Chapter 91 - Abandoned Kitten (2/2)

”Yes. I saw it by chance. I saw you waking up and fighting with him, Henry. Then I asked Ava to help me sneak you out after I found out from your nurse that you were being held against your will.” Olivia shifted in her seat. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

”Ava? Who's Ava? How about Alexa? Is she alright?” Clasping Olivia's hand, Amelia pleaded, ”Please be nice to her. She's a good and innocent girl. She didn't want to do any of that, but I told her to do it because Henry might harm her.”

Olivia's eyes dilated. She pulled her hand away as if the touch burned her. She didn't like the hint of concern in her mother's voice over a person who drugged her. ”Ava is Oliver's wife and they have a son named Finn. Alexa, on the other hand… I have to marry her off in my stead, but Tristan is a good man. He'll take care of her. There is absolutely nothing that you should be worried about.”

Amelia's hand flew to her mouth. Shocked and lightheaded at the overload of information. ”Really? Oliver has a son? And you? You're supposed to get married? Oh, everything's too much.” Amelia rubbed her forehead. Maybe the drugs in her system haven't worn off?

”I know. You know what? I'll come back in a few days. I just wanted to check if everything's set in here for you.” Olivia abruptly stood up, cutting the conversation.

She hated it. It wasn't what she had imagined. In the past weeks, she always thought of a happy reunion. A mother, jubilant over the discovery of her daughter. And a daughter, hugging her mother for the first time. But none of the countless dreams she had ever happened.

Was it because people like them pay less attention to other people's feelings and focus on their personal interests more? Shouldn't her mother be excited to see her?

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek. Her breathing labored, as heavy as the dead weight in her heart.

Just like Amelia, she had a lot of questions too, like why would Henry lock Amelia up? But what did she expect in their first meeting? She was a stranger even to her mother who didn't even ask how she was all those years and was more concerned about the well-being of a nurse.

”There are nurses and doctors at your disposal. For the meantime, you have to recuperate so we can talk about more important matters. If you want to see Ollie, I can bring him over with me next time when everything is calmer in the Lin Estate. I'm sure they're looking for you. But don't worry. This would be the last place that they will look into.”

”Olivia.” Amelia reached out to her child, but Olivia was elusive, sparing her a small smile before walking out of the study.

Without looking back, Olivia dragged her feet out of the room. Her hands clipped to her sides, her knuckles turned white from the sheer control that she held in for she didn't want to break down in front of her mother in a messy sob.

Time lost is time irretrievably lost.

And Amelia's rather clueless how to engage with Olivia that all she did was sit quietly, watching her daughter's back.

Once she got outside, Olivia curtsied to the queen. ”I apologise for my lack of manners earlier, Your Majesty.”

”Oh, no. You don't have to do that. Just kiss me like a normal auntie.” Queen Isla waved her hand in front of her. She could see how restless Olivia was so the queen tried her best to be as casual as possible.

Looking over the Queen's shoulder, Olivia saw Maxen walking towards them.

”Max.” Olivia clung for life onto the sleeve of his navy suit coat. She tipped her head, exposing her glassy eyes—she was honestly, on the verge of crying. ”Let's go home.”

Maxen whispered something in Olivia's ears, making her smile that reached her eyes. Seeing her in a lighter mood, Maxen glanced to his mother who playfully shooed them away.

With their retreating backs facing her, Queen Isla clutched her c.h.e.s.t, satisfied and overjoyed at witnessing the different side of her son. The side that she knew belonged to only one person—his O Sui.