Olivia Sparks

Dragging her feet inside Amelia's room, Olivia tried her best to avoid eye contact with her mother at all cost. So she quickly scanned the room and found a spot for herself away from her mother and brother. Sitting on an accent chair beside the floor to ceiling window, Olivia trained her eyes beyond the glass, enjoying the view of serene turquoise sea waters that glistened under the bright sun from afar.  However, her momentary engrossment was cut short when Oliver cleared his throat, and tipped his head towards their mother who was sitting on the bed, with her head leaning on the tufted headboard. "Oh," Olivia straightened in her seat, swiping her hands on her t.h.i.g.hs and flashing a small smile to Amelia and Ollie. "I believe you have something important to say to us."  "Ollie. Olivia," Amelia trailed off, snapping her head between the siblings, gauging their reactions. "I have decided to return to the Lin Estate next week."  Her gaze lingered at Olivia for a split second before guilt consumed her so she looked away from her daughter. "Are you kidding me?" Olivia shifted in her seat, locking her ankles as she propped her elbow on the armrest. She tried to keep her voice from raising one octave higher but failed. Her c.h.e.s.t rise and fell as anger brewed in the pit of her stomach. "After all I did to get you out of that hell hole, are you telling me that you want to go back and suffer once more? Are you out of your mind? Is this your idea, Ollie?"  When Olivia c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at Oliver, who stood silently on the sidelines, he scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "It's our mother's choice, Livi. And we have to respect that." "Bullshit," she cursed, the word crisp and sharp, it cut and split Amelia's heart into half. "Livi," Oliver mouthed her name. "Please mind your manners. Here in Nisia, we respect our elders and their wishes so when in Rome, do what the Romans do. Do you understand?" "I don't understand because I refuse to. So excuse me if you're offended with my manners," she air quoted the last word. "I don't think that's the best decision for our mother. She was drugged and locked up for years! And you're siding up to her wishes of going back to the very man who took away her life and liberty and stole her years from her children?" "Livi," Oliver called out to her again, his voice full of warning. This sister of his needs to learn a lesson about familial hierarchy. "We have to respect our mother's decision." Olivia exhaled through her nose, her eyes closed as she felt and heard the crackling sound from her tensed neck muscles. "So she goes back to her husband's arms and he drugs her again, sleeping for god knows how many years like a freaking Disney princess? Is that what you want, Mother? Ollie?" Amelia wrung the duvet under her fingers. She looked Olivia in the eye and spoke, "Your father won't hurt me again. It was my fault. I went to Sebastian and told him about your father's dealings. He was just mad at me after betraying his trust. But... after losing me for a week, I know he's a changed man and realized he did something wrong." "Ollie, Ollie, Ollie." Olivia put her hands together in prayer, massaging her forehead with the tips of her fingers. "You heard what she said? If you're going to ask me, I suggest that our mother here should stay a week more in this property so all the drugs that Henry fed her would wear off. Maybe in a week's time, her screws would not be as loose as it is this afternoon. Hmm?" Pursing her lips, Olivia waited for Oliver's verdict. She could see how he tried to come up with a better solution than sending their mother back to the Lin Estate. However, just as Ollie opened his mouth to say something, Amelia grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Please bring me home, Ollie." "F.u.c.k," Ollie mouthed. He cast Olivia a sidelong glance and she knew the betrayal that would hit her like a speeding train. "I'll have someone pick-up our mother in two days time." "Then why am I here for?" Olivia stood up and tried not to trip for her legs seemed to turn into jelly from her anger and frustration. She was a few steps away from the door when Amelia called her, halting her steps.  "Ollie, can you leave me alone with Olivia?" Amelia squeezed Ollie's hands, a pursed smile painted her sprightly face. Gently patting his mother's hand, Ollie narrowed his eyes on Olivia as if telling her to take it easy on their mother. He knew how Olivia wouldn't hold her tongue back. That girl's mouth was a machine gun. Proving his notion about her was right about her being stubborn, Olivia crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t and looked away, ignoring Oliver's thought transference. In a few seconds, the light click of the door's lock pushed Olivia's conscience to snap her eyes open. She scrutinized her mother who looked healthier than the last time they met.  By that time, Amelia's body had gained a little weight, and her skin glowed from getting proper sunlight and outdoor breeze. "I know what I'm asking from you is too much, but I want you to hear me out." Amelia pushed the duvet off her and swung her legs to the edge of the bed. She pushed herself up and a smile escaped her lips when she successfully stood up on her own without any help.  She took slow and careful steps to where Olivia stood, reaching out for her daughter's hands. Clutching both of Olivia's hands, she brought it closer to her c.h.e.s.t and looked at her a.d.u.l.t daughter's eyes pleading, "It's clear to everyone that Henry wasn't the best father out there but as your mother, I want to make a tiny plea from you and that is for you to forgive him, Olivia." Insulted, Olivia jerked her hands away from Amelia's grasp. "Whhhhy? Why would I forgive someone who's not even remorseful for everything he's done? He knew. He knew you were under my care but he didn't move an inch. I bet he knew too that you would come running back to him." Amelia sighed. "Because we have to keep our family intact, Livi. That's what family is. We always stick together." "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I won't sign up for a dysfunctional family. Now, is that all you have to say?" Olivia took a sharp breath, wondering what she did in her past life to be born in the wrong family in this lifetime. Her father was a greedy arse. Her mother was a lunatic. And her brother, well, he needed to gain a pair of balls. "I… I don't have anything else to say." Amelia swallowed nothing but air in her throat. She saw disappointment painted Olivia's face. She knew she was letting her daughter down but all she ever wanted was to see her family complete. "Oh, I think you do have something to say, not as a mother but a sworn member of Pyxis." Olivia waltzed and sat on the bed, tapping the empty space for Amelia to sit on. Taking out a recorder from her bag. She pressed the red button and interrogated her mother. "What happened on the night of your accident twenty-six years ago… the night that the former king died?"