Blake
What have I done?
After Olivia ran away because of my sudden outburst to her, I went to her room, thinking back of what I had done today…to her.
I was the cause of everything and I was aware of it. If I never did that to Olivia, maybe my daughter would still be looking at me the same way as she did when I saved her.
Did I make a mistake?
I always reminded myself that I took her because I saw Olivia did not want to go to the orphanage that day. Most of her relatives were looking at her like she was someone unworthy to be saved.
I remembered before while I was at Chloe’s – Olivia’s mother’s funeral. Most of them were asking others how they were going to take care of Olivia. Who was going to take her in. How much money should they spend to take one child in. They were so fucking calculating and I hated it. Not even her grandparents cared about her. Some of the relatives wanted to take her in order to receive money from her family. It pissed me off because Olivia did not deserve that. Like at all.
That was why I decided to take her in.
I took her under my wings. Under my protection.
“Chloe…” I sighed while softly calling her name. Her mother’s name. I rubbed my forehead. “Did I make a mistake by taking her in? Is this my punishment for leaving you because of Olivia?”
I was divorced because I could not live together with them knowing that my mind was over the wheels over her daughter. I thought I was sick because I was interested in a child nineteen years way younger than me. I had no idea what was going on with me, but when I laid my eyes on baby Olivia, I thought there was something hard hit me.
I did not want to hurt Chloe even more so I decided to leave.
I remembered her last words we departed.
Promise me, Blake? Promise me that you will protect Olivia if something happened to me.
I knew what she had been through. What she was trying to escape. What mistakes she had made. Everything. Protecting her daughter was the only thing I could do for her.
I stood up from the bed and walked out of her bedroom. I did a mistake and intended to fix it. The only thing I could do now…was to apologize to Olivia.
I was not in my right mind.
I wanted to do something for her, but she refused me. Her rejection snapped me hard. I thought Olivia was chasing someone where some part of me aware that was not the case.
Olivia just wanted to leave because of how I act for the past couple of years.
Whether Olivia was going to forgive me or not, I had to try first.
I walked out of the house and hopped inside my car. I pulled out my phone and tracked her. Olivia had not noticed it but I installed a GPS tracker on it. And then I found her. I immediately started the car and drove on where she was now.
Josh’s house.
“Fuck, Olivia! Why the hell you have to choose his house and not Karen’s?” That boy better not touched her or…
I would do the same thing with those poor boys.
***
Olivia
I was waiting in the living room with Paula while Josh went to the door. I was wondering about who would visit this family at this hour.
“Come, dear. Let Josh deal with the guest. Let’s go to my room and pick your pajama,” Paula invited and I followed her to her room until Josh stopped us.
“Olivia?” he called and I turned at him. “You have a guest.” I quickly lose my smile when he told me that I had a guest. My heart jumped a bit when I saw Blake appeared behind Josh. Still wearing his clothes when he was…freaking mad at me.
“Olivia,” he called softly. He rarely did that and Josh went to me. He looked worried but his smile convinced me to not run away from my father.
“Give him a chance, Liv,” he advised and patted my shoulder and left us with his mother.
The situation became so awkward.
I still remembered how Blake reacted to me.
His shouts when he demanded me to open the door.
Open the door now, Olivia!
His shout was still echoing in my mind because I never saw him like that before. He was like a completely different person and it frightened me.
“Olivia,” he took a step forward as I immediately moved back from him. “Please, don’t run away from me. Don’t do that again,” he begged. Wow, again. He’s surprised me, once again.
“How could you say that when you were the one who made me run away from you?”
“I know and that’s why I come here. I want to…apologize for my barbaric behavior. I’m sorry for what I did to you. I was not on my right mind,” he apologized. His tone sounded sincere. “I had a hard time back at the office and accidentally spilled everything on you. I should not have done that. Now, Olivia? Will you come home with me tonight so I could properly apologize?”
I couldn’t do it.
Blake rarely apologized to everything. Even though he knew it was his fault, usually he was just going to shut up and not saying anything. Watching him politely and sincerely asking my apologies, it was priceless.
I melted down by his act.
I never saw Blake like this. Looking so vulnerable and desperate. He was indeed…felt guilty about what happened.
“…Okay.” The moment he heard my answer, his blue eyes sparkled with satisfaction. Like a child just being forgiven by his parents. So cute though. “Just wait a moment,” I said and turned to where Josh and Paula were.
