Chapter 170 - Lemonades (1/2)
Since it was a hospital bathroom, one can easily unlock the door on the other side for security purposes. That was why when Olivia took longer than she should be inside, Maxen had an inkling that she was taking her time, grieving alone, which didn't sit well on him.
If she wanted to grieve, they would grieve together. Gone were the days and nights that Olivia would bottle up her emotions, because moving forward, she had him for all eternity.
Worry painted Maxen's face the second he entered the bathroom. ”Baby,” his voice was almost a whisper. He cocooned her in his arms, her tears soaked his shirt but it didn't bother him.
”I'm sorry it's my fault. I wasn't careful. I'm sorry I lost our baby,” she wailed, covering her face with both of her hands. Her shoulders shook as she let her emotions course through the veins in her body.
Maxen's lips pursed into a thin line. He arched his back and tipped Olivia's chin so they could meet eye to eye. He wanted her to see the sincerity in his eyes as he said, ”It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault. Things like this unfortunately happen, and it happened to us.” He wiped the tears on her face, planting a kiss on each of her eyes. ”Stop blaming yourself, okay?”
”I can't help it. I thought I was fine last night but when I woke up I just felt empty.” Tears overflowed Olivia's eyes, streaming down her face. ”Why do bad things keep happening to me? Am I a bad person? Is that it? I don't understand, Max.” She shook her head and sniffled.
Maxen hugged her, squeezing her tightly until he loosened it up a bit when she punched his flexed biceps.
”What the heck are you doing, Max?”
”I'm making lemonade out of you,” Maxen replied, squeezing Olivia one more time until she was laughing in his arms. ”They said when life gives you lemon…”
”Make lemonade,” they said in unison, squeezing each other.
Maxen smiled. ”And… since your name is Olivia Lin, and you love making profits out of an opportunity, you will make a lemonade stand and sell it for $100 a cup because your lemonade was personally squeezed by a prince.”
”See? I told you I'm a bad person.” Olivia's lips quivered. Who sells a hundred-dollar cup of lemonade? Her, of course!
”What? No… I'm not done talking yet. Listen, baby. Aaaand, the earnings from that lemonade stand would be for the benefit of an animal shelter. See? To others, you may look like you loved making money but I know you and see you by your heart of gold. Deep inside, you love sharing what you have.”
”Am I?” Olivia tilted her head to the side—unconvinced.
”Yes, you are. What made you say that you're a bad person?”
”Because I stole the bells. This is my karma.” Olivia looked up the ceiling. She did not want to cry again. Her eyes felt dry and it stung from too much crying.
”You won't steal those if she didn't give you any reason to hate it.��
”But I stole it months later.”
”Oh my goodness. This conversation won't end, would it?”
”I don't know either.” Olivia shrugged.
Directing his gaze on her, Maxen kneaded her waist, rubbing the tip of his nose on hers. The movement made their eyes briefly closed for a second.
He planted his lips on hers—taking her breath away, pacifying her for the meantime from thinking too much. His kiss was gentle, sweet, and warm enough that it calmed down Olivia's inner turmoil.
”Let's go. Jack brought your favorite celery and peanut butter dip.”
Soon, the two were back on the makeshift dining table after Olivia washed her face, eating their spread of breakfast from the Highland's kitchen.
To their surprise, Olivia got a fresh coconut juice, unlike Maxen who received his daily supply.
”She must have seen your face yesterday,” Maxen snorted, downing his glass of green slush. Why else would Queen Isla send a different drink that morning?
”Or… she was told that coconut water is good for rehydration.” She raised her brows on Maxen.
”I'm done,” Olivia announced, wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin. She outstretched her arms, grinning at Maxen.