Chapter 13
Lily must have noticed the tension because she looked Olivia straight in the eye. In a soft, concerned voice, she inquired, "Is there a problem?"
Olivia opened her mouth to speak, to voice her objections, to tell them all that this was some kind of mistake, that she had no plans to get married yet.
But when she glanced at her mother's face, she saw the warning in those cold eyes.
The pressure on her arm tightened, and she felt her courage drain away.
"Nothing at all," was all she could manage to say.
Mrs. Hilton finally released her grip on Olivia's arm, leaving behind what would surely become bruises by morning. Olivia rubbed the spot absently, praying that no one would notice.
"I guess my daughter is just tired from a long day at work," Mrs. Hilton told everyone with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "She's been putting in extra hours at the hospital. Such a workaholic daughter of mine."
Mr. Bradford glanced at his expensive watch to check the time.
Then his eyes shifted to Olivia. He became concerned, noticing how pale she had become.
"I think it’s better that we reschedule planning the details of the wedding.
Perhaps when everyone is more rested. We are really sorry for the inconvenience of visiting at such a late hour. "
Mr. Hilton waved his hand dismissively. "It's not an inconvenience at all, Grey. It won't hurt to spare a bit of Olivia's time. After all, this is her wedding we're discussing."
"I insist," Lily voiced her concern. "The poor girl is clearly exhausted. Look at how pale she looks. She's been working all day at the hospital, taking care of her patients while we've been sitting comfortably for hours."
Olivia felt a rush of gratitude toward Lily. Here was a woman she barely knew, yet she was showing more concern for her well-being than the people who had raised her since childhood.
"My wife is right," Mr. Bradford stood up from his seat. "We can continue this discussion another day. There's no rush. The wedding is still a month away."
Mrs. Hilton's lips thinned into a tight line. Her eyebrows scrunched into a frown before she finally relaxed. "Very well. Olivia, you may go to your room. We'll continue this discussion tomorrow."
Olivia didn't waste any time. She stood up quickly. "Thank you," she murmured. "I am quite tired. Good night, everyone."
She nodded politely to the Bradfords, avoiding Clayton's eyes completely. Then she walked out of the living room as steadily as she could, though her legs felt weak beneath her. She reached the hallway but could still hear the conversation continuing without her.
"She seems upset," came Lily's voice.
"She’s just tired," Mrs. Hilton replied dismissively. "Still, it's her duty to face her future husband’s family."
Duty. Olivia tried hard not to scoff. As if being forced into marriage was just another obligation she was expected to fulfill without complaint.
Like the countless charity events she had to attend, the perfect grades she had to maintain, the medical career she had been pushed into because it brought prestige to the Hilton name.
Olivia climbed the stairs slowly. When she reached her bedroom, she closed the door quietly behind her and turned the lock. She slumped on the edge of the bed, allowing a sigh to escape her lips.
She was tired of all this. What if she just left?
Packed a bag and slipped out in the night?
She had some savings, enough to get by for a while.
She could go somewhere far away, somewhere her parents couldn't find her.
But even as the thought formed, she dismissed it.
Running away wouldn't solve anything. Besides, she had responsibilities at the hospital, patients who depended on her. She couldn't just abandon them.
A soft knock on her door startled her from her thoughts.
"Olivia?" It was Clayton's voice. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
She froze, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to ignore him, to pretend she couldn't hear him. But she realized it was childish to just ignore him. He might have something important to say.
"What do you want?” she asked, immediately noticing the concerned look on his face when she opened the door.
“I just—” He stopped mid-sentence when his eyes landed on her arm. His temples crumpled into a dangerous frown. Then, in a stern voice that sent shivers down her spine, he asked, “What happened to your arm?”
It took her a moment to regain her composure, and when she did, she snatched her arm away. “I-It’s n-nothing.”
Olivia could have sworn she saw smoke coming from his nostrils.
“Do you take me for a fool, Olivia?” he growled. “If it's nothing, then why does it look like someone grabbed you?”
For a fleeting moment, she almost told him everything. The pressure from her mother and the bruise that marked her control. But instead, she turned her face away. She didn’t want to show how hurt she really was, not to him. He wouldn't understand.
“Olivia, look at me.” He stepped closer, his gaze searching hers for answers. “Tell me what’s going on.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, wishing she could just make all of this go away. But that was just wishful thinking. This painful reality was hers. There was no way she could run away from it.
Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but before she could form the words, Clayton spoke again. “Tell me the truth… Are your parents hurting you?”
There was a nervous flutter in her stomach. She didn't expect him to see right through her. A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “No, that’s not it.” She tried to sound light-hearted, but it only made her feel worse. “I just… bumped my arm on the door. That’s all.”
He watched her closely. His eyes held concern, and she could tell he didn’t believe her. But she couldn’t let him confront her parents. That would only make things harder for her. If her mother found out Clayton tried to step in, it would only cause a bigger rift between them.
Clayton let out a frustrated sigh, and for a moment, she could see he wanted to say more. But instead, he took a deep breath. “You look like you really need to rest. I have to go now.”
She was glad he didn’t push the issue further. The last thing she wanted was for him to get involved in her family drama, especially when things were already so tense.
“Goodnight, Olivia.”
She felt she couldn't trust herself to speak without inadvertently revealing her true emotions, so she quietly closed the door without saying anything.
She listened to Clayton's footsteps fade away down the hall. Once she was sure he was gone, she took a deep breath and walked slowly to her bed.
Sighing, Olivia quickly changed into her soft, worn pajamas. After completing her nightly self-care routine, she climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Sleep was her only escape from this harsh life.
Before long, Olivia felt the heaviness of sleep pull her under. The worries and pain of her day faded away, replaced by the comforting embrace of sweet slumber. In her dreams, she was free. Free from the pressure of her family, free from responsibilities, and free to choose her own path.
—
The days passed by, and Olivia began to prepare for her wedding. A wedding she didn't want.
She stared at the pile of wedding magazines spread across her desk in the hospital's break room and sighed. There was so much to do. The wedding date was nearing, but she wasn't even halfway through the preparation.
Mrs. Hilton had volunteered with excessive enthusiasm to handle ‘all’ the wedding preparations.
But Olivia thought of her planning the wedding with thoughts of Caroline swimming in her mind and turned down the offer.
Still, she doubted if her adoptive mother would completely not interfere with her plans.
Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off the headache forming at her temples.
"You look tired, dear."
She didn't realize Nurse Jessy had entered the room because she was preoccupied with her thoughts.
"Wedding planning wearing you out?"
"Yes." Olivia managed a weak smile.
“It's a grand wedding, so that's expected to be a bit overwhelming.” Nurse Jessy smiled. "Marrying into the Bradfords family. Girl, you're living every woman's dream!"
But not her dream, Olivia thought, swallowing the lump in her throat.
After her shift ended, she immediately went home, hoping for a time to unwind and relax after a stressful day. But instead of resting, Olivia was forced to sit down in the living room with her adoptive mother.
"The dress fitting is next week," Mrs. Hilton told her. Here is the catalogue of bridal gowns you could choose from.”
Olivia wanted to tear the bridal magazine in front of her. Instead, she kept looking at it, nodding mechanically, her face frozen in what she hoped looked like a pleased smile.
Mrs. Hilton pointed at a lace gown. “This will look good on you. My Caroline would have loved the dress if she's alive.”
She tried to open her mouth to say, "No." Such a simple word, but it felt heavy and impossible to say. Instead, Olivia nodded again. "Yes," she whispered, the word falling from her lips. "It's perfect."