Chapter 248 - Impartial Advice (1/2)

For a moment of comfortable silence, the cousins watched the passing view of woodland until they caught sight of children walking in a line with their guardians herding them.

”I never expected that I would one day want a child…” Olivia trailed off. She swallowed when her words seemed to be lodged in her throat.

”That's what all the birth control is for, remember?” Eli added, tugging Olivia's ears as if reminding her of the fact.

She pulled away from Eli and leaned on the seat. She rubbed her fingers on her forehead, smoothening the creases that formed on it.

”Please call me crazy,” Olivia requested.

”Nope. You're always crazy. No need for reiteration. Why? Is something wrong?”

”Yes,” Olivia trailed off.

For an inexplicable reason, Eli didn't seem to be bothered even when Olivia admitted that something was wrong.

”The doctor asked me if I wanted to get a birth control shot just to err on the side of caution. She explained that my hormones will be all over the place, and there were incidents where women get pregnant with rainbow babies right after a miscarriage. She said it will be better to allow myself to heal first just so I won't have another surprise pregnancy.”

”But? You declined?” Eli knew the answer to his question, but he still had to confirm.

When Olivia nodded her head, Eli uttered his impartial advice, ”It's your body. It's your call. But babies and running companies plus being married to a prince might take a toll on you.”

Olivia took a sharp inhale. As always, Eli knew when to hit the nail with a hammer. ”What should I do, Eli? I want everything and now I'm confused if any of it matters.”

Looking at her straight into the eye, Eli uttered the words which Olivia refused to admit for quite some time, ”You know exactly what you want, and which path you want to steer your life, Livi darling. You know which heavy baggage you have to let go of. All you have to do is drop it and never look back.”

Out of all the times that Eli extended his arms for a hug, this time, Olivia took the initiative.

”Can I give you a hug, Eli?” She jutted her bottom lip out.

Eli shook his head and scoffed before lunging to Olivia, squeezing her in a bear hug.

”What am I going to do without you, Eli?” she peered up at him and smiled.

Bopping a finger on her nose, Eli blurted, ”What you're going to do is pick a gown, and get ready for your wedding.”

Olivia scrunched her brows, uncertain if she heard it right. ”My wedding?”

Cold sweat broke on Eli's nape upon realizing that his tongue slipped. Pulling a straight face, Eli did his best to reply casually, ”No, no.” He swatted an imaginary fly. ”I was talking about THE wedding pictorial… for my bridal collection. Oh, shoot. Now you know the theme for my newest collection. Ha-ha! Ha-ha!”

Eli wished his acting looked convincing even though his laughed sounded awkward and forced. Relief sn.a.k.e.d through his veins when Olivia's hand flew to her mouth. Yep. She definitely bought his excuse.

”Oh, Eli! Please don't make it hard for me to pick which one to wear.”