Chapter 11
1132 Words
When they arrived home, Liam hurried out of the car to get the door for Olivia. Olivia was grateful for his help and smiled at him, "Don't want you thinking I am no gentleman," Liam said.
"I see," Olivia nodded. They walked into the house and Olivia could only find herself getting more nervous with each step, she wondered what Liam wanted to say, and she feared he wouldn't like what she wanted to say either.
As they stepped in, Liam closed the door behind them and headed to the kitchen to pour them both a glass of orange juice. He hurried filled the glasses and handed one to Olivia, "Here you go," he said.
"Thank you," Olivia appreciated, taking the glass from him. She took a sip from it, sitting down in the little dining area in the kitchen.
"So, what I wanted..." They both began, Liam stopped mid-way and chuckled alongside Olivia.
"I am sorry, ladies first," Liam apologized, taking a sip from his juice.
"I believe it will be best if you go first," Olivia replied.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Olivia nodded.
"Very well, from today's meeting, I would have to say your father is a douchebag and I don't mean to offend you by saying that," Liam began.
"I am not offended," Olivia interrupted him.
"So, you do admit that he is a douchebag?" Liam asked.
Olivia let out a small laugh, a hint of tension still in her voice. "Yes, I admit it. He can be very manipulative and controlling."
Liam nodded, his expression serious. "I could see that. It must be exhausting for you to have to deal with that, it's obvious now that he did in fact force you into getting married to Liam Carter."
"Em...yes..." Olivia muttered, she took another sip from her glass nervously.
"And about what he said... about our marriage. I want you to know that I am your friend first and foremost. Whatever his plans or expectations, nothing needs to change between us unless you want it to."
Olivia took a deep breath, relieved by his words but still anxious about the entire situation. "Thank you, Alex. That means a lot to me. Em... But that is what I wanted to discuss with you."
"I am all ears," Liam said.
"I think, we should not proceed with the marriage," Olivia began and she didn't miss the look on Alex's face. "Hear me out, please, what I mean is, I thought about it and I don't want it to seem like I am forcing you into something that you do not want to do."
"Forcing?" Liam chuckled taking a sip from his drink. "If anyone should be having second thoughts, it should be me. I mean, why would a pretty girl like you choose to marry me over Liam Carter."
"I told you he is -"
"You hate him," Liam interrupted her. He didn't want her to say those words, it was enough trouble having to pretend that he was someone else, it was another having to endure listening to her speak ill of him.
Olivia sighed, a bit flustered but also touched by Alex's attempt to lighten the mood. "It's not about hating Liam Carter or choosing someone else. It’s about making choices that are right for me."
Liam put down his glass, his face hardening. "And I am not right for you?" He questioned. She hated Liam so much that she rejected him, and now she is also going to reject the person he was pretending to be.
Olivia quickly shook her head, her eyes widening as she realized how her words might have sounded. "No, Alex, that's not what I meant at all," she hurried to clarify. "You've been nothing but kind and supportive to me. This isn't about you, It's about me needing to make my own decisions, independently of what my father or anyone else wants."
Liam's expression softened slightly, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. "I get it," he said, taking a deep breath to calm the tension. "You need space to figure things out for yourself. That’s completely fair."
Olivia nodded, relieved that he understood. "Exactly. I want to be sure about my life’s decisions, including marriage."
"That makes sense," Liam replied, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "And I respect that, Olivia. I do and that's why I think it would be only fair to ask you properly."
"Ask me what?" Olivia questioned.
"The only way to not have Liam Carter in your life is to marry someone else," Liam reminded her again. "So, it's only right that I protect you," he continued dropping his glass on the table.
He walked over to Olivia, reached into his pocket, brought out a ring, and knelt in front of Olivia.
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise as Liam knelt before her, ring in hand. The gesture was so sudden, so intense, that she felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at him, unsure of how to respond.
"Olivia," Liam began, his voice steady and sincere, "I know this is unexpected, and I don't want to pressure you into anything. This isn't about what your father wants, or what anyone else thinks is right. This is about me wanting to protect you, to give you an option that keeps you safe and free from Liam Carter. Will you marry me?"
Olivia was taken aback by the depth of his proposal. It was true that her only way to stop her father from forcing her to marry Liam Carter instead of Ashley was to marry someone else, but she had hoped not to, especially after the way her father had threatened her.
She didn't want Alex involved in her father's dealing, she didn't want her father to use him to get to Liam Carter. In a way, she wanted to protect him from her father.
She took a moment, looking at Alex—the man who had shown her nothing but kindness.
"Alex," she said softly, "I can't believe this, are you sure about this? I don't think this is a good idea, we could think about another plan. Another way for me not to be with Liam, but I..I.."
"Just say yes," Liam persuaded her. If she rejected him now, on his knees, he would lose it. "It's not like any of this is real, I mean the wedding has to be real but it will be between us that this is just a means to help you," he added seeing the reluctance in her eyes.
After, what felt like a moment of silence, Olivia finally spoke, "Em... Yes..." She stuttered, uncertainty laced in her voice.
"Yes?" Liam smiled reaching for her hand, he placed the ring on her finger and got on his feet to hug her.
- Writer
