Olivia’s POV:
I wasn’t going to let him go without him knowing the whole truth about me.
“I don’t understand,” he whispered.
“Can I please get into your car? It’s a little cold out here,” I said softly while I wiped away my tears.
I no longer cared if he was a killer or a bad person because what I was feeling was driving me insane.
“Please do,” he answered, then gestured to his car.
I walked towards it and went around to get in. I was about to touch the door handle when he quickly grabbed it and opened it for me.
“Get in,” he said softly.
“Thank you,” I answered and then got in.
He closed the door and went around to get in.
Once he was sitting next to me, he closed the door and faced me.
“Now, what was that you were saying?” he asked.
I took a deep breath and released it.
“Jay is not my husband. You see, it all started when my single mother, who was abandoned by my father, got sick. She was a very hardworking woman who worked more than one job, and my sister and I both had our part-time jobs too, but that wasn’t enough to pay back the debt my father had taken from some bad people and the bills that were coming our way. It was so hard for us to make ends meet, but we were happy because we were all together and healthy,” I said sadly, then continued to speak.
“But then my mother got seriously sick and my elder sister had to pick up all her jobs because she was the only one who was a college graduate and I was still in school. She took on the pressure of being our provider and did her best to be the anchor that holds us together. She made sure our mother had the right medication, even if she was overworking herself, and I did my best to help out with food and the water bill. I thought and told myself back then that everything would get better with time, but I was very naive because it never did,” I said as tears filled my eyes.
“A year later, we lost our mother and everything fell apart. My sister took comfort in drinking and sleeping out, while I closed my heart off to anyone and everyone. I studied hard and did my best to get the best grades, while crying myself to sleep whenever I missed my late mother.
Because of my attitude towards my classmates, they began avoiding me, while some began to bully me. I had no way of defending myself against their acts because they were rich students who the teachers favored a lot. It was painful and hard for me to cope. Sadly, I couldn’t tell my sister because I didn’t want to worry her. By then, she was usually with Jay, whom she had met at the club and was sleeping with,” I said, then swallowed hard.
“Jay had a brother who used to go to the same school as me, so he easily found out about the bullying and confronted me. When he told me how he was going to tell my sister, I begged him to keep it to himself, and that made him furious. Although he was upset, he found a way to force his younger brother to protect me, and because of that, we became a little close. When I graduated and began college, Jay and my sister’s relationship became serious, and soon they got married and took me in. There, I began to notice Jay’s interest in me. I was very uncomfortable, and I couldn’t take it, because when my sister got pregnant he began to harass me,” I said, then sniffed when a tear rolled down my cheek.
Alec moved and grabbed my hands in his, moving them to his lips and kissing them gently, as my body instantly relaxed.
“It was so bad to the point of me running away. I began sleeping at my part-time job, and I began hating everyone who would look at me in a friendly way. I felt like everyone was so fake, that’s why I stayed away from them, but that only earned me the nickname Ace. Most students at my college made fun of me because I was not attracted to anyone in any way, while some called me a freak,” I sobbed, then pulled away one of my hands and wiped off my tears.
“My sister had a complicated birth that made me return home. As I looked after her, her condition became worse. She asked me to promise her to take care of her child, Micah, and raise her as my own if she ever died. “At first, I told her how she wouldn’t, but I then ended up promising her each time she asked me. After three years, God took her away from me too, and I was left with nothing. To take care of Micah, I gave up college and took on the role of being her mother,” I said as tears continued to run down my face.
“After a few months, Jay suggested that we become a couple for Micah’s sake. I rejected his idea at first, but he threatened to take Micah away from me, and I caved because she was my only family left. I agreed to be with him, and since then, I have been with him for four years. Micah doesn’t even remember that my late sister was her actual mother,” I sobbed, then tensed when he leaned forward, pulled me into his arms, and easily made me sit on his lap.
“Go on,” he whispered after he had embraced me.
“Although there has never been a day I have ever allowed Jay to have sex with me, there were times he touched me aggressively and forced a kiss on me. Whenever I would become stubborn about certain things, he would threaten me using her, and I would cave. The only time I wouldn’t give in was when he demanded sex,” I said, then frowned when I heard a low growl come from him.
I touched my forehead, then shook my head. I was now imagining things, and my head was beginning to ache.
I dropped my hand and continued with the story.
“I know I’m weak because I can’t leave that little girl with him. It would break her heart, and I would die of guilt. Also, last year, out of nowhere, Jay became so good to me and confessed his love for me. I tried many times, but I can’t bring myself to love him back or accept his feelings,” I said sadly.
“How about you let me help you?” he asked as I shifted and looked at him seriously.
“What?” I asked in a small voice.
“Let me help you,” he said as I frowned.
What did he mean by that?
“I mean, allow me to talk to him. He will give up his right to the child and stay away from you. All you have to do is accept me as your partner,” he said.
How was he so sure of his words? There was no way Jay could give up his right to the child, and there was no way in hell he would let me go. What about his wife? Was he going to be unfaithful to her because of me?
“Are you perhaps doubting me?” he asked seriously.
“Alec, I won’t deny how I feel about you. And the reason I have confessed my feelings to you is because I don’t want to regret not ever doing it when I had a chance to. Jay will never give up his right to Micah no matter what, and you are married,” I pointed out.
“I’m not married to anyone, nor am I dating anyone,” he answered, shocking me.
“What do you mean?” I asked loudly.
“Debby is not my wife; she is my stepbrother’s ex-wife. I felt sorry for her when she told me she had no one to drive her to her new place, that’s why I offered her my help,” he answered.
His story was rather unbelievable, but my heart was in joy that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling widely and believing in his words.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer as I rested my head on his chest.
“Why don’t you give me a chance to prove to you that my words are true?” he asked.
I closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat for a few seconds. It felt like a dream that I was in his arms.
“Olivia,” he called softly.
“My heart already believes in you, Alec. If there really is a way for us to be together, then please do help me. Set me free from that man’s grasp,” I answered.
“Consider it done,” he said and then planted a kiss on my head.