiseless. He swung open the back door for us and then moved around to the boot to stuff the bag.
Cam sat beside me on the backseat, clutching her plush fox like a shield. My mom sat next to her, smoothing her scarf and tapping Cam's knee reassuringly. I was sitting by the window, watching the hospital grow smaller in the side mirror as we pulled away.
Stanley toyed with the rearview mirror, his eyes meeting mine for a moment before focusing on the road. There was something unspoken in that glance, but it felt really reassuring.
We sat there. Three generations of strong women, wading the storms of life. I thought of it all as we drove. My mother's strength. My daughter's child like innocence, and I, in between, doing my best to stay together. We were a wobbly chain, each link struggling to stay firm for the rest.
Cam leaned her head on my arm, her voice a sleepy whisper. "Am I going to be okay, Mummy?"
I glanced at her, then my mum, then Stanley's face.
The reply burst from deepest part of my belly, from that well of fortitude inside me which had gone through fire and come out unscathed.
"You will be alright. We'll be all right, baby," I said to her softly but firmly. And I actually believed it.
The rest of the drive was quiet, marked by the soft growling of the engine and the occasional words from Cam. She nodded to a few landmarks she noticed during the trip to the hospital, but otherwise she just sat next to me, her presence healing something that I hadn't even known was broken.
As we pulled up into the compound, the house looked just as it always had… white walls, neat hedges and the small wind chime near the front door swaying in the afternoon breeze.
Stanley came in and helped with the unloading while my mother escorted Cam inside. I lingered outside for a moment, gazing upwards at the house. Breathing.
“Are you alright?" Stanley asked behind me.
I turned to him and nobbed my head. "Yeah. I think so."
He smiled faintly, leaned over, and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "You're tougher than you realize, Liana."
Maybe… but maybe I was just tired of shattering.
We went back into the house together, the door closing quietly behind us. Cam's laughter reverberated down the corridor, and the strength in her voice made me smile.
Stanley’s POV
Liana leaned against the doorframe as I picked up my keys. Her house was quiet now. Cam’s laughter still echoed faintly from the back room. It sounded sharper, brighter and more whole than anything I’d heard in days. I was just glad she's better now.
“You’re sure you’re alright?” I asked one last time, eyeing her as she pulled her cardigan tighter around herself. She looked lighter than she had this morning, but there were still shadows beneath her eyes, the kind that no amount of sleep or progress could fix overnight.
Liana nodded. “Yeah. I just…” She paused. “Could you check in on Serena for me? Please?”
I watched her closely. There was no jealousy in her voice. No tension. Just concern and it was raw and real.
“She needs someone to talk to. And I know she’d never ask for it. But maybe you being there… you know we didn't go there today” She trailed off.
“I’ll go,” I said, already reaching for my jacket. “I’ll let her know how things went today. You rest.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her fingers brushing my wrist as I passed her. It was a simple gesture, but I carried it with me because it felt like a warm hug on a cold night.
…….
The safe house was tucked into a quiet side street, buried behind two other identical homes. When I parked outside and stepped out, the street was quiet, painted in a yellow glow by the setting sun. I knocked once and let myself in with the passcode.
Inside, it was dim but not dark. The curtains had been drawn back slightly, enough to let some daylight spill in. A small fan hummed in the corner, and the television was on. Muted news was playing on the screen.
Serena was curled on the sofa, legs tucked under her, a paperback open in her lap. She looked up as I entered, her eyes meeting mine.
“I figured it’d be you,” she said. Her voice soft.
I stepped farther into the house, closing the door gently behind me. “Liana asked me to check on you.”
Her brow lifted slightly. “How is she?”
“She’s alright,” I replied, sinking into the armchair across from her. “Cam got discharged this afternoon. She’s doing a lot better.”
Relief washed over Serena’s features before she could hide it. She closed the book and rested it on the coffee table. “And the court hearing?”
“We still have a long way to go but it's not bad yet” I said, leaning back. “Dominic’s legal team didn’t see the new evidence coming.”
“What new evidence?”
“I got a video and audio recording last minute.”
Her face lit ul. “And you used it?”
I nodded. “It helped more than we expected. The judge allowed it in despite the last-minute submission. It painted a very different picture of the entire custody situation.”
A small smile tugged at her mouth. “I’m glad. Really glad. I just… I wish I’d been there to support her.”
“You were supporting her,” I said. “Just not in the way you think. You made sure she could focus… If you’d been there, she would’ve spent the whole day worrying about whether you were okay.”
Serena looked down at her hands, fingers clasped loosely. “How are you feeling?” I asked.
She gave a small shrug, then met my gaze. “Better. I’ve actually eaten twice today, and my nurse dropped off something that passes for decent tea. That’s progress, right?”
I smiled. “That’s better than decent. That’s huge.”
There was a long pause and then, I leaned forward with my elbows on my knees. “We’ve got another court appearance coming up soon. If you’re feeling better, maybe you could come.”
Serena’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re asking if I can tag along?”
“I’m saying,” I replied gently, “if you feel strong enough… Liana wouldn't mind if she see syou there. So would I.” I added.
She took a breath, slow and deliberate.