Olivia North

I looked at the clock in horror when I saw that it's only 2:30 in the afternoon. Today feels like the time's slowing down, I have done everything that was in need of my attention but it seems that time is running so slow today. Not to mention that I only had 2 hours of sleep last night because of someone. I looked at the trash bin in my office and saw the bouquet of roses he sent me along with a card that says:

I'm really sorry, Olivia. I hope you give me a chance to prove myself to you. I love you.

Niccolo Knights

For months I tried to bury everything that concerns him, my feelings, my laughs, my smile, and my trust. Why did it concerns him, you ask? It's because he's the first person I trusted that easily and gave my heart to him because I thought that he's different from all the people but then he turned out he's one of them.

When I saw him in Dubai, I didn't know what to do especially when he touched me. The feelings I buried resurfaced, thankfully I immediately composed myself and got out of his hold. If that simple gesture made all the memories and feelings back, I don't think I can control myself if he did more than that, I thought. That's why when I arrived at my apartment that day, I drowned myself in alcohol and let myself remember what I promised to myself, that I will never ever be soft again when it comes to him.

But last night, when he apologized, explained everything, and hugged me, I almost got lost in his touches. Fortunately, I quickly realized what I was going to do when he mentioned Rebecca's name. Seriously? He only believed me because he saw the footage of the fight? Are my words were really not enough for him? This just shows how he didn't trust me.

Now why did I call him Mr. Knights last night? Because if I called him Nick or Niccolo, I believe that my hard persona will just vanish in an instant.

And he said he loves me. If he truly loves me, why didn't he believe and trust me? He chose to listen to everyone except me, hell he didn't even ask for my explanation regarding who Adolph is.

Now he had the nerve to give me a bouquet of roses, did he think that I will be swayed by that? Maybe in the past but now no, I already made up my mind that I won't associate myself to him anymore. I'm done with him. But Dylan, my baby... I miss him so much, there are no days I don't look at his pictures.

I wonder if he's missing me also or if he's eating properly, if he's running around playfully, if Maria's been checking his back when he's on full mode playing. I miss snuggling him whenever I feel like it. I remember he used to run around here in my office whenever he's here to spend time with me. His leggos, color blocks, and toy cars are actually still here.

Then I felt the familiar longing I've been feeling these past months and I just want to cry. A lone tear fell from my eye and I quickly wiped it. I don't want anyone to see me like this especially Zac and Dad that's why I never told them what happened between me and Nick. Only Jowee and Erin knew about what happened.

I jumped from my sit when my office door was bursted open by my brother. I can see that he's writhing in anger and he went straight at me and made me stand up by holding both of my arms.

"What did he do to you? Please don't tell me you forgave him? Fuck! How did he get past my security?" He asked me and I was confused on what he's asking me. Don't tell me it's about Niccolo?

I removed Zac's hands harshly and spoke.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him to check if what I was thinking was correct.

"Niccolo. Did he do something to you? I've been tracking that bastard for a couple months now so that he won't get to you but he managed to slip away from my guard. That fucking basta---" I slapped him hard on his cheeks and that made him looked at me with shock on his face.

"You knew?! Stop meddling in my life!!!" I shouted at him and his eyes got darker when he realized what happened.

"Of course I knew! Ever since I knew that his Nana insulted you, I let my men watch over you. I knew everything what's going on with you, Olivia." I slapped him again and that's when he gripped my wrist and anger was really now evident in his eyes.

"What the fuck, Olivia?! I swear to God if you---" He shouted and I wriggled my hand from his hold and spoke.

"Stop meddling in my life, Zachary! This is the last time I let you and dad meddle in my life! I gave you everything you wanted, I accepted a job from this goddamned company, I did everything you want me to do, I attended your meetings, and I fucking agreed to marry Niccolo! Then what did I get in return? Huh?! I got hurt, I got my heart crushed by someone you thought that was good for me." Tears were now streaming down on my face.

"I was completely okay with what my life was heading, I got my charities to run and yet you and dad decided to meddle in my life. You thought that everything that you did to me was good for me but no. Did you know how much it hurts? No! You don't, right?" I hit Zac's chest to transfer all of my pent up anger but he just hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry Olivia. I'm so sorry." He said but I still kept hitting him until I ran out of energy. He was hugging me for a minute when I spoke in a small tone.