I went to them and saw them looking quite satisfied with what just happened. “Um, I’m going home with him tonight.”
“I agree with you, Olivia. Even though he is not really a good father, he is still your guardian who has taken care of you since you were a child,” Paula stated as she pulled me into a hug.
“Thank you for the lovely dinner, Paula.” I turned to Josh. “And thank you for advising me to listen to him.”
“No problem. I wish the best for both of you and hope everything will turn out okay,” Josh said. I wished for that too.
I turned to Blake and went to him. I walked past him when he said, “Thank you, both of you. For taking care of her.”
“Watch over her, Mr. Morgan. Even though she doesn’t show it, Olivia wishes for her father’s attention,” Paula reminded but Blake didn’t say anything.
Blake and I walked out of the house together and entered his Aston. We were silent along the way. I didn’t try to start a conversation. Blake refused to open his mouth. It was not like I was bothered by it. Although he had apologized, I thought that I wanted to stay quiet just for tonight.
We finally reached home. Blake parked his car and turned off the engine. Again, none of us were doing anything. No one bothered to get out. Literally no movement.
I made the first move by holding the knob and intended to go out until Blake’s strong hand stopped me, holding me in place. I turned at him and he said, “It’s better if we talk in the car.”
“…Okay.” Blake loosened his hold and I waited.
“I’m really sorry, Liv. I should not have done that. I accused you of something that I know you won’t be doing. I know you will never do that. Choosing a university because of a guy. I know everything that happened between us…is all because of me. If I never changed my attitude maybe we would never be in this way.”
Okay, I was surprised.
I was not expecting him to say that. Even Blake realized what he had done.
“I have my own reason but I can’t tell you now. Because to me, you are not ready yet. And I did promise to your mother that I will tell you when it’s the time. But I have to remind you something,” he paused and then turned to me. Looking straight into my eyes. “It was not your fault. It was mine. I’m telling you this so you won’t suspect anything bad about yourself.”
“When are you going to tell me the reason why you become so cold to me?”
“When you are old enough.”
“On what basis? I’m old enough to listen to everything. I might be still sixteen but I’m old enough for it.”
“I know you have grown up into a very fine young lady and I am so proud of you,” he stated. Oh, how I was so happy hearing him said that. “You never choose the dark path and always stay on the path you believed in. Normal kids would be delinquent to overcome their loneliness and to get their parents’ attention.”
“Because I think you will remain the same even if I do that,” he scoffed when I said that.
“If you ever did that, I might have to punish you for that.” Again, the tone. It was the same as before. When I refused to cook him dinner because of how he gave me the attitude.
So demanding and dark.
The tone hinting the authority and absolute with no room for discussion.
I did not want to get something worse from him. Not after he just apologized to me so I chose to ignore him.
“Well, you know what? I can forgive you if you could at least tell me a bit about my mother and how you two ended up together.”
“And why do you want to know that?”
“Simple. When my mother was still alive, she never told me that she was married to you before. She never told me about her family. Just nothing. And I just knew about you at her funeral. So, I’m curious.” I thought it was weird. A man came out of nowhere saying he wanted to adopt me as his daughter. For an eleven-year-old girl, she won’t question anything as long as she could get out of that place and not going to the orphanage. But for the sixteen-year-old me? It was time for the truth.
“We used to be friends back in the university,” Blake started, surprising me.
“Really? Are you guys dating or something?”
“No. Our friendship was rather complicated and to be honest, I was surprised when I learned about Chloe’s pregnancy. Your mother’s family was one of the prestigious families in the country so they couldn’t let what’s they called a scandal get out of hands. So, I decided to marry her once she gave birth to you and took responsibility for something that I did not do at all.”
So, my mother was pregnant with me before marriage. I could safely conclude that my father…was probably an asshole. But then again…
“So, you marry my mom out of pity?”
“Your mother begged me to.”
“And why did you two separated?” I asked and he was silent. Like he was struggling to answer.
“I…can’t tell you now.” I could tell that Blake was not ready. Not now.
“Do you…even if it was just a little bit…love my mother?”
Blake stared at me back. “Yes,” he said firmly. Without any doubt. At least I could feel relieved with it. Although it was just a glimpse, I could see it. Blake was serious when he said that he loved my mother.
“I wish you can tell me everything but I’m sure you have your own reasons. I hope…you will tell me everything. One day.”
“I promise you, Olivia.”