Chapter 25: New Beginnings

Lee's POV:

"Liana, No!"

I saw Liana being pushed by the car violently. Elaine came out of the car, smiling. I quickly ran to Liana. She was bleeding a lot. I quickly checked Liana's pulse.

"She is not conscious," I said to myself.

I took Liana into my arms and ran to the car. Elaine stopped me.

"Why don't you let her die? It's not like you are in a real relationship with her," she said.

"Move," I said.

Liam stood in front of me.

"Liana is nothing like you - so move."

Elaine was taken aback by Liam's words. She rolled her eyes at me and moved away.

"Do as you wish - weak man."

Liam got into the car, and I got in after him.

"Ace," I said.

He nodded. "Got it."

We sped up to the hospital.

I looked at Liana. She took the hit so as not for me or Liam to get hurt.

Why don't you let her die? It's not like you are in a real relationship with her.

True - we are not in a real relationship. I am simply following my Dad's orders.

Weak man.

I truly was weak. I can't stand up to my own father. I can't do anything without his consent. I looked again at Liana's unconscious body.

"It can't be bad to find love in a contract marriage right?"

Liam looked at me. I could feel Ace's gaze too.

"Contract marriage?" they asked.

"Yeah. I mean Liana and I are---"

"Not in love, we know."

I looked at them.

"You are awful at hiding emotions Dad," Liam said.

I could hear Ace laughing.

"He has a point," Ace agreed.

I simply chuckled.

"Yes you can," Ace replied after some minutes. "Yes, you can find love in a contract marriage."

Liam lighted up.

"Dad! Does this mean you are in love with Liana?!"

I nodded. "Yes, I am."

"You must tell her then!"

I smiled. "Yeah, when---"

"When she wakes up!" Liam interrupted.

Liam then went to sit in the front seat, next to Ace. Leaving me with Liana. I kissed her forehead and pulled her body close to my chest.

"I fell in love with you a long time ago Liana... way longer than you know."

Back to Main POV:

AT THE HOSPITAL

I slowly gained consciousness. I felt someone's hand on top of mine with their head resting on my stomach. There was pure silence. I opened my eyes to see that I was in hospital. Lee rested his head on my stomach, facing the opposite direction. I glanced to see that there were a lot of people with me.

"Guys," I whispered.

Everyone quickly turned to look at me.

"Liana!"

Everyone surrounded me. I simply blinked my eyes before I could say anything else. I tried to sit upright but I hissed at the pain. That car hit wasn't a joke.

"Honey, we are so happy you are awake!" Mom said, with tears in her eyes.

"Mom, I wasn't going to die," I said.

Mom smacked me on the arm. "That's a parent's instinct okay?"

I smiled. I then looked over at Dad and Zane. They gave me serious glances. I then remembered that Lee was in the room. I pinched his cheek and whispered into his ear.

"I'm awake now - no need to worry."

He looked at me. His cheeks were pinkish. I always remembered that every time I could cry, my cheeks turned pinkish. I cupped his face.

"Were you crying about me?" I asked.

Lee chuckled. "Of course I was - I thought... I was going to lose you."

My cheeks felt heated up. I didn't know Lee was so honest about his feelings - unlike me.

"Thanks for worrying about me," I said, kissing him on the cheek.

"Oooh," I heard Ziana and Alicia say.

I rolled my eyes at them. They were here to see how things were going between Lee and me.

A few minutes later, we heard the door burst open.

It was Liam.

"Mommy! You are awake!"

Lee and I opened our eyes. We glanced at each other before turning back to Liam.

"Liam,"

"What did you call her?"

"Mommy."

Everyone in the room gasped. Liam hugged me.

"Aww," they all said.

After Liam, came Dad (Lee's) and some young female and a boy who was Ziana's age.

"Sis?"

I looked at Lee.

"Sis?!"

The woman caught sight of me. She pushed Lee to the side and came to me.

"You are the Liana my big brother always spoke of."

Always spoke of? That was unheard of. I felt shy as she happily spoke to me. She gave me a box of chocolate - my favorite.

"Thank you so much! These are my favorites!"

She gasped. "Really?!"

I nodded. "Yeah!"

We talked for some time before she decided to talk to my parents. Before she left, however, her words left me developing unknown feelings for Lee.

"My brother loves you... he just hasn't given himself a chance to believe in love again. Thank you for being there for him."

My Dad came up to me and kissed my forehead.

"I am happy you are okay."

"Thanks, Dad," l said.

"I love you."

"I love you too Dad."

My Dad left with Mom, Lee's sister, and her son, Alicia, and Ziana. It was Dad, Lee, Liam, and l left.

"Dad," I asked. "How's your injury doing?"

Dad shook his head.

"Liana, you are in hospital yet you are asking about my well-being?"

I froze.

"You almost died!"

I never saw Dad this worried.

"Why would do that?"

I smiled. I held Liam's hand on my left and Lee's hand on my right.

"I did it for them."

Dad then came to me and hugged me. I hugged back.

"Lee made a good choice for choosing you."

I opened my eyes. Lee did the same too.

"Even though it's fake."

I looked at Lee who had a smirk on his face.

"Says who?"

The three of us looked at him.

"I have always been serious about my relationship with Liana."

I skeptically looked at Lee. 

"Am I dre---"

"Shhh."

Liam put a finger on my lips. Dad looked at Lee and smiled.

"Let me not disturb you two then. Liam, let's go."

"But..."

"Let Liana rest."

"It's okay - I am enjoying Liam's company," I intervened.

"See? Mommy is okay."

Dad turned to look at Liam.

"Liam... what did you call Liana?"

"Mommy," he said, with a smile on his face.

Dad and Lee spoke with their eyes before they turned to look at me.

"Um, you are really scaring me out..." I said. 

