Chapter Twenty-fiveThe EscapeSebastian The camera lights flashed at me, sending shivers down my body. Fear consumed me as I remembered the deepest secret of my life and the potential consequences if it were to be exposed to the public. I stood there, paralyzed, wondering who had alerted the reporters. Why were they here? Was this some orchestrated plan to force a confession out of me?I shook my head, retreating back into the police station. Grabbing Olivia's hand, I pulled her along with me and rushed to the officer in charge."Who called the reporters?" I asked, my heart racing, although I tried to hide it."The reporters?" He appeared just as clueless about their sudden presence as I was regarding how they knew about the station where Olivia was held. He shook his head. "I'll have them dismissed immediately, your highness," he added and hurried off.I nodded, acknowledging the authority I held. Wherever I went and whenever I wanted, I could command actions, but I often kept my i
Chapter Twenty-sixThe NannyOliviaSebastian stood there, his gaze shifting from me to Ella, back to me again. The weight of Ella's question hung in the air, and I hoped he wouldn't turn her down, sparing her from disappointment because of me.After everything that had happened, I needed to be around people who could help me push the haunting incident from my thoughts. The more I dwelled on it, the scarier it became. I longed to divert my mind from it, but I couldn't do it alone. I needed help."Dad?" Ella murmured, her concern and curiosity evident in her eyes. "I want to run this race with Olivia. Why won't you let me?"I sensed Sebastian might decline her request, and I didn't want her to be disappointed because of me. Stepping forward, I took Ella's hand. "Yes, I will run the race with you," I stated, cupping her face gently and planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "We'll run this race together, and we'll win. I promise you that." I smiled warmly, pulling her close to me.She pu
Chapter Twenty-sevenThe Race 1OliviaI sat there on the floor, staring at my swollen leg, thoughts racing through my mind. How could I possibly run this race with this twisted and swollen leg?I hung my head in disappointment; I didn't want to let Ella down. I had already promised her that I would run the race with her, and I couldn't back out now. I had to find a solution.I glanced at the other two triplets, who were still laughing and giggling in the corner where they had been hiding. They had no idea of the consequences of their actions.I didn't know what else to do, how to walk on this injured leg to make it better. I needed someone to help me, but I couldn't let anyone know about my injury, especially not Sebastian. He already doubted my abilities, and if he found out about this, he might stop me from participating in the race.So, I kept the pain to myself and managed to make my way to the kitchen. Walking was excruciating; my leg felt heavy and painful. I had to endure the
Chapter Twenty EightThe Race 2Olivia"A murderer like you has no right to be here!" She yelled, glaring at me as I sat on the floor.I shook my head. I couldn't let her accusations reach the authorities; it would mean being disqualified from the race. I gripped the table and used it to support myself as I stood, balancing on one leg. Facing her, I tried to explain, "You seem to be mistaken, ma'am. I am not a murderer, and I have never attempted such a thing. I am...""Like I said earlier, the internet doesn't lie, and I have the full evidence here. I have the video right here. Unless you claim it's fabricated.""I'm not saying it's fabricated; I just want to clarify...""I don't want to hear anything from you!" She cut me off again, grabbing her daughter's hand and pulling her close. "I don't want you near my daughter. You shouldn't be allowed in the school, you're a threat to the children!"I felt a hand grip mine. I turned to see Ella, her eyes filled with questions. These kids we
Chapter Twenty-nineThe Race 3SebastianI watched the argument going on, my blood rustling inside of me.“Let me go!” Ella cried out.Watching my kids cry has been the hardest thing for me, I never want to see them in that condition, never. I wondered who this woman was and what problem she had with Olivia, I had never seen her before.Ella wanted this race, she wanted to run with Olivia, as much as I didn’t want her to do that, I had to allow her because I couldn’t afford to make her sad. But this strange woman wanted to take away her right to run, and she made my daughter cry too.I shook my head, I had to do something, I just couldn’t let them disqualify her, I had to step in.As much as I hated Olivia being referred to as my wife, or the mother of my kids, I didn’t have any other choice than to claim her as mine in the presence of everyone, it was the only way they could make Ella run the race with her.“I knew this was going to happen!” Mia stated, fuming where she was, “she is
Chapter ThirtyThe Strange ManOliviaThe pain seemed to draw me in, pulsing through my veins. I took a quick glance at my ankle, and the soreness and swelling sent shivers down my spine.I tried to touch it, but it stung and was so painful, I held on to my leg, screaming out.The pain was so intense, and my whole limb felt so heavy, it was like an heavy weight had been suspended on my leg. I sat there on the floor, my whole body shaking as pain coursed through it.“Olivia!” Ella cried, her hands around my neck, “I told you not to do this, I told you not to get hurt, now you’re hurt.” She whimpered, “it is all my fault.” She hung her head.I shook my head, but I couldn’t say a word to her. I should have maybe listened to her and not ran the race, I wouldn’t be in this pain if I had done that.I thought I would be able to run the race with her without causing more harm to my already hurt ankle, I thought I could limp and use my other leg, but I had to change my whole plan when I saw th
