Olivia glared at Austin as she watched him pick up the tiny bottle of mentholated robb from the tiny bag he had gotten from the pharmacy across the street earlier while the soft music playing at the background of the almost empty restaurant tried to soothe her.

Asa's the beginning was playing at the background.

She watched Austin slowly take off the lid and try to reach for her hands.

She slowly pulled them back.

There was no way in hell she was going to let him touch her, not even at the slightest chance. He lowered his gaze to meet hers.

Patience.

He knew this woman in front of him better than anyone else. He exhaled and slowly reached for her hand again, this time, he caught them before she tried to pull them away but she still tried. No matter how hard she pulled, Austin pulled back ten times harder, utill she gave in to him.

She watched him pull her bruised hand close to his side of the table so he could have a good look at it then reached for the robb with his index finger. He scooped a tiny portion from it and massaged her hand gently with it.

"You know, you should not go around hitting objects when you know you'd be the one to get hurt eventually." He said still rubbing her hand gently. His gaze focused on it. "You're easily scarred and you know this but you keep hurting yourself anyway."

Olivia scoffed in disgust and then forcefully pulled her hand away. Austin paused for a second, not bothering to look at her.

"Why do you care?" She asked still glaring at him "Why do you care what happens to me?"

Austin didn't say a word, instead he leaned closer and reached for her hand again. He pulled it back to where he started. Olivia let out an exasperated sigh.

He smiled a bit

"Remember back then at the university, how you used to break your wrist at every table tennis practice and then you'd ask me to help you rub it so it didn't swell?" He asked still rubbing her hand gently.  "Exactly like this."

"I don't have the time for this."

Olivia pulled her hand again and reached for her bag. Austin exhaled. She tried to leave.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out bringing Olivia to an abrupt halt. She didn't bother to look at him. She wanted him to do all the looking even if he had to raise his head to "I'm sorry I stopped visiting. I'm sorry I made you go through all that time in jail alone. I should have done just more than getting you a lawyer that was no good eventually and I'm sorry for turning my back on you the one time you really needed me Olivia." Olivia exhaled.

"Trust me when I say there was no day for the past six years I didn't wish to take it all back. That I didn't wish I had stayed by your side but I was scared. I was scared you'd hate me for what mother put you through, for what she took from you. "

He paused for a second and then exhaled.

"Olly, I understand if you'd want to hate me forever, I can take it but what I can't take is you not saying anything to me so please say something, vent your anger if you'd want, you can hit me if it'd make you feel better just please-" He Shit his eyes for a short while "Just talk to me."

Three seconds.
Olivia tried so hard to ignore him. She wanted to just leave him right there, to walk away but it only took her three seconds to exhale and slowly turn back.

She looked at him.
She knew she couldn't stay angry at this man in front of her for so long. It never really worked out in her favor.

"You were the one weren't you?" She asked him "You were the one sending me all those pictures of my daughter on all her birthdays weren't you?"

Austin pursed his lips. He didn't have to answer. Olivia already knew the answer. She rolled her eyes and slowly walked back to the table. She went back to sitting.

"How is she?" She knew he was the one, her only link to ever be reunited with her daughter again. Her hands were shaking already. "I saw her in court the other day, she's so beautiful. She's beautiful isn't she?"
Austin nodded.

"She looks just like you. She's really smart and kind hearted. She loves to sing and loves to play a few instruments like the piano."

A soft smile spread across Olivia's face just as Austin drew closer to her

"She also has interest in table tennis." He told her "Just like you and always makes me cut out pictures of Serena Williams from every sport magazines we find. Olivia let out a tiny laugh clouded with a few sniffs.

She was trying so hard to hide her excitement but she just couldn't.

"She does?" Olivia asked as tiny tears became evident in her eyes. Austin nodded "That's beautiful." She chuckled. "She is really amazing "

"Grace."

Olivia blinked at Austin . He smiled a little bit.

"Her name is Grace."

Olivia let out a loud sob as all those tears came falling down. She could feel her heart break into tiny pieces at the sound of her daughter's name that she couldn't stop herself from crying so hard.

It was her first time. Her first time in six years since she ever heard so much about her daughter much more, her name.