"Liana - Liam," Dad paused in amazement. "I am shocked myself."

"Maybe I remind him of his Mom," I said.

"His Mom died while he was young," Lee said. "He doesn't have many memories of her."

Dad continued, "He knows Elaine but was never as close as he is compared with you."

I opened my eyes. "Really?"

"Liam... just accepted you."

I looked at Liam and hugged him tightly.

"Ahem."

Lee cleared his throat. I took his hand and pulled him for a hug. We didn't realize everyone was watching until I saw a camera flash.

"Aww!" Lee's sister exclaimed.

"Our mini Romano family!"

"Yeah! Add cute on top of that!" Alicia added.

"Thanks!" she said.

Alicia and Lee's sister got along pretty well.

"Don't worry about them," Lee said, hugging me tighter.

"Who said I was?" I asked.

"Your eyes are wandering around."

I chuckled. "I am focused here - don't worry."

A few minutes later, the doctor came in with the results. Everyone else came in.

"Good to see that everyone is here," the Doctor said.

"Well, to say the least - Lee Romano, your wife is a strong person. I must say to you all that for the first time in history, despite the car hit and huge loss of blood, although she has a head injury, she has no signs of amnesia, she sustained a serious injury on her left leg. Her spinal cord is okay, she will just need to rest."

Everyone was super attentive.

"In conclusion - there are no complications other than that, so she can go home as of today."

Everyone opened their eyes. 

"Really?!"

"Yes," the doctor replied. "But, she will need some proper care for the wounds to heal. Make sure she doesn't do intense activities."

"But doctor, I can walk around right?" I asked.

"You can but keep it to a minimum as your ribs need to recover."

I nodded. "Thank you, doctor."

"No problem. I will take my leave now."

The doctor left.

"Don't worry Mommy, we will have lots of fun!" Liam exclaimed happily.

I ruffled his hair. "I know we will."

Lee's sister kept on taking pictures of us.

"Leah, it's okay now," Lee said.

"Your name is Leah?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said.

"That's a beautiful name."

She came and hugged me.

"Thank you, Liana!" She exclaimed. "My brother can't even say those words to me," she said, giving Lee a side glance.

I chuckled. "You are the sweet one here."

I looked at Alicia and Zane. They were pointing with their eyes at Mom and Dad.

"Mom, Dad, I am okay - no need to worry about me."

Mom looked at me skeptically.

"Are you trying to drive us out?" she asked.

"No Mom, I just feel bad that I got you all worried."

Mom kissed me on the cheek. "It's okay if you want to spend time with your family - I won't argue."

I smiled. "You know me too well Mom."

She and Dad waved us goodbye.

Ziana and Zane came to us. "Thanks sis! We now have the house back to ourselves!"

I rolled my eyes and pulled them into a hug. "Anything for you guys."

They smiled before leaving. "We will get going then. Bye!"

"Bye!" we said, waving back at them. Dad went out at the same time with Zane and Alicia. Lee, Liam, Alicia, and I were left inside.

Alicia then came and hugged me. "I am glad you are okay."

"Thanks, sis."

She smiled at me. "Let me go then - ciao!"

"Bye!"

Alicia was leaving the room when she bumped into Ace. 

Lee and I looked at what was unfolding.

"Sorry."

"No, it's my fault! Sorry."

They laughed as they continued to stutter over their words.

Lee and I sighed.

Ace let Alicia pass through. She blushed as she pointed at Ace over the window. I glared at Alicia and laughed. I then signaled her to leave.

"That sister of mine," I said.

"And this friend of mine," Lee said.

Lee and I looked at Ace.

"What?" Ace asked.

"Your names begin with the letter, 'A'..." 

"We saw everything."

Ace looked away. Lee and I laughed. "We were joking with you!"

Ace looked back at us, "Anyway - the car is ready."

He walked out of the room.

Lee and I laughed. Liam pulled himself away and climbed out the bed and with Lee's help, I got off the bed too.

"Ready to go?" Lee asked.

"Yes, Daddy!" Liam replied.

The doctor came and helped and did some checkups. Afterwards, I changed into the clothes that Lee brought.

"All good?" Lee asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Stop."

Liam who was standing in front of us commanded us to wait.

"Something isn't right."

Lee and I exchanged glances.

"What do you mean Liam?" I asked.

Liam stood in between us and made Lee and I hold hands before moving back.

"Mommy and Daddy should hold hands."

I felt my cheeks heating up. I looked at Lee to see him being okay with it.

"It's not his first relationship so who am I kidding?" I thought to myself.

"If that's what Liam wants," Lee said.

He intertwined his hand with mine, before looking at me.

"Mommy and Daddy will hold hands."

I smiled. Liam came to my left and held my hand.

"Then I will hold Mommy's left hand.

Lee looked at Liam. "I thought you were not included."

Liam shot an eye back at his dad. "She is also my Mom, so I am included."

I sense some jealousy between the two.

"How about we take a detour?" I asked.

They both looked at me.

"To where?" Lee asked.

"I don't know - a confectionery or something? You know, I really missed some sweet treats." I replied.

"Oh! I know a really nice place to go!" Liam exclaimed happily. 

"Oh really?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Liam replied.

"And where is this place?" Lee asked.

"You will see," Liam replied.

"I would be surprised if you actually knew something," he shot back.

"Okay, boys, one more argument and I am canceling everything." I threatened.

"Sorry Mommy," Liam said.

"Sorry babe," Lee said.

"Good boys."

I laughed as I placed my head on Lee's shoulder. He opened the door and we left the room and went out of the hospital. Ace was already waiting outside.

"Took you two long enough," Ace said.

"Can you blame two lovebirds?" Lee and I asked.

"Lee, Liana - I will catch you two..."

We laughed as we drove away...