Lara sat there, unsure of what to make of what had just happened. The man she loved had just hit her. Physically hit her. A tear slowly, silently, made its way down her cheek as it sunk in. Alex West had just hit her, and she did nothing to stop him. Kurtis sat beside her, on one of the nearby chairs, ready to give her support if she needed him. That one tear turned into full-blown sobbing. Kurtis got off the chair in an instant, sliding onto the bed so he could comfort her. Placing an arm around her shoulders, Kurtis pulled Lara to his chest and let her sob into his shirt. She clung onto him as if she was drowning and he was a lifejacket.
Hillary and Bryce filed into the room about half an hour later to find both Lara and Kurtis, asleep, with Lara draped over Kurtis's chest and his arm around her shoulders. Both of them looked blissfully peaceful. Hillary shooed Bryce out so that they could sleep, he then closed the door behind them. Hillary took both Bryce and himself home (the air ambulance had taken them back to England) and got to cleaning up the damage that Lara had done to her study when she found out that Kurtis was 'dead'.
It was morning when Alex woke up. He had been placed in a cell at the nearest police station after the events that had occurred the night before. To be honest, he didn't remember much; but he knew for sure that he would have a lot of apologizing to do. All Alex knew was that at some point last night, something had happened and he was taken into police custody.
Kurtis woke up as the sunlight streamed through the open blinds. He noticed that Lara was still clinging onto him and that she must have cried through most of the night as she still had the puffy red eyes. He planted a delicate kiss on her forehead before sliding off the bed. Deciding to take a walk to the reception desk, Kurtis had asked the nurse when Lara would be able to go home. She had replied that Lara could be discharged now if he would sign the papers.
Kurtis gave Hillary a call and let him know that Lara was coming home. He took it upon himself to take Lara safely back home and put her into bed.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, there was a knock at the door. Hillary was tending to the hedges out at the back of the Manor, Bryce was in his trailer and Kurtis was busy fixing one of the chandeliers in one of the eighty-three rooms of the Manor. Lara had been reading a book about Shakespeare in front of the fire when the knock had resounded. Putting her bookmark in place, Lara took a walk to the door and looked through the spy-hole. Alex was stood outside.
Lara quickly checked herself in front of the mirror near the door; to ensure that she looked presentable. Her cheek had become bruised overnight and the doctor had prescribed painkillers to take the edge off. She then proceeded to open the door.
"Alex West," Lara acknowledged as she opened the door and leaned impatiently on the doorframe.
"May I come in?" Alex asked, his polite manners taking over.
"After last night I'm surprised that you're here" Lara replied icily. Alex looked more closely at Lara and saw the horrific bruise on Lara's cheek.
"Are you going to invite me in or leave me on the doorstep?" Alex asked.
"I think I'll leave you on the doorstep" Lara said, before proceeding to close the door. The door met an obstacle; Alex's foot. He forced the door open so strongly that Lara was forced backwards and she fell flat onto the floor.
At that moment, Kurtis had been descending the stairs and had seen Lara at the door; talking to someone. He saw the door fly open forcefully and raced down the stairs when Lara went down. Picking her up in his arms, Kurtis carried her to a nearby chair and placed her down before going to the door himself.
"So Alex, is that your new hobby? Causing physical harm to women?" Kurtis asked, his tone arctic.
"It's not like that" Alex replied, his tone was hysterical.
"Alex, that would be twice that you've hurt Lara in the last twenty-four hours. I think you should be leaving now before I throw you out. Literally" Kurtis threatened. He narrowed his eyes at Alex.
"Look, just let me talk to her" Alex said, exasperated. He eyed Lara, who was slowly making her way to the door and taking her place beside Kurtis. "Lara, please"
"Alex, I have nothing to say to you. You hurt me when I was unable to defend myself and then you attack me in my own home" Lara accused, her voice pitch getting higher and higher. Kurtis placed an arm protectively around her shoulders, just daring Alex to lay a finger on her.
Alex took a step back and put his hands up in surrender.
"I just want to talk, Lara. Hear me out" Alex said, pleading.
"You have two minutes and then I leave you to Kurtis," Lara replied. Kurtis walked to the kitchen to give them space.
"Lara, I'm so sorry for what I did last night. It was stupid, really stupid and it won't ever happen again. And just now, I'm sorry for that too. I didn't know that I would fly off the handle at you like that. Slapping you is inexcusable. I know that you'll never forgive me for that." Alex said, his tone mournful.
"Alex, I just don't know if I can trust you after that. I couldn't defend myself, I was vulnerable and you took advantage of that." Lara said, tears spilling down her cheeks. Alex cautiously stepped into the house and put his arms around Lara, giving her a hug. He rested his chin in her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"I know that you'll never forgive me but I'm sorry" Alex said, tears forming in his eyes and silently spilling down his cheeks. Lara looked up at him and he gazed down at her. His lips hovered over hers, his eyes asking her permission. She nodded and he softly placed a kiss on Lara's lips. She succumbed to his gentle touch and passionately kissed him back. Lara knew that what had happened would shadow over their relationship, but for now, she didn't care. All she wanted was Alex.
Alex pulled Lara into his arms and he lifted her – bridal style. There lips never separated as he closed the door with his foot and took her up the stairs to her room. When they got there, Lara pulled away so she could breathe. She took one look at Alex and positively melted. Lara decided to take control and guided him over to the bed where their lips met again, taking no prisoners.
Bryce had seen Alex on the security camera but had thought nothing of it. Hillary entered the house through the side door that led into the kitchen, where Kurtis was sat at the small table in the corner.
"Where's Lara?" Hillary asked, placing his gardening shears on the tabletop.
"Upstairs, having a discussion with Alex about their relationship" Kurtis said, yawning. He had used farsee to check on the two of them and it had left him feeling withdrawn.
"Okay, let me know how that goes. If you need me I'll be in the shed" Hillary said, going back into the vast gardens of Croft Manor.
About an hour later, Lara was laid under the covers with Alex. He had his arms around her; holding her tight against his chest. Lara was listening to the steady beating of Alex's heart as he inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. He kissed the top of her head.
"I'm sorry Lara" Alex mumbled into Lara's hair.
"I know you are, I'm sorry for pushing you over the edge" Lara replied.
"I still shouldn't have hit you. Does it hurt?" Alex asked, gazing down at her. She looked up at him.
"It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks" Lara replied with a smile. "With time, it will fade."
"I just wish you would have told me that I had died" Alex mumbled, airing the underlining cause to the problem.
"I know, I should have done. I'm sorry" Lara said, nuzzling into Alex's chest. Alex stroked her un-marked cheek.
"It's okay. At least now I know" Alex said, giving Lara's shoulder a squeeze.
"I thought that if I told you, you would leave me, because I didn't do anything to stop it from happening" Lara replied, tears slipping down her cheeks and dropping onto Alex's chest.
"Hey, hey, don't cry. I wouldn't have left you and I'm not going to leave you now. That is, if you'll still have me" Alex said, gazing into her crystal blue eyes. She smiled, feeling a bit more cheerful.
"Of course I will you idiot" Lara said, taking Alex by surprise as she kissed him. He reciprocated and placed a hand at the nape of her neck so he could deepen the kiss.
Alex had gone to sleep about half an hour later, sleeping on his side with an arm draped over Lara's waist. Lara was laid facing away from him, thinking about all that had gone on in the last few days. She had to give up on her reflection of the past few days as she dashed off to her en-suite bathroom and was violently sick into the toilet. Leaning against the wall, Lara made her way to the sink where she brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth with mouthwash. She leant on the sink as light-headedness took over and left her dizzy, clutching onto the sink to stop herself falling.