Chapter 25
“Impossible,” Carlo exclaimed, leaving everyone in shock. All eyes were fixed on him as he suddenly cleared his throat and covered his mouth with his palm.
“What did you say?” Reyes demanded.
Everyone waited impatiently for his response, but he suddenly burst into laughter. “I got you all,” he said, pointing at their faces and laughing uncontrollably.
“What does that suppose to mean?” Marcus scoffed, glaring at him.
“Dad, I was just chatting with my friend. I never knew I shouted that loud… I’m sorry, everyone,” Carlo said with a smile.
Everyone laughed, however Olivia teetered on the brink of embarrassment, wondering if Carlo had lost his mind by screaming like that. She was genuinely worried that Carlo might start developing feelings for her just because of the little intimacy they shared in her room and in the kitchen. “I hope he doesn’t ruin everything for me with his jealousy. What have I gotten myself into,” she thought as she looked up and locked eyes with Carlo, who had a smirk on his face.
“If you think I’m going to back down now, you’re mistaken,” Carlo thought, smirking at her and shaking his head.
Helen let out a soft chuckle and turned to Olivia. “Now pick out three beautiful dresses you like,” she said, presenting four dresses for Olivia to choose from.
Olivia excitedly took the dress from Helen and hurried over to Javier, holding out the dresses for him to see. “Can you help me choose? I can’t decide,” she said with a pout.
Javier looked up, his face showing a mix of disgust and confusion as he wondered if Olivia was really addressing him. He abruptly got up and started to walk away, his mother quickly followed and stopped him from getting into his car.
“Javier, what’s going on? Why are you acting like this?” she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder with concern.
“Mother, I should be asking you that. Why are you doing this?” Javier gently pushed her hand away from his shoulder. “Where are all the promises you made to your son? You told him that you wouldn’t stand by and watch his father ruin his life with this forced marriage. You promised to protect him.” Javier yelled at her, fighting back tears.
“Your son told you countless times that he doesn’t want to marry the girl his father chose for him. He hated her, yet you’re treating her with love and care. Where are all the promises you made to your son, mother?” He screamed again, tears falling from his eyes.
Helen burst into tears, her shoulders shaking as she cried. “His mother’s hands are tied right now. She couldn’t fulfill her promises to her son because his father threatened to throw her out of the house and forbid her from seeing her children if she goes against his wishes. She had no choice,” she sobbed.
Javier shook his head in disbelief. “That jerk
is still judging you because of your past?”
Helen nodded tearfully. “He always blames me for everything. He said I was the reason why you hated women. He assumed that if I had never left six years ago, leaving only you, your perspective about women would have changed. I’m sorry, it was all my fault,” she cried harder.
Javier sighed. “I have told you countless times that it was never your fault. Please stop blaming yourself. The good thing is that Fabby loves you, and I do too. Please stop blaming yourself,” he consoled her, pulling her into a hug and gently rubbing her back.
Suddenly, she pulled away and remembered something. “I can vouch for your father; he never goes back on his word. Remember when he told you that if you really want to stop this engagement, you should show him the girl you claimed to be in a relationship with?” she recalled Reyes’ words. “When are you bringing her home? If I may suggest, you should go and bring her right away before the engagement commences tomorrow,” she said hurriedly, shaking his shoulder, while Javier chuckled softly. Helen wondered why.
“Mother, chill. I will bring her home tomorrow. Don’t worry too much,” he laughed. Helen pulled him into a tight hug.
“Whoever that girl is that captured your heart and attention, I really need to see her and thank her for saving a soul,” she whispered loudly.
Javier chuckled at her words and started walking back to the building.
“I thought you were going out,” Helen observed.
“I was planning to drive my new car today, but then I remembered I left the key in my room and I was holding my old car key,” he said, waving the key in the air. He walked inside and found Elvis sitting in the sitting area, using his phone.
“Hey, bro!” Elvis called out when he saw Javier.
“Let me grab my car key upstairs and then we can hit the club. It’s been a while,” Javier said, running upstairs to his room.
As he reached the front of his door and pushed it open, he was stunned to find Olivia standing naked in a seductive pose, crossing her legs and resting her hand on her waist. She walked past her robe resting on the floor and began to stride toward Javier.
He walked deep into his room with a smirk on his lips, flipping the keys in his hand.
