Olivia Sparks

King Alistair grunted in his spot. "Okay, stop eating your wife's face, boy."

Across the room, Oliver stifled his laugh but frowned instantly when it registered on him that the king addressed Olivia as Maxen's wife. Why the heck was everyone calling her his wife? "Excuse me, Uncle. But they aren't married yet. So… nope. Olivia's not Maxen's wife."

"Oh really?" He bobbed his head, agreeing to Oliver. "If you say so then." The king beamed, dragging his gaze to Maxen. So the two really didn't have plans on telling anyone about their elopement, huh? 

Dipping his hands inside his pocket, he squared his shoulders, feeling omnipotent over the information. He thought he could use it to his advantage and get what he wanted from his son in the future.

"I'll have your schedule cleared for the week. Abbott will handle everything, including your engagement announcement." King Alistair scratched the skin above his eyebrows upon seeing Maxen was about to protest but was held back by Queen Isla pushing the prince back on the bed.

"People have eyes that see, ears that hear, and mouths that talk. My suggestion is for Olivia and her sake because the last thing we wanted to happen was her name being dragged through the mud, ours included as well."

"Okay okay. Enough serious talk. Let them rest first. We're glad you look better than earlier, darling." Queen Isla gingerly played with the locks of Olivia's hair. "I'll prepare a new batch of green juice for you and have it delivered here in your room first thing in the morning."

The smile on Olivia's face dropped. She stole a glance at Maxen who shrugged as if telling her he couldn't do anything about it. She enlarged her eyes for him to get the message across—her message across. Her face screamed for help but what she heard flabbergasted her. The mama's boy just agreed to the queen.

"Yes, Olivia loves the celery juice the most, right, baby?"

"Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Yes, yes, Mom. I love celery the most." A corner of Olivia's lips twitched. If Maxen thought he'd get away from specifying her favorite, then he was utterly wrong.

"Perfect!" Queen Isla clapped her hands. "But I have to ask Aila first which herbs are best for you. Can I visit you tomorrow? I'll teach the chef how to make the juices for you so I won't have to worry every day if the juices arrived safely in Notios."

That's when Maxen realized he f.u.c.k.e.d up. He could feel the blazing inferno beside him. His scalp drenched in sweat even with the air conditioning in the room was in full blast. "Mooom, it's okay. Don't bother yourself." He patted Queen Isla's hand but the queen yanked her hand away.

"No. I insist. Okay, we're leaving. My darling Olivia needed to rest." She hugged Olivia first, clasping the latter's hand. She closed her eyes and offered a silent prayer.

Maxen and King Alistair let out a loud "Amen!" upon seeing Queen Isla nodded her head. It was their signal that the Sui matriarch was done with her prayers.

"I'll take my leave too," Oliver said, clamping his hand over Maxen's shoulder. They exchanged their signature handshake and hugged it out. "Take care of my sister," Oliver whispered as he patted Maxen's back during their hug.

"What about me? I'm the patient but you're hugging Maxen," Olivia voiced out her jealousy, outstretching her arms. It earned her collective laughter from the rest of the people in the room.

"Ssshh! I'm not done threatening your 'husband'." Oliver air quoted the last word, chuckling at how weird it sounded, but hey, Maxen and Olivia's engagement would be announced soon so he might as well get a headstart and practice on labeling Maxen as such.

Olivia giggled, clutching her stomach. She wanted to tell Oliver the truth but she was having way too much fun keeping him in the dark of the good news. "I think you're the one who's jealous over me and Maxen getting married," she bantered, her eyes twinkled with happiness, relieving Oliver from his worry of her spiraling down in depression.

"Maybe I am? Never had a competition for Maxen's attention all those years," Oliver claimed. He hugged his sister tight, kissing the side of her head. "Stay strong, Livi," he whispered.

"Gooo. You're annoying." Olivia pushed her brother away, the smile on her face never left as their visitors stepped out of the room.

Patting the empty space beside her bed, Olivia waited for Maxen to come over after sliding the doors shut. They laid on the bed, Olivia's head resting on his c.h.e.s.t.

"What a bummer. We can't have s.e.x for six weeks," Olivia started, clearing the silence that engulfed the room.

"I was even thinking of not touching you for a year. Abstinence is the key," he said with a straight face.

It was so evident that Maxen was in deep thought the entire time. It was obvious with the tone of his voice and his carefully picked words as if he was tiptoeing the entire time and Olivia wanted to ignore it.

Looking up at him, she smiled. "Really? You? For all we know my IUD fell because of this big boy." Olivia playfully cupped his manhood hiding under his pants. She smirked at how it bulged even when it's not erected.

"Baby." Maxen peeled her sinful hand away from his pants, kissing it tenderly. "We have to be extra careful from now on."

She wanted to overlook the truth. She wanted to escape reality. So she beamed at him, "Yes, Your Highness."

The night soon passed, and the sun shone brighter than yesterday. It's rays held a promise of a better and kinder future to those who were clinging onto every inch of positivity through its warmth.

When Olivia woke up, she felt the need to pee, so she pushed herself up and dragged her feet to the bathroom. Hugging the bathroom's door frame, she glanced at Maxen who was brushing his teeth.

"I need to pee."

"Oh here. Do you need my help?"

"No, I'm good."

Maxen planted a kiss on her temple. "I'm just outside if you need help."

She nodded her head, closing the door, and locking it. She was done peeing, but she stayed seated for a good minute, spacing out.

The soft knock on the door snapped her out from her trance. "Just a minute, Max," she responded.

She stood up, pulling her knickers back in place and faced her reflection in the mirror.

Turning on the faucet in its full tap, she drowned her silent tears along with the sound of the water gushing out, sinking down the drain.

She bit her hand, afraid that she would cry louder than she should. She didn't want to worry Maxen. She felt how he carried the weight of the world for her so that she wouldn't feel burdened by all her emotional scars.

But she knew all along it was her fault and she blamed herself for being clingy, for being weak, for being herself.

She checked herself one more time in the mirror. Everything about was the same as yesterday, but one thing was for sure, there was an emptiness somewhere inside her and she knew exactly where it was when her hand clutched her belly.