Olivia Sparks

Olivia narrowed her eyes at her grandmother as her mind went into a wormhole of confusion. "But Grandma, isn't that Aesop's Fable? It should be a donkey, not a carabao, right?"

A hearty laugh filled the room, sending good vibrations that reached to the hallway outside, making the servants in waiting smile.

Back inside the bedroom, Matriarch Lin looked at Maxen and urged for back-up, "Oh, was it a donkey?"

Not well-versed in poetry and literature, Maxen scratched the skin on top of his eyebrows. He didn't want to look stupid, but he really didn't know the answer.

Seeing Maxen's plight, Matriarch Lin came to his aide and said, "Well, we don't have a donkey in Nisia. We only have carabaos, that's why Grandma has to improvise." 

Patting the back of Olivia's hand, Matriarch Lin urged the former to answer her rhetorical question. "So what's the moral of the story? Come on now."

Olivia looked around the room. She could feel every pair of eyes that were staring at her pierce through her skin. It made her feel as if she was in a recital or something. 

Her mind went blank. No matter how hard she tried to come up with an answer, she was left with more questions, like how heavy was the carabao for the father and son to carry?

So she just shrugged, clueless of the meaning behind the story. One reason could be it was a children's story that nobody read to her growing up, so she said, "I don't know, Grandma. How about you tell me?"

Matriarch Lin squeezed Olivia's hand. Her granddaughter might be good in numbers, but Olivia sure needed some help in her interpersonal skills. 

"Livi, it means that you have to take reins in your life. Choose what makes you happy."

"Grandmaaa," Olivia choked on her emotions. She rarely heard her grandma dole out words of wisdom and of all the topics the old woman would choose, she picked happiness–that one thing that Olivia deprived herself of not because she didn't want it, but she really had no idea what true happiness was.

And Matriarch Lin knew that too, but her hands were tied that time when Olivia was born.

Henry Lin could barely manage Lin Corporation, a comatose wife, and two children at the same time.

She felt that it was her duty to make sure that the Lin legacy would continue, so she chose to stay and hone Oliver instead.

Through the years she felt guilty of leaving Olivia in that cold and gloomy country and her conscience ate her up knowing that the skyrocketing glory of Lin Corporation was at the expense of Olivia growing up alone.

Matriarch Lin fought back her tears and uttered, "This is my birthday gift to you, Livi darling. Grandma is old and withering,"

"Ssshhh, no, don't say that, Grandma." Olivia trembled in her seat.

"It's true and it's okay. I've been alive for a very long time and my only wish is to see a genuine smile on your face."

"You don't have to worry about me, okay?" Olivia sniffed. She stood up and wrapped her grandma in her cocoon. "My pity party was over, Grandma. And I assure you, I won't get easily persuaded by those two grumpy men but that was a beautiful story. I'll always remember that."

Olivia kissed Matriarch Lin's temple and rested her head on the old woman's shoulder.

"How about we jet set to Vegas so you can get married secretly?" Auntie Martha suggested. She could feel it in her bones. Maxen and Olivia were the real deal. 

The moment she saw Maxen and Olivia from the corner, everything slowed down in liquid motion. And she was there when King Alistair and Queen Isla met in their youth and she felt the same way about them too.

"Wait a minute. Are you guys serious? Auntie, nobody's getting married. We just met two days ago. Max, please ignore them." Olivia protested, but her Auntie shushed her.

"Naku, Livi. Maxen had already met the important people in your life. I suggest we skip the formalities so we can proceed with the consummation of your marriage and get you popping babies in a year so Finn can be a big brother to his cousins." Auntie Martha squished Finn's chubby cheeks, leaving a light pink shade when she released it.

Meanwhile, Olivia scrunched her nose. She was in her thinking mode. She tried to align her thought process with her auntie but failed.

She wondered why everything in this country happened so fast compared to when she was far away?

Her eyes wandered inside the room and unexpectedly, Ava was the only sane person in the room who seemed to agree with her.

While it was a common courtesy that wives should keep quiet in the presence of the in-laws, Olivia could see past Ava's modest and well-mannered behavior. 

Across the room, Ava comforted Olivia with a small smile through her pursed lips because the last thing she wanted was Auntie Martha's lecturing.

"But Grandma, Eli said Grandpa chopped woods just so you would say yes to marriage. Shouldn't I do the same?" Olivia challenged.

However, Matriarch Lin was quick to refute it. "Those were the days, Livi. Grandma doesn't have a job and was raised as a homemaker, that's why I have to make sure the man I choose could feed me."

"Should the same thing hold for me too?" 

"I could chop wood for you if you wa–aah!" Maxen stood and hopped in place. He screamed his pain when Olivia stomped on his foot. 

She knew that whatever Maxen would say, her auntie and grandma would just agree. Why are they so pushy with giving her hand for marriage? Last time she checked, she didn't have an expiration date.

However, everyone was surprised when Finn wailed.

"Don't hit Uncle! Waaah! Waaah!"

Olivia rushed and scooped Finn from the bed. Pacifying the little boy, Olivia wiped the fat tears that streamed from his eyes and gently said, "It was an accident, Finn. See? Uncle is not hurt at all. He's just startled. That's all." Olivia glared at Maxen who swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded a reply.

"Yes. Uncle is not hurt, Little Buddy." Maxen bent, his hands dipped inside his pocket so he could meet Finn in the eye. "Besides, hitting is bad and Auntie will never do that, right, Olivia?" 

The boy's lips quivered and buried his face on Olivia's c.h.e.s.t, which didn't sit well with Maxen but he let it slide. He's a little boy, anyway.

Two steps away from them, Ava pursed her lips and prayed to the gods that Finn wouldn't spout something that would put her in the hot seat.

To Ava's horror, Finn pointed a finger to her way. She could sense an oncoming train hit her at full speed so she just closed her eyes in defeat.

"But...but… Mommy hit Daddy last night."

The three Lin ladies snapped their heads towards Ava whose face drained out of life and turned ghastly pale.

"No, I didn't baby," Ava whispered. She reached out a finger and tried to step closer to diffuse the situation, but Finn was unstoppable.

"You did, Mommy! Like this," Finn humped on Olivia's l.a.p startling her, she almost dropped her nephew. However, what she wasn't prepared for was what Finn said next.

"Mommy hurt Daddy. Mommy said 'yes yes yes' while Daddy cried."