Gilbert’s ward**
“Don’t tell me you came here for Xavier, if yes, then leave, matter has already been decided on.”
“I haven’t come for Xavier, I know you’ve already made up your mind and I can’t go against it. Anyways I brought your favorite meal, it’s been a while and I decided to prepare it.” Cecilia smiled, bringing out the food flak that was in her bag.
Gilbert shot her a glance, his gaze scrutinizing her smiley face. “You know, you don’t need to do that to win my favor.”
“Oh come on Gilbert, I’m not trying to win your favor, I just thought that it has been a while since I made you your favorite. So, I made it and brought it to you.” She smiled, making her voice as soft and coquettish as it could be, as she moved her chair near him.
Gilbert chuckled, the Cecilia he knew would never prepare something for herself not to talk of person, especially him. She leaves all the chores for the maids in the mansion, and whenever she does something for him, she surely was wanting to ask for a favor.
“If you say so, then Keep it on the desk there, when I’m hungry I’ll grab it for myself.”
She nodded and kept it, as they engaged in another discussion.
“Mom, you’re not taking your calls, why? You got me worried.” Olivia said, moving close to her mom, who seemed to look very pale.
“What’s going on, mom?” She frowned, as soon as she reached her mom’s bed and found her eyes were swollen and red, obviously from crying.
“Mom?”
“How were you able to afford the bills? I mean this is such a big hospital, Olly. How did you do it?” Lily suddenly cut her off and turned to look at Olivia.
Olivia quickly swallowed the lump in her throat, her chest started to pound hard as sweat draped her face. “Mom, I.. I.. I told you, we’ll talk about it when your better.” She stuttered, thinking of the right words to use.
“I want to hear it now, there’s no better time to discuss this than now, I’m curious and bothered.” Her mom snapped, looking suspiciously at her. She thumped, hoping it wouldn’t be as Hilda had told her.
Olivia was nervous as well as confused, why did her mom suddenly bring up a topic like this? And it also seemed to be the reason she was crying.
“Mom, did someone say anything to you? I mean, why were you crying.” her voice faltered as she noticed tears trailing down her mom’s eyes.
Her heart panged with pain, as tears stung her eyes, the feeling of guilt washed over her entire body. At this point she was sure that someone must have said something to her mom, if not how can she be crying over how she was able to pay for the bills. But how could someone get access into the ward?
“Nobody said anything to me, Olly, I’m your mom and know it is not easy to get such an amount in such a space of time, I’ve been right here for almost a year and yet you’re paying for it, how is that possible?”
At this point, Olivia knew she had no other option than to tell her mom the truth, but how is she going to tell her, she went into a ten year contract with Morgan?
“Are you hiding something from me?” Lily questioned, reading the hesitation on her face.
Olivia flinched, quickly snapping out of her trance. “N.. no mom, I just that..” she paused, giving her mom an apologetic look.
“I just what, Olly? Please talk to me.” She cried, grabbing Olivia’s hands.
Olivia tried to blink back the tears that had clouded her eyes, but they refused to go back, but fell across her face.
“I’m so sorry mom, I…I” she cried, squeezing her mom’s hands.
“Talk to me dear,”
“I got into an accident, two days before your operation and when I woke up, I was told that someone already paid for your bills.” Olivia paused, and glanced at her mom.
She nodded, motioning her to continue.
“When I met with him, he offered to pretend to be his wife, while he settled the remaining bills. Mom, I had no other option, dad turned me away when I went to him, I couldn’t bear to lose you.” She she sobbed.
Lily pulled her into a hug, wiping away her tears, as her own tears kept falling. “Are you living with him?”
Olivia nodded, ashamed to look at her mother.
“Is he sleeping with you?”
Olivia stilled, not saying a word. Her mom pulled her away, to look at her face, “Is he sleeping with you?”
Heavy wave of guilt washed over her, as she shook her head, “it’s only to show off Infront of his family.”
Lily’s gaze was still fixed on her, as if trying to pry off the truth from her face.
“Mom, believe me, he isn’t sleeping with me.” Olivia assured, through a guilty heart.
Her mom nodded, “Can you break off the deal?”
Olivia knitted her brows immediately, “Mom, if I break off the deal, before the deadline, it means I’d have to pay back every dime he spent on us.”
“I’m sorry, Olly.” She sniffled, wiping her tears.
“Mom? You don’t have to be sorry, you’re my mother, I can’t let you die, when there’s a way I could help. Please don’t apologize.” Olivia whined, and pulled her mom into a hug.
“This isn’t the life I dreamt for you, I never meant to be a burden to you dear, i never meant for you to sacrifice your happiness like this, I’m sorry dear, I’m so sorry my daughter.” She cried, hugging Olivia tightly.
“Mom, please don’t say these, it’s hurting my heart. I have every right to take care of you the way I want.” She scolded.
“Enough crying for today, it’s not good for your health. At least I’m fine and you’re also fine, I’m happy and it’s enough for me.” Olivia said, pulling away from her mom, as she wiped her tears.
Lily nodded, wiping away her tears, a sudden warmth spread across her heart, as he felt relief. Relief that what all Hilda had told her were all lies to just tarnish her name and to provoke her.
A smile crept up her lips, as she seized her Olivia, her once little daughter had really grown, grown into a charming and beautiful lady, strangely reminding her of her past.
Like Olivia, Lily was very beautiful in her teenage years, giving out an aura of elegance, innocent and pure. If her teenage self was brought to stand besides Olivia, they would be mistaken to be the same person, except for the color of their hair.
“I brought you food, mom,” Olivia’s voice snapped Lily out of her pool of trance.
“Oh” she smiled, shucking off the thoughts that clouded her mind.
Olivia helped her mom to eat, when she was done, they talked for some while, before her mom suddenly asked, “You’re going back to him?”
Olivia nodded slowly, while scanning her face.
“Won’t you sleep with me? It’s been a while”