Chapter 5: The Proposal

She couldn’t tell Rachel what happened with her brother at the party because she did not know how Rachel would react and she had concluded that it was a mistake.

However, she can only trust Rachel regardless of anything she might say or do. She thought about it for an hour alone in her room before deciding to tell Rachel and despite her apprehension and fear of how she would respond, she dialed her number.

“Hey Olivia, what's up?” Rachel answered cheerfully.

“Hello, Rachel, I…..I have something to tell you,” Olivia grunted into the phone with a shaking voice.

"Are you alright, You seem disturbed. I'll be there in ten." Rachel assured her.

Rachel arrived at Olivia's place early, just as she had promised, she met Olivia crying, and she rushed down to Olivia's side, wrapping her in a comforting hug. “What's wrong Olivia, what happened,” she asked.

Olivia took a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, and wiped her tears. “I think I'm pregnant, Rachel.”

“Are you sure? Have you done a test to confirm?” Rachel asked curiously as Olivia's words hit her so hard that she grasped and covered her mouth in shock.

She shook her head to confirm that it was true and explained everything that happened that day at the party and afterward to Rachel. 

“Oh my God, Olivia,” Rachel said, still shocked by the news.

Rachel couldn't say anything about Olivia having an affair with her brother since she knows everything about her recent experiences. It’s their choice, though, it’s their life.

Olivia nodded, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Yes, I took a test this morning. It's positive.” 

“What will I do Rachel, how will I bear this responsibility, what about my school, my career, my family? I can't even take care of myself, how am I going to raise a child?” 

Rachel sat Olivia down on the bed and clasped her hands together. “You won't go through this alone; We're in this together, We'll figure it out together, you won't go through this all alone.”

"But what about Felix?" Olivia asked, her 

voice trembling. “He deserves to know.”

Rachel gave her his brother's contact and assured Olivia of her support on any decision she made.

The next few days were a blur of doubt and fear; she would have quiet, depressing moments and then random outbursts of hope, each emotion vying for dominance inside her weak heart.

                     **********

Felix was living in a different world from Olivia's turmoil, he is navigating his own storm of responsibilities and expectations. 

The burden of his family's legacy hovered over him, influencing every choice he made. His father, Mr James Walton, has been hounding him to get a wife and a grandchild to secure his inheritance and improve his chances against their competitors in business dealings. 

Getting married will make him more accountable to their business partners and increase their chances of winning more contracts, but Felix keeps putting it off. 

12:45 pm at Felix's office 

Felix was sitting in his office, deep in thought following a brief meeting with the finance department, when his phone beeped. It was an unknown number.

He picked up his phone and opened the message to see what it was about and who sent it. The message reads;

“Hello Felix, this is Olivia, Rachel's friend. I'd like us to meet so we can talk, I think I might be pregnant”

Felix was shocked to read Olivia's message; he had no idea that their evening together could result in pregnancy. 

After about two hours of deliberation over Olivia's pregnancy, he reached a decision. 

He thought to himself, “So far, he needed a wife to secure his inheritance; he will seize the opportunity and marry Olivia regardless of what happens, and Olivia is a good match for what he needs, she's beautiful, will be submissive and she’s also already pregnant.”

He contacted his lawyer and instructed him to draft a contract for him, then texted Olivia, asking her to meet him at Ollyx Hospital by 2 p.m. the next day.

                    **************

It was a bright and sunny afternoon in front of Ollyx Hospital. They both got to the hospital at the time they agreed to meet and after confirming Olivia's pregnancy, Felix and Olivia left the hospital together as he asked her to follow him to a nearby cafe.

Once they were seated at the cafe, Felix looked into her eyes and could tell by the expression on her face that she was scared and exhausted.

Felix was silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“Marry me, Olivia,” Felix said to her, his expression stern and commanding.

“What?” The statement was so unexpected that she choked on the water in her hand. Water dripped down from her chin as she coughed and sputtered. She tried breathing while tears filled her eyes.

“What did you just say?” She asked hoarsely once she recovered. Surely she had misheard him. There was no way he could have said what she thought he said. 

“Married? Just like that? You can't be serious!” she shook her head in disbelief. Her mind raced, grappling with the suddenness of his declaration

“You heard me,” he replied simply. He looked at her calmly, unfazed by her reaction. 

“Didn't you seduce and sleep with me just to be with me? Marry me. And let's get this problem over with.”

“What? I didn't seduce or sleep with you so I could get pregnant, it just happened.” Olivia's eyes widened again; she felt like she was on a roller coaster today.

“Why did you run away then, if you didn't seduce me?” 

“It's a one-night stand, besides I was drunk and ashamed”

“No need to be ashamed. It’s a contract marriage, so there will be rules. I will get a wife and a grandchild for my parents, and you will get money to pay off your family's debt and be free from your Dad. We'll go our separate ways after 5 years.” 

A marriage, and with her?! She thought to herself.

“Just wow.” she muttered out.

Olivia knew it was a good idea since she needed a way out of her father's grasp, but she was still shocked, he was a total stranger to her and marriage wasn't what she'd prepared or planned for just yet.

How could she think of getting married to him when she knew nothing about him? They are from two different worlds, and she was like a child who had grown up from the ruins.

"Is he really serious right now?" she muttered to herself as she's still shocked at his declaration.

All she wanted was a way out of all her struggles. She never imagined that just one night could lead to this. 

“But then again, it could be a way out of all my problems.” she whispered silently.

She never imagined being pregnant and being married to Felix Walton after what happened that night.

Alright, Olivia thought to herself, "I will. After all, it’s a contract marriage, and I have no expectations. All I need is money to save my family and be free from my dad."

"I will sign the contract," she said to Felix, her expression still heavy.

She took the papers, hesitated for a while, and then signed the contract before she started thinking otherwise. 

Felix promised to send his driver to pick her up by 6 p.m. the following day after they both signed their contracts and confirmed their destinations.

********