Logan

It was clear to me that Olivia's behavior was not solely due to the pregnancy. Her true nature seemed to be surfacing, and it made me realize that she had forgotten whose house this actually was. Closing the door behind me, I couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration. I hadn't even had the chance to review today's papers, and yet she failed to appreciate the effort I had put into getting the shrimp and crab for her. It seemed like the best course of action would be to keep my distance from her, as her presence threatened to drive me to madness.

With that thought in mind, I changed out of my work attire and prepared to unwind for the night. Checking on any work-related matters seemed impossible at the moment. I reached for the last pill on my prescription and swallowed it with a sip of water. Running my hands through my hair, I felt a slight sense of relief as my nerves began to settle.

These pills had become my personal therapy, allowing me to find some respite in sleep. I had lied to my doctor, claiming that I no longer took them, as he warned me about the potential adverse effects of excessive consumption. Only Amelia knew about my secret. She had once caught me taking the pills, and strangely enough, she always seemed to uncover my hidden truths. Among all my family members, she was the only one I truly trusted.

As I lay in bed, contemplating the predicament I found myself in, thoughts of how to resolve the current problem swirled in my mind. Perhaps bringing Olivia here was a mistake. Maybe I should have provided her with enough money to sustain herself until the baby was born. Did I make the right decision by entering into a marriage agreement with her? Countless unanswered questions plagued my thoughts.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated, jolting me out of my reverie. "What does she want now?" I muttered as I sat up, noticing it was Olivia calling.

Why would someone call in the middle of the night? After hurling insults at me, she expected me to eagerly answer her call. The mention of my former fiancée leaving me at the altar stung, although I knew deep down that my own actions were to blame. I hadn't been a good boyfriend to her, as I was weighed down by numerous personal issues.

The call abruptly ended, only to be followed by another incoming call. "Let's see how persistent you are," I mused, declining the call and switching my phone to silent mode. I tossed it to the other side of the bed, determined not to let Olivia disrupt my peaceful life.

"Good... morning," I greeted, my words trailing off as I caught sight of Olivia serving my family members with the shrimp and crab from the previous night. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. So, because I had mentioned that she would eat it for breakfast, she had decided to share it with everyone. Nevertheless, it didn't change the fact that I was still angry with her.

"Logan, it feels so nice to taste your food after such a long time," my stepmother broke the silence at the dining table.

"You cooked it?" Amelia asked, surprise evident in her voice. I nodded with a slight smile, my eyes shifting towards Olivia, who stood beside Liam, wearing an amused smile on her lips. It was clear that she was enjoying the situation.

"Thank you, Liv," I heard Amelia say, breaking my train of thought. I couldn't help but notice the brief interaction between her and Liam. It seemed they had developed some sort of closeness. But that wasn't my primary concern.

Breakfast commenced, and everyone started eating in earnest. Throughout the meal, I found myself stealing glances at Olivia. She was aware of my gaze but pretended to be focused on her food, her smile betraying her amusement. Suddenly, Sarah's voice echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.

"Jeez, Olivia! Why are you adding salt?" Sarah exclaimed, her words causing a collective pause. Olivia reached for the table salt, seemingly taken aback by the sudden scrutiny.

"I-" Olivia began, but Sarah interrupted her once again. "Why are you eating so much salt, like a pregnant woman?" The weight of Sarah's words felt like a heavy stone dropped onto my chest. Olivia and I exchanged glances, both of us realizing the situation we were now in.

"Come on, Sarah, stop making such tasteless jokes. Why would she be pregnant? Maybe the sauce doesn't suit her taste. Let it go," my stepmother interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"Why don't we focus on enjoying our meal? It's not our place to pry into her personal matters. Please," Scott finally spoke up, breaking the uneasy silence.

With a collective agreement, we resumed our breakfast, attempting to maintain table manners and carry on as if nothing had happened. Yet, my mind remained unsettled. If things continued at this rate, my family might discover the truth before I had a chance to reveal it myself. I knew I had to take action.

