GOODBYE

CHAPTER FOUR.

GOODBYE.

LILA.

I covered my mouth, my eyes widening in disbelief as I overheard my mother telling my sister to drug my meals so I could lose the baby.

'How could she?' I pondered, going out of breath. I knew she always hated me but I never thought it would be to this extent.

I needed to get out of here. Now and fast, or risk losing my life too. Quietly, I tiptoed away from the corner I was hiding in, in search of Olivia.

She needed to hear this. I dashed to her office, and thankfully, she was in there now, pacing around, her hand under her chin like she was deep in thought.

"Olivia". I called, rushing to hug her immediately. She was taken aback, but wrapped her hands around me regardless, stroking my back tenderly.

How I needed this. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes and I sniffled.

"I am so sorry Lila. It's so heartbreaking to see how cruel these people are to you. Are you alright?" She asked, disengaging from our hug, to cup my face in her hands.

I shook my head sideways, looking into her eyes as I struggled not to cry. 

"What is it? D-did your mum hurt you again?". 

"Worse. She is plotting with Lily to kill my unborn child". Hearing those words come out of my mouth made my chest tighten in pain.

"What the hell? You sure that woman is your real mum?" Olivia yelled, anger blazing through her eyes.

"At this point, I don't know". I muttered, feeling my legs go weak again, so I immediately went to sit on the sofa nearby while trying to catch my breath.

The air around here was just suffocating or perhaps it was the people in it. I just needed to leave.

"God! What do we do now?"

"I am going to run away. I can't stay around anymore knowing my baby is in danger. Who knows perhaps they would try to hurt me next". I blurted out all my feelings without a stop.

Cassie sighed in understanding, folding her arms across her chest.

"And Lucien?" I twisted my expression at her question, my lips trembling.

Cassie knew immediately what had happened and came to hug me again. This time, I didn't hold back the tears. I let them fall quietly.

"I am coming with you". Cassie said, tapping me on my back softly and I moved away from her, arching my eyeballs at her.

"No. I can't let you abandon your job here because of me". I told her and she snorted.

"Oh! Come on. Do you think your parents are going to let me off once they discover their least favorite daughter is missing? Not a chance." Cassie pointed out, and I relaxed, knowing she was right.

"I am sorry. I am dragging you into my mess". My face fell, my hands clutched together tightly on my lap when I felt a sharp slap on my back.

"Ouch". I moaned in pain, throwing her a glare while she just rolled her eyes at me.

"What was that for?" 

"For being silly. How many times have we promised one another to always stick together?" She yelled, her face scrunching up into a frown.

I kept quiet, looking elsewhere but her face.

"Do you think I would let you face this alone? Come on. You are my best friend and I know you will do the same for me".

Hearing her words made me blink repeatedly, the tears threatening to fall. 

Finally, someone didn't abandon me or call me pathetic. Someone stayed, willing to protect me.

"I am sorry". I whispered, dropping a tear and she hugged me again, pecking me on my forehead.

"It's alright, Lila. Don't apologize. You are an angel who deserves the world. Too bad those fools couldn't see that". Olivia commented, disgust obvious in her tone.

Her words melted my heart, making me feel whole again and I laughed. Not one of bitterness, but of happiness.

I wasn't alone. I had my best friend and my unborn baby. I placed my hand on my tummy, which was still flat and showed no signs of any bulge.

'Ready to start a new life?'. I pondered and I think I felt a faint flutter in my tummy, like some kind of sensation.

'Was that?' I wondered but then giggled at myself. Probably not, it was too early.

An hour later.

Olivia and I were at the airport, waiting for our flight to be called. We didn't have time to pack much, especially me, since most of my belongings were back at the Knight's mansion and I couldn't risk going back there.

Olivia stepped aside to make a phone call to her father, to inform him we were on our way. The man, who was like my father as well, was thrilled to take me in.

To think I would be imposing such a burden on them, but I didn't have a choice. I needed to fight and save my innocent baby's life. I was done pleasing everyone. I did that and look where it got me.

My mind drifted to Lucien and my stomach clenched. Was I ready to leave him behind?

Even after he said those terrible, hurtful words to me, I still couldn't bring myself to hate him, I didn't want to. I somehow wished he would come for me.

'Why couldn't he just believe me?'

I took in a deep breath, looking up into the sky when my phone rang. I stiffened, before bringing it out of my bag.

I almost dropped the phone from the shock at whom I saw calling. It was Lucien.

My eyes lit up, my stomach tightening in anticipation as my heart skipped a beat.

'Did he finally realize the truth?' I wondered as I picked up the call hurriedly, afraid to miss this chance.

"Lucien?" I called out cheerfully, but my joy soon turned to sorrow when I realized I had just been fooling myself, he never was going to believe me. He even thought I was sick and needed help.

Once again. Lily was chosen over me. My heart was crushed; it was as if a knife was stuck into my chest.

"Goodbye, Lucien". My voice cracked as I reluctantly ended the call, after whispering the word only we understood. 

Something to jolt his memory. The line went silent, but my heart didn't. Instead, it cried with pain, hurting.

Lucien would figure out the truth and regret his decisions. He would come to find me, that I am sure of and this time, he would feel tenfold of the agony I am feeling.

I cried afterward till our flight was called. Olivia noticed my bad mood and decided to give me space. 

When we got on the plane, I gave a sad smile, dropping the last

tear I would ever shed.

Strangely, I felt a calm wash over me. It was time to move on. For my baby's sake. I wasn't just leaving my pasts behind, I was leaving the old me.

"Itterashi Lucien, and this time, it won't be the Lila you knew". I whispered as we took off into the sky.