"Leave me alone, Zac. Tell your security to leave me alone now or else I will resign and will remove the North surname on my name. That way you and dad won't have any control over me." I warned him and he just stood there frozen.

"Don't you dare not heed on my order because you know very well that I can do that." I added before I took my purse and went out of the building.

I took the private lift towards the parking lot of the building, I was in no mood to see other people especially I was filled with unwanted feelings today.

I sighed and mentally scolded myself that I shouldn't have come back here. And I should've flew back to Dubai last night.

When I parked my car in my private parking lot of my apartment building, I immediately saw the car that I was going to gift to Nick on his birthday. I scoffed when I remembered how much stress that car gave me, from being enlisted, to finalizing all the necessary documents, to its shipping, and most of all, to the being accused of being a cheater.

I went to the car and caressed it's hood.

I don't think I can give you to your rightful owner. He hurt me, you know, but then he told me that he loves that's why he had done what he did. If he truly loves me then why he had hurt me? He didn't trust me you know... So should I trust him? No, right? I shouldn't trust and believe everything he's saying because if I did again, he will hurt me again. Right?

I scoffed to myself when I realized I was talking to a car. Then my phone rang and saw that dad was calling me. I didn't want to answer the phone vecause I know that Zac already told him, so I texted him instead so that he won't get worried about me.

Dad, please don't call me for the time being. I want to be alone. Don't worry, I am fine, just please don't let me be followed. Tell it to Zac or else I will really do what I said to him. Take care of yourself and don't forget to drink your medicines, okay.

I love you.

Livy

I sent the text to dad and I know that he will respect my privacy. As I arrived at my floor, I saw Niccolo leaning on to the wall while his eyes were close. I quietly went turned around to walk to the elevator but his opened immediately as if sensing me.

I saw worry in his eyes and I quickly cleared my emotions away and headed towards my door with the intention of ignoring him but being a stubborn human being he is, he held my face with both of his hands and faced me to him.

"Baby, what happened? Are you alright? Were you hurt?" He asked me while scanning my face and whole body to check if I was hurt.

I looked into his eyes and mentally answered him. Yes, Nick, I am hurt not physically but emotionally and you're the one who did it.

I wanted to shout it to him but I couldn't because I know I will cry if I do that. So I stayed still and emotionless and removed his hands away from my cheeks.

"I told you to not touch me. Now go away!" I said and was going to unlock my door using my biometrics when he hugged me from behind.

I was so startled and it rendered me speechless for a second because the familiar heat and desire came rushing in.

"Olivia, please give me another chance to rectify my mistakes. I know you're still mad and you have every right to be but please please give me another chance. I promise to you that I won't do it again." He pleaded and I turned around to face him. Wrong move.

I shouldn't have done that because we were now an inch apart from each other. I can feel his heart beat beating rapidly, his sandalwood scent that always makes me feel calm, and I can see his face that I so wanted to touch since the day I saw him in Dubai.

But he hurt me, and that was the best restraint I have to control my urges to this man. So I showed him that I was not affected in our close proximity.

"I told you, I am not mad at you, Mr. Knights. I am mad at myself, for letting you see through me, for believing that you're different from other people. I trusted you with all my heart and showed you who I truly am but what did you do? You showed me that you're no different from other people, hell you are way more different than them." I said to him while removing his arms around me.

He let me and I saw regret in his eyes as well as sadness.

"You thought that I was only acting so that I won't lose the privileges that my father stripped me off when I didn't agree to marry you. What I showed you was all true and you of all people Mr. Knights experienced that if I didn't like what I was doing I won't force myself. But you didn't think of that, instead you judged me and accused me of cheating on you. That's why I am mad myself for being so stupid." I told him calmly and I was proud of myself to not broke down and choke when I was telling what I have been feeling.

And it was true, I really was mad at myself because if I didn't trust him that easily, I was not this hurt and broken. I did this to myself, I was to blame for everything.

He just stood in front of me and I couldn't comprehend what he's thinking about but he looked so regretful. So I opened my door to enter my unit but he held my arm once again to halt me.

"I am so sorry, Olivia. I was blinded by my anger when I heard from you that you were only being nice to me because eventually we'll be a family."

What? What was he talking about? When did I say those? And to whom?

I already slightly furrowed my brows and tried to think of when did I say that? But then he spoke and clarified what he just told while still holding my arm.

"Remember the night when we were about to have a dinner date but I cancelled due to the extension of my meeting?" He paused for a while to let me think and I remembered that was when I was so excited because I heard him telling Cassandra that he loves me.

