CHAPTER THREE

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Mr. Scott Power's heart pounded as he stepped out of the elevator and strode down the stark, white corridor of the hospital. His usually composed demeanor had cracked the moment his wife, Daisy, had called him, her voice filled with panic. Lisa had fainted. In the middle of a crucial meeting, he had dropped everything and rushed to be by his daughter's side.

"Good evening, Dr. Tess," he greeted as he approached the doctor outside Lisa's room. His voice was steady, but his eyes were anxious.

Dr. Tess offered a reassuring smile. "Mr. Power, Lisa is stable. She's recovering well and will be discharged tomorrow."

Scott let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your help." After a brief nod, he walked toward Lisa's room, his footsteps quickening.

Inside, Lisa lay on the bed, her face pale but her eyes brightening when she saw him. "Guess what, honey," he said, a smile finally breaking through the tension on his face.

"What is it, Dad?" she asked, her eyes shining with hope.

"You'll be going home tomorrow."

Her face lit up with joy. "Wow, Dad! I can't wait. Thank you, Dad. I love you."

Scott embraced her, holding her tighter than he had in years. "I love you too, baby girl," he whispered, grateful for this second chance.

The next day, Lisa returned home, but the moment she crossed the threshold, a wave of nostalgia and sorrow hit her. This was the same home she had once been cast out of, a place that had transformed from her sanctuary to her prison. Now, as she walked through its familiar halls, she was neither a stranger nor a disgraced outcast; she was a cherished daughter again. It felt surreal.

As she looked around, memories flooded back—the happy moments and the painful ones. She had begged for this chance, prayed for it, and now that it was hers, she felt both grateful and burdened. The ghosts of her previous life were still there, lingering in every corner, whispering of betrayal and loss. Overwhelmed, she couldn't hold back her tears.

"Lisa, come out for lunch," her mother's voice called from the hallway. Daisy entered the room to find her daughter sobbing, her face buried in her hands.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Daisy's voice was gentle, but laced with concern. She sat beside Lisa, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "Why are you crying?"

Lisa struggled to find her voice, the weight of her emotions threatening to crush her. She couldn't tell her mother the truth, not yet. How could she explain that she was mourning a future that hadn't happened yet, that she was grateful and yet terrified of making the same mistakes again?

"Mum, please, promise me… you, Dad, and Liam will never leave me," she finally whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

Daisy's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about, Lisa? We love you so much. Why would we ever leave you?"

"Please… just promise," Lisa insisted, her eyes pleading.

Daisy cupped her daughter's face, wiping away the tears. "I promise, sweetheart. We will never leave you. You're the most precious thing in our lives." She kissed Lisa's forehead softly. "Now, come out for lunch."

As Daisy led Lisa out of the room, she felt a knot of unease tightening in her chest. Lisa had always been her lively, spirited child, but ever since the hospital, something had shifted. The light in her eyes was dimmer, and though she was more obedient, there was a distance in her gaze that Daisy couldn't ignore.

Something had changed, and it wasn't just the incident at the hospital. Daisy's intuition screamed that Lisa was hiding something, a deep pain that she wasn't ready to share. Was it just a teenage phase? Or was there something darker lingering beneath the surface?

I'm probably overthinking it, she told herself, trying to dismiss the feeling. But the image of her daughter's tear-streaked face stayed with her, and the worry gnawed at her heart.

Determined to uncover what was really going on, she decided to talk to Scott later. Perhaps he would notice something she had missed.

Leading Lisa into the dining room, she ensured her daughter was comfortable before heading to the kitchen. "I made your favorite," she said softly, hoping the familiar comfort would ease whatever burden Lisa was carrying.

But as she served the meal, Daisy couldn't shake the feeling that her daughter was slipping through her fingers, and the fear of losing her again was a shadow she couldn't ignore.

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