Chapter Thirty-oneJust The ChildOliviaI just kept staring at him, not knowing what to say to him. Was that really the next thing after the pain I had to go through? Was that what he was thinking after the risk I took just to get his daughter a win.I was still lost in thought when I was jerked back by his loud laugher. He peered at me for minute, not saying a word and making me wonder what was going on in his mind, what he was thinking and planning to do with me.I knew it was another even day, but he could at least give me the chance to pull myself together after the long morning, he shouldn’t force that on me, not when I was still in pain. I just returned his gaze, not looking away from him.He tapped my cheeks, a weird smile on his face, “don’t be scared, I won’t get down with you in this condition.” He chuckled and picked a towel from the hanger before he turned to the door, “call me when you’re done.” He added and headed out of the bathroom.I held out a loud sigh of relief, I
Chapter Thirty-twoThe Birthday EveSebastian I wondered why my parents were here again, but I didn’t want to question them. I knew for sure that they didn’t come over because Olivia was hurt, I was sure it was for a totally different reason, but I didn’t want to ask.“You don’t have to worry, mom.” I said to her, “it wouldn’t affect her, and we will be sure to give you the heir you want.” I assured.That was all they wanted from this marriage, they only wanted her to give them the heir, nothing more. I wasn’t bothered about getting a male child, it wasn’t one of the things I was worried about, I was good and fine with just my kids with me, they were in fact the best kids I could ever ask for, I didn’t want another.My parents insisted that I got married again, that I needed a heir who would carry on the family’s legacy. I knew they were right, but I had always shown disinterest in politics and Royal matters, even though I knew I wouldn’t have any other choice than to take after my f
Chapter One Hundred And ThirteenThe Perfect Family 2Olivia“I am glad to finally meet you, father-in-law,” Sebastian bowed.I had never seen him bow for anyone except his parents.“By the time your survey is done and you’re back on your feet, you’ll have to share a drink with me for taking good care of your daughter.”Dad smiled again; his struggle to speak continued.“We should leave now; I can see that you’re heading out,” Bert said, and I nodded at him. “I will see you when you get back.”“You should keep this with you till we see again.” I handed the box over to him.“But you…”“No but, Bert. Keep it with you. We will also head out now.” I responded and turned away immediately because I knew he might want to argue.We got into the car with the kids and headed for the beach resort, which was only known to him. The kids and I sang along with the song that was playing on the radio, and Sebastian eventually joined us. It was such a happy journey to the beach. When the kids stopped si
Chapter One Hundred And TwelveThe Perfect Family 1OliviaThe chirping of the morning birds woke me up from my quality sleep. I opened my eyes one after the other and lay there on the bed for minutes, remembering how sweet and loving my life has been since the past few days.It’s been over a week since all that happened, and we have watched Sophia getting the deserved punishment for what she did to us; she was sentenced to years in jail. I was glad that I got what I wanted at the end of everything, the perfect and loving family I prayed for.I thought I had already lost the child I gave birth to years ago; I thought I was never going to see him. Still, I never knew that the heavens were preparing something special for me. It was just as if these kids came into Sebastian’s world to secure a place for me before bringing me in. Now, I was with my kids and my loving husband, one who would do anything for me.After the ordeal at the hospital, we never heard from Sara and Mitchie again, an
Chapter One Hundred And ElevenThe Biological MotherOliviaThe distant echoes and cries seemed to call me back from a long sleep. I gasped and jumped up; my head made a loud noise as my eyes were hit with the sunlight.Slowly, I laid back on the bed, trying to remember and understand what had happened. My ears were still so blurry, and I could still hear my name like it was being called from a distance. I could see people staring right at me in the face, fanning me and calling on me, but I couldn’t tell who they were; the blurriness in my eyes wouldn’t let me.I closed my eyes back, trying to chase away the blurriness, and when a hand grabbed mine, the warm touch made me open my eyes again, and I could see clearly now. Sebastian and the kids, they were the ones there.“Thank goodness, thank goodness,” I heard him murmur.“Olivia!” The kids chorused.I couldn’t say anything; I tried to remember it all, how I got here and what happened to me, but it was hard. I closed my eyes back, try
