HERS TO PROTECT

Chapter 32

Fighting for Love

Lia stepped into her room, breathless from her earlier encounter with Lucas. The intensity of their confrontation clung to her, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirling within. She quietly closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to steady the chaos in her heart.

"Lucas," She muttered, just disturbing the silence. Shaking her head, she fought to push away the memories of his anger and the piercing intensity of his gaze.

Crossing to her bedside table, she reached for a bottle of paracetamol, her hands trembling slightly. Exhausted from the day's events, she swallowed a pill with a gulp of water, hoping it would ease the pounding in her head. "As long as this helps," she muttered to herself.

Sinking onto her bed, the weight of everything bore down on her. She closed her eyes, wishing for sleep to offer her a brief respite from the turmoil.

Just as she began to drift off, the door swung open suddenly. Lia jolted upright, eyes wide with surprise. Lucas stood in the doorway, tense and determined.

"Captain? What are you doing here?" she asked her voice a mixture of shock and confusion. "Is there trouble?"

Instinctively, Lia reached for her gun under the bed, but Lucas moved swiftly, pinning her arms down. Confusion and alarm gripped her as she struggled to comprehend his intentions.

"Captain, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

"I want to do it, Lieutenant," Lucas said seriously, holding her gaze unwaveringly.

Furrowing her brow, Lia felt a wave of puzzlement wash over her. "Do what?"

"Let's have sex," Lucas stated firmly. Lia's jaw dropped at his unexpected proposal.

He explained that he wanted to remember everything, and if being intimate with Lia was the only way, he was willing to try, especially since it was what she had wanted from the start.

"Sex?" Lia shook her head quickly in refusal. "No!"

Lucas remained serious, his eyes locked on hers. "I need to remember, Lia. I think this is how I can restore my lost memories."

Lia was shocked. "What are you talking about? Do you believe that sex will bring your memories back?"

Lucas nodded slightly, his grip tightening on her arms. "Yes. Something inside me tells me this will work. We need to do this."

"Lucas, this isn't what I want," she replied, desperation creeping into her voice. "I never wanted just physical intimacy."

His expression hardened, eyes narrowing. "So, you've been playing with my mind this whole time?"

Lia felt her headache intensify, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on her. "No, Lucas, you don't understand. I wanted you to remember our love, not just the act."

"Then prove it to me," he challenged, his voice tinged with anger and confusion. "Prove that what we had was real."

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't do this, Lucas. I'm not well. Please, leave."

Lucas hesitated, his grip loosening as he saw the pain in her eyes. "Lia..."

"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Just go."

Releasing her arms, Lucas stepped back, a mix of pain and regret etched on his face. He turned away and left the room, leaving Lia to collapse back onto the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

As Lucas walked down the hallway, his footsteps echoed loudly. Frustration and confusion clouded his thoughts, making it difficult to focus. Lia's rejection cut deeper than he wanted to admit, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something crucial was slipping away.