“You’ve turned me down countless times, let’s see if you can resist me now,” she said, cat-walking towards him, her bare breasts bouncing with each step. Just a few steps away from Javier, he raised his hand in the air, stopping her from coming any closer.
“You need to learn to never push your limits, Olivia. You know me well enough; you know how my temper works, so don’t test me.” He warned firmly, giving her a deadly stare. He walked past her and headed towards his wardrobe to grab his keys, but Olivia ran and stood in front of him.
“Why don’t you find me attractive?” She suddenly burst into tears. “Am I not beautiful enough? I know you don’t have any woman in your life, so…”
“I have a woman now. Trust me, you don’t even compare to her in any way. She’s exceptional, so back off.” He sneered and gently pushed her aside, then walked toward his wardrobe.
“What!” Olivia exclaimed, her jaw dropping as she found it hard to believe what she had just heard from Javier. She couldn’t believe him because Javier never associated with women, let alone claimed to have a woman in his life. Hearing this from his own mouth cleared all doubts, and that thought alone fueled her anger, making her breath quicken.
Javier glanced at her and noticed how she was clenching and unclenching her fists in rage, which widened his lips into a smirk. “You will see her soon,” he said as he finally grabbed his keys and walked past her.
“We are getting engaged tomorrow. Hope you know that,” she muttered, tears streaming down her eyes. “And no woman can have you except me, Javier. Mark my words,” she threatened.
“Give it your best shots, bitch!” He sneered as he exited his room, leaving Olivia behind.
“Urggh!” Olivia screamed out angrily, wondering who Javier was referring to as his woman. ‘She better keep hiding herself because the day she reveals her face, I will stop at nothing to make her regret the day she was born,” she thought as her fingers clenched tightly into fists.
Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Olivia quickly grabbed her white robe from the ground and put it on before walking to the door and opening it. Carlo stood there, prompting her to roll her eyes as she walked back inside, leaving the door open and turning her back to him.
“I saw Javier striding down the stairs, fuming. You two fought?” Carlo questioned as he entered the room.
Olivia didn’t respond, lost in her thoughts. This made Carlo realize that something was wrong. He gently walked toward her from behind and wrapped his arms around her. “Babes, what is the problem?” he asked in a calm, gentle voice.
Olivia turned slowly, and Carlo was surprised to see her tears. As she quickly wiped her wet chin, Carlo held her hand and turned her to face him. “Did Javier made you cry?” he asked with concern in his voice, gazing into her eyes with affection.
“Forget it, I’m fine,” she said, moving away from him and standing close to the window.
“It’s clear that you’re not fine. Talk to me…”
“Carlo, am I not beautiful enough? Is my body not attractive enough to keep a man? Is it a crime to love someone who doesn’t love you back?” Olivia trembled as tears continued to stream down her chin.
“Hey, hey, you are the most beautiful and attractive woman I have ever met. Any man who doesn’t appreciate your love isn’t worth fighting for, Olivia,” Carlo said, looking into her teary eyes and gently stroking her arms to calm her down.
Olivia began to cry, her shoulders shaking as she hugged Carlo tightly. “Shh!… enough of the tears, babes. I’m here for you, always,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. “To love and care for you, just forget about Javier,” he added.
As soon as the words left his lips, Olivia pulled away from the hug and looked up at him with a furrowed brow. “What do you mean by ‘To love and care for me’?” she questioned, taking a step backwards.
“I love you, Olivia. Forget about Javier, he doesn’t deserve you,” he said, trying to reach out to Olivia, but she moved away from him. Carlo’s eyes flashed with disappointment and he sighed. “I know all this is new to you, and I’m not rushing you into anything. But I can’t stop thinking about our intimate moments together. Olivia, I think I love you,” he confessed, reaching out for her hands, but Olivia stepped back, her jaw dropped at his revelations.
“For Christ’s sake, Javier is your brother, how can you do this to him?” Olivia exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“You knew he was my brother, so why did you lust over me? Why did you let me sleep with you?” he retorted, rolling his eyes.
Olivia’s jaw dropped at Carlo’s outburst, and she knew she had gotten herself into deep trouble. She had a feeling that Carlo wasn’t going to let her go anytime soon. “Carlo, please leave my room,” she said, pointing at the door.
“You want me to leave? You think that by doing this, you can get rid of me? You must be joking,” he angrily stormed out of her room.
Olivia weakly slumped down on her bed, holding her head tightly. “What have I gotten myself into?”