CHAPTER FIFTY

"Lia" Leo said as he tried to get closer to her, but she only moved back and kept a safe distance between them.
Leo almost didn't know what to do anymore, Lia had been trying so hard to avoid him, since they came to know about Liana's existence. Perhaps Lia was just scared that she would become too attached to him, only for her to get her heart broken in the end.
"Let's go," Leo said dryly.
"My father hasn't arrived yet, please wait a little longer," Lia said.
"If he wanted to tag along with us, then he should have come by a little earlier, don't you think? " Leo said in an unfriendly tone.
" Please be patient Leo, you know that it hasn't been too long since he got discharged. Things are still a little hard for him" Lia said thinking of how her poor father was struggling.
" You know where to find me when he arrives," Leo said and walked away.
They were heading to Mr. Griffon's funeral and Leo didn't want to be late, but he had no choice. He didn't want to leave without Lia, not especially when there is already so little closeness between them.
...
Ben had just arrived at the mansion and the first person he saw was Liana playing on the floor like a child.
Ben eyed her with pure disgust written all over his face. Just the mere sight of her made him want to puke, which was odd because she and Lia looked almost the same.
Liana turned around and saw the man staring at her. She instinctively stood up and backed away from him. The man seemed scary to her. She was suddenly reminded of her brother, who had promised to protect her, but where was he now?
"Father, you are here," Lia said as she came into view.
Liana quickly rushed to her side and hugged her arm. Lia tried to free her arm from Liana's grasp, but Liana only held it tighter.
Lia made eye contact with her father as if asking him, what he did to her, to make her quiver, but he only shrugged his shoulders in return.
" I will go and get Leo," Lia said and turned around to leave while Liana let go of her and followed closely behind Lia.
Lia waited until they were far enough from Ben and alone, before turning to face Liana and asking,
" What is wrong with you? "
" Liana is scared. That man is bad, Liana doesn't want to see him again" Liana confessed.
" He isn't a bad man Liana, That is my father okay. Good not bad" Lia said and Liana shook her head refusing to believe Lia.
" I want to see my brother, he will protect me from the badman," Liana said.
" Well, we won't be able to find your brother if you don't give us a name," Lia said.
" Ok. I will tell you because big sister asked" Liana smiled and said.
"... " Lia said nothing and waited for her to speak.
"Don't tell anyone, okay? My brother's name is Gi..."
"Lia, has he arrived?" Leo showed up from behind Lia and interrupted what Liana was about to say.
"Yes he has, I was just about to call you," Lia said.
She turned around to face Liana and said,
"We will talk later, go meet Cynthia and stay with her," Lia said.
"Let's go"
Leo, Lia, and Ben left the residence, leaving Liana and Cynthia alone. Cynthia was still asleep, so Liana stayed alone for a while before she decided to wander outside the mansion.
The view outside was beautiful. This was the first time she had stepped out of the mansion since she first arrived.
Liana wandered till she reached a close distance from the gate. It was guarded by a lot of men wearing black suits and some of them were armed.
Liana was kind of scared, but went towards the gate anyway. Thankfully the men did nothing to stop her from passing through.
Liana wandered far enough and asked everyone whom she had crossed paths with if they had seen her brother. I guess she doesn't understand that it doesn't work that way.
Jack had been following closely behind Liana for a while now. He had been looking for the perfect opportunity to approach her and he finally had one. Before he could speak, Liana beat him to it.
"Have you seen my brother?" Liana asked him.
"Brother? Since when did you have a brother?" Jack asked trying to recall any memories he had with Lia having a brother.
Jack thought that Lia sounded and looked kind of different, and she wasn't trying to push him away. He brushed off the thoughts with the excuse that he was probably a little tipsy.
Liana pouted her lips and continued walking ahead. Jack grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him again.
"Let's get back together," Jack said.
"Yes, together with my brother" Liana smiled thinking of him.
"Who is this brother that you speak of?"
"The best brother in the world," Liana said and giggled.
" Let's go," Jack said as he took her hand in his.
Liana frowned and snatched her hand back.
" I'm not going anywhere with you, I have to find my brother," Liana said.
" What if we look for him together?" Jack suggested. If Lia wanted to play a game with him then he would play along.
" Really?" The girl jumped happily and clapped her hands.
"Yes. Now, let's go before it is too late"
Liana had already been long gone by the time Cynthia had woken up. The only person in the house with her was the cleaning lady who had just arrived.
Cynthia left no stone unturned, to search for Liana, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Cynthia had already called Leo several times but he wasn't picking up the phone and she didn't care enough to have Lia's number saved in her phone.
" They could have at least told me, they were taking Liana with them" Cynthia complained as she massaged her sore Scalp.