"I lied. There was no meeting. I was actually an hour early and Belle let me in telling me that you're getting ready with Jowee and Erin. I waited in your living room and when I heard a scream, I went to your room and heard what you were talking about." He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. You can see the hurt in his face and I know that he's having an internal battle with himself whether he's going to tell it to me or not.

Then after a second or so, he spoke again.

"I heard that you're telling Jowee and Erin that you're only being nice to us because we'll eventually get married and you promised Tony. Then I heard Jowee told you that she's thankful that her father didn't set her up with a complete stranger. You see, Olivia, that was the night I planned to confess my love for you. I was so nervous that you won't accept my feelings that's why when I heard it, it was like a bucket of ice cold water was thrown at me."

He finished his story and I swear I wanted to hit his head with something hard, maybe I can use the decorative vase down the hall.

He long did he eavesdrop? He chose to hear what his brain unconsciously wanted to hear. If he just stayed longer and properly eavesdropped then he would have known what we were talking about. How stupid he was?

"We were talking about your Nana and Rebecca, Mr. Knights. They asked me why I was being kind to them even when they were being rude to me. But then I told them that I was only doing that because Mrs. Knights is your family and while she's still being fond of Rebecca, I will act as if I was not affected by her actions towards me." His eyes widened when he learned the truth.

Yeah, Niccolo suck it up, you moron.

"Fucking shit! Alex's right, I should've mustered up the courage to confirm it to you. Shit! That way I didn't become a dick to you and ignored you for weeks." He let out a curse in a strained voice and ran a hand on his face. On the other hand, I spoke again while wriggling my arm away from his hold.

"I'm actually happy that it happened, it showed how you really perceived me as." I told him harshly, he lowered his head in shame and I took it as an opportunity to quickly open my door and enter.

But he's quicker than me, he engulfed me in a hug again which made me, for the second time, speechless. I tried to get out for his embrace but he held me tightly.

"If only I could turn back time, baby. Please give me another chance. I promise I will correct my mistakes, just please accept me again. Please."

I tried to push him away but he really was stronger than me.

"I gave you enough chance already, Mr. Knights, but you wasted it all away. I was actually willing to forgive you that day but what did you do? You accused me of cheating because of the pictures sent to you." I can feel the tears that was threatening to fall down from my eyes.

No no no... I won't cry. I'm stronger than this. I said to myself that's why I blinked it all away.

I can still feel the pricking on my heart since the day he told me that I was cheating on him. It hurts you know.

He released me from the hug and when he looked at me, he panicked and wiped away a tear that I didn't know escaped from my eye.

I pushed him away so that he won't see me in this state but he just hugged me again. The tears were now uncontrollably streaming down on my face.

"I hate you, you know. You're the only one who made me feel like this. I gave to you my heart knowing that you will take care of it but what did you do? You crushed it and threw it back to me. I gave my all to you." I cried and pulled myself away from his hold and looked him directly in his eye.

"And now I'm taking it all back. We're back to strangers, Mr. Knights. I hope you respect my decision and please don't bother me anymore." I said and wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

"No, Olivia. I will do everything to get you back even if it means I need to risk my life, then I would gladly do it. I love you. I love you so much."

I could see it in his eyes that he was sincere and very serious. I don't think I can forgive you, you hurt me so bad. The one that I detested the most was that you didn't trust and believed me. It hurts more than anything, it crushed my heart into million pieces.

"Go home." I told him and entered my apartment but he held the door and spoke.

"You are my home and I will make sure that we'll get back together again, just like before. I love you, Olivia. I always have and always will." And with that he took two steps back from my door and I shut it at him. 

I leaned back on my door and closed my eyes. Niccolo, I love you too, but it's not enough for us to get back together. Love is not enough because I don't trust you anymore with my heart.

That's why I decided to permanently live in Dubai so that I am away from everything and everyone. I will mend my broken heart and will restart my life there. When I get there, I will draft all the necessary documents in transferring there.

This time, I will lead my own life. No one will dictate me what to do or what not to do.

Hello loves,

I'm sorry if I was a bit MIA these past few days. I was so caught up with my work and I barely had time to take time to draft this chapter. I tried to draft this on thursday night but I slept while doing so. Hahah.

Anyway, did you like this chapter? If you did, please give it a vote. 🙏

Thank you.

xo
kimmypatata