Austin exhaled as he slowly reached for his handkerchief. He stretched it to her and she slowly took it. He watched her wipe her eyes with it, taking her time.

"I'm really sorry." She sniffed trying to get a hold of herself. "This is just an emotional subject for me." Her voice broke as she kept cleaning, raising her eyes so she could clean every drop of tears lingering in it.

She sighed loudly

"God, this is really embarrassing."

"You don't have to apologize for anything." Austin told her. "You have every right to feel the way you're feeling right now."

She exhaled and quickly reached for his hands. Her hands were shaking so badly, she squeezed them. Austin looked at their joined hands and then looked at her, surprise evident in his face as he wondered why she was gripping them so hard and earnestly.

"How is she?" Olivia's eyes were piercing into his "Does she eat well? Is she healthy? What about school? How is her school life like? What school does she attend? Does she have friends?"

Olivia drew a deep breath. She knew she was asking too much questions but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to know everything there was to know about her child but those weren't the most important questions. She sniffed. She knew her next choice of words were going to be a bit rude but she knew she had to ask anyway.

"Is she having a hard time at the mansion?" She asked him. "Are the maids and other workers nice to her? Is Victoria nice to her? Is she happy?"

Austin exhaled

"Olivia-"

Olivia shut her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath

"Please Austin." She said opening them again just so she could look in his eyes. "She's my daughter and I need to know she's okay. You wanted my forgiveness didn't you?"

Austin exhaled

"Please tell me what I need to know, honestly and that's it, I'd forgive you." She squeezed his hands. Austin looked at them. He turned back to her, his frown worsening. "Please I need to know."
Her hands were shaking. She was really desperate.

"Huh?"
And persistent. He was trying so hard to say something but the right words couldn't just come out.  He knew he didn't have to. Olivia could read right through him, she had always been able to.

She let out an exasperated sigh, slowly letting go of his hand.

"What happened to Andrew really hurt Mum a lot." Austin started. "And sometimes she'd just want to cool off and take it out on anyone at all."

"B-But, " Olivia stammered "She's just a child." Her voice was breaking like she was going to cry again. "She didn't do anything wrong. None of this is her fault."

"Hey, hey." Austin got up from his seat quickly and walked away from it towards Olivia's. He stopped in front of her and squatted right there,

"I know that." Austin quickly reached for her hands "Hey," he demanded for her attention "Look at me." He told her. Olivia slowly raised her gaze to meet his. She was almost in tears. "Look at me." He repeated reaching for her other hand.

She drew a sharp breath.

"You and Grace mean the world to me. I know I let you down in the past and you might not believe me when I say this but I'd rather die than let any of you get hurt."

Olivia scoffed. She looked away

"Look at me." He repeated. She slowly drew her gaze back to him as a tear drop fell from her eyes

"I'm never going to let anyone hurt you or Grace. I swear it to you."

"I want her Austin." Olivia finally said "I can't take it. I can't let her stay there anymore. I can't let Victoria abuse her and hurt her like she did to me. She's my child."

"I know."

"Help me please. Help me get her back."

"I know." He leaned closer to her, squeezing her hands. "I know and I promise you, you'd be reunited with her again. You'd get to be with her soon but right now, I need you to trust me. "

Olivia sniffed. She was really doing a lot trying to stop herself from breaking down in tears

"The moment mum thinks you're trying to get Grace back, she's going to do everything in her power to stop you and that includes sending Grace away to a location we might not know about. You know Mum isn't scared of the law so don't file for sole custody either. Just trust me and I promise you, I'd bring Grace to you soon."

Olivia exhaled.
She couldn't anymore. She was so hurt and her heart was in a lot of pain. She just wanted to let it out and Austin could see that.

"Come here." He pulled her close and hugged her tightly.

Was it okay? She wondered. Was it really okay to trust this man and cry in front of him?
Olivia thought in her head but she was too busy trying to get her mind together to think of anything else. She slowly reached for his jacket and then held on tight to it without even knowing it. She buried her face in his shoulders and started to cry so hard.

She was going to let it out now to her heart's content to the first man she had ever cried to, the first man she had ever trusted. To the first man she had ever loved and she knew it was okay. It had to be.

"I've got you."

He whispered into her hair as he patted it. He was going to let her take her time. He knew she needed it.

"I've got you."