Chapter One Hundred And Ten The Surrogate MotherSebastianI could no longer hold back; I had to see her, I had to see for myself that the doctors were saying the truth because I still couldn’t believe it. I jumped up from the floor and pushed the door to the ward room open. I met one of the nurses there who was trying to cover her up.“Stop!” I yelled and pushed her away. “She’s not dead; she can’t be dead. She is just sleeping; she is just trying to scare me.” I fell beside her and held her hand.The coldness of her head, the now stiff limbs and closed eyes, her pale face and dry lips, the flat and steady tone of the pulse rate monitor, all of that was a testament to my emptiness. She was gone like they said, and I was left to figure myself out.“No! Olivia!” I screamed out, tears gushing down my eyes.I shook my head multiple times, I pinched myself countless times; it couldn’t be true. It was just a terrible nightmare that I could still wake up from.“Please don’t punish me this
Chapter One Hundred And NineSorrows. Prayers.SebastianI shook my head, struggled, and pinched myself. I closed and opened my eyes, blinked several times just to be sure that I wasn’t seeing and making up things, that what I watched was real, that what I heard was the truth, but it was hard.How could Sophia do this to me? I felt more miserable than before, I felt dumb and used. How could I have believed all that she showed me for love? I could remember how she was so persistent, how she kept on asking the pins and passcode of everything I possessed; I thought she was just curious.How could I have been so dumb? I hung my head; I thought I possessed so much authority, I thought I was a man people looked up to, but I was nothing. I was just an empty barrel, someone who would mistake obsession for love, one who could be easily manipulated.I had never felt vulnerable in my entire life, but watching all that, I realized that I had been more than vulnerable; I also played dumb. After I
Chapter One Hundred And EightThe Final HearingOliviaBert had refused to go home the previous night, he stated that he wouldn’t be calm after leaving me all alone. I was glad that he was here, because it wouldn’t have been easy or even the same without him, I was grateful to him.He was always there for me, unlike my stepmom and stepsister, they weren’t even bothered about what was going on in my family, they didn’t even call me once to ask how it was all going. I hope that someday they would realize their mistakes and apologize for it.“Good morning, Vivi.” Bert came out of the room and pulled me into his embrace.I felt so calm and safe with him. Even though Bert was much more younger than me, he had that leading ability and aura that made him feel like an elder brother to me, maybe because of his gender, but he had always been protective and supporting.“How are you?” He asked and I nodded at him. “Are you sure you don’t want to eat anything before we leave? You know you have to
Chapter One Hundred And SevenThe Truth Behind The Night 2OliviaGetting back to the quiet and empty home, I left Edie and Bert standing in the main room and rushed up, not considering my condition.There was no importance of my condition and life is Sebastian wasn’t there, I had grown too fond of him that living without him seemed so impossible, I couldn’t imagine that. After we made up and began to live a happy and fulfilling life, I never imagined staying without him, it never came to me that there might be a time I wouldn’t be able to be with him, I would have planned and thought about how to deal with it.But who would wish bad on themselves? I got to the room and stopped for some minutes, resting on the door as I tried to catch my breath. Even though my life or my baby would be of no importance if Sebastian wasn’t there because he was the one made me, I still had to look after myself and the baby.I knew I would get something that would help him out from there, I knew I would
Chapter One Hundred And SixThe Truth Behind The Night 1Olivia“Sebastian!” I stood up and rushed to him as soon as he was brought into the waiting room.I didn’t know he kept avoiding eyes contact with me throughout the trial, he didn’t even look at me once and that kept tearing my heart apart.“Why did you do that, Olivia?” He asked and I could see the pain and hopelessness in his eyes. “Why did you have them adjourn the case?” He asked.“We did it because of you, we know there is something suspicious about this case and we need to find that.” Attorney Fred said.“He is right, Sebastian, we need to bring you out of here.” I added.“You shouldn’t have done that, Olivia.” He shook his head and took his seat. “It wouldn’t change anything, I will still get the same judgment and sentence.” He shook his head again. “Doing this won’t change my fate, Olivia.”“But we still have to try, you can’t just let you get punished for what you didn’t do.”“I did it.” He said briskly. “I did it all,
Chapter One Hundred And FiveThe First TrialSebastianStepping out of the van and standing in front of the courtroom made my heart raced, it felt like I had seen this before, like I had seen this scene before, just like I saw it all coming but didn’t act well enough to avoid it.I knew there was no other way out now, I would have to face the truth and accept whatever punishment they give to me, because I deserve it all. I stared at my handcuffed hands, this was what I was scared of, this was the reason I tried to stay away from any other woman and even Olivia for those months after our marriage.Now, I was face to face with my fear, I was facing my reality and there was no escape for me. If only I had told everyone the truth about what happened then, if I had told them what happened that night, maybe it would have been easier to get away from this, but now, there was no way out.“Come on.” The cop said and grabbed my hand, dragging me into the courtroom.At the door, we met with Sop