When we're done eating, I was the first to excuse myself. "Logan let's go together. My car broke down last night. I'm yet to take it for repair" Scott followed suit. I nodded my head in answer.

"Let me get my phone"

"Logan, can we talk?" she asked, her tone carrying a sense of urgency. I nodded in agreement, and we made our way towards the sitting room, away from prying ears.

"Do you know that Olivia is pregnant?" Her words caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems you were aware. I don't know the full story, but the signs of pregnancy are becoming evident in her body. You may not have noticed, but she's starting to show. When the family eventually discovers this, they won't question her, but rather, they will question you for bringing her here despite knowing about her condition."

"I don't know how you plan to handle this, but you need to consider the reputation of the Nero family," Amelia advised, her concern evident in her voice.

Before I could respond, Scott called out, signaling that it was time to leave. We left the room, and I couldn't shake off Amelia's words from my mind as I returned to my office. My concentration was divided between my work and the looming problem before me. I couldn't blame Amelia for speaking the truth. Her words felt like a sharp wake-up call, a resounding slap across my face. With each passing day, Olivia's pregnancy would become more evident, and it was only a matter of time before my family discovered the truth.

"What should I do?" I whispered to myself, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the situation.

Realizing that staying in my office wouldn't yield any answers, I decided to step out and clear my head. I headed towards the nearest café, seeking solitude and a moment of reflection. I knew I needed to come up with a plan, a solution that would not only protect Olivia and me but also safeguard the reputation of my family.

I lost track of time as I sat in the café, going through multiple cups of coffee, okay, just two cups of coffee but my mind continued to struggle to find a sensible solution. Thoughts of taking Olivia away from my family's house kept recurring, but I questioned whether that would truly solve anything. Speaking to Brian seemed like an unwise choice; it could potentially exacerbate the situation rather than improve it.

Finally, I parked my car in front of Olivia's pet clinic. Perhaps we could find a way forward together. Taking a deep breath, I approached the entrance. Olivia appeared surprised to see me.

"Don't tell me you're here to scold me for what happened this morning," she said as she approached. My gaze shifted to the young girl holding a small dog, who was staring at me intently. "Maybe more than that," I replied.

"I'm here to clarify a few things," I continued, taking a seat on the nearest couch. "Lisa, could you please get us two cups of coffee? One should be black coffee," Olivia instructed the girl.

"I hope the black coffee isn't for me?" I quipped.

"Who else? I don't drink black coffee. Isn't black coffee what billionaire men drink?" Olivia's bitterness seeped into her words.

"Coffee doesn't differentiate. Anyone can enjoy their preferred flavor. I'll go for a sweet one, Lisa. Just moderate sugar," I responded, observing as Lisa disappeared to fulfill our order.

"Seems like someone doesn't own a coffee machine," I remarked.

"Why? Just because I'm here, do you expect everything to be perfect, as it is in your life?" I chuckled at her comment.

"I'm not here to argue, Olivia," I declared.

"Likewise for me."

"I've come to discuss a serious matter. I'll get straight to the point. Amelia spoke to me this morning about you. She asked if I knew you were pregnant."

"What?" Her eyes widened. "Why..."

"That's not important right now. She doesn't know who the father is. Her concern is that your body is starting to show signs of pregnancy. With time, your baby bump will become visible, and our family will inevitably find out."

"What are you suggesting now? Do you want me to leave the house?" Olivia's swift reaction caught me off guard. I hadn't even presented her with a solution yet.

"Listen, Olivia... I understand it's challenging for you. But it's equally challenging for me. Your cravings will intensify, mood swings will occur, and your behavior will change. Your-"

"I understand what you mean. Just get to the point," she interjected sharply, turning her face away.

"Perhaps we could-" Before I could finish my sentence, the door swung open.