Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Mother and Daughter Disagreement

Olivia stormed into the shared bedroom, her heels clacking loudly against the polished floor. Slamming the door shut, she inhaled deeply, trying to compose herself.

Her emotions swirled in a chaotic storm—rage, frustration, and something darker. Without wasting a second, she crossed to the en suite bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Inside the bathroom, Olivia turned on the faucet, letting the cold water splash against her palms before dousing her face.

She gripped the edges of the sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her makeup was slightly smudged, and her eyes carried the weight of everything she had endured and planned. A flicker of determination sparked in her gaze as a thought crossed her mind.

She swiftly locked the bathroom door. Reassured by the metallic click, she opened the lower drawer of the vanity and retrieved a small, inconspicuous medicine container from under the neatly folded towels.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held it. The pills inside rattled softly, a sinister reminder of the lengths she had gone to get rid of her baby.

“I can’t let anyone find out about this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of running water. “Or I’ll be doomed.”

Olivia grabbed a small stool, dragging it toward the tall shelf above her head. She climbed up, her fingers searching through the clutter until they found a pair of scissors. She stepped down, her movements brisk and purposeful.

Opening the container, she poured its contents into the toilet bowl. The tiny pills disappeared into the swirling water as she flushed them away.

Turning her focus back to the plastic label on the container, Olivia carefully peeled it off. For twenty painstaking minutes, she shredded the label into minuscule pieces with the scissors.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she glanced at the sink. Just then, the doorknob rattled, and she froze.

“Olivia, what are you doing in there? Hurry up!” Owen’s voice carried through the door, laced with irritation.

Her heart pounded. “I’m in here!” she called out, striving for calm. “If you’re in a hurry, use the guest bathroom!”

There was silence, followed by the sound of footsteps retreating. Olivia exhaled shakily and hastened to clean up the mess. She disposed of the shredded pieces in the waste bin and returned the scissors to their original spot. Once the bathroom was immaculate again, she stepped out into the bedroom.

Owen sat on the couch, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her like a hawk. Olivia ignored him, walking to the nightstand. She picked up a container of her pregnancy vitamins and other routine drugs and waved them slightly in his line sight before heading back into the bathroom.

When she returned moments later, she noticed Owen standing near the door. He glanced at her with something unreadable in his eyes before leaving without a word.

“Coward,” she muttered under her breath, scoffing. Settling on the bed, Olivia crossed her legs, only to be interrupted by her phone buzzing on the nightstand. The name, ‘Mum’ flashed on the screen.

Olivia grabbed her phone and took a long while before answering reluctantly, already knowing what would follow next. “Mum.”

“Olivia,” Stella’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. “What exactly are you doing? Have you forgotten what we talked about? Do you understand the gravity of your decision to stay married to Owen?”

“Mother, I’ve had enough of this lecture—”

“No, you listen to me!” Stella snapped. “Do you realize what you’ve thrown away? I had plans to marry you into the Major’s family. His son would have been the perfect match for you—an impeccable reputation, wealth, power! Only God knows what spoke to you and now, thanks to your stubbornness, that opportunity is gone!”

Olivia gripped the phone tightly, her frustration boiling over. “Do you hear yourself, Mum? Who in their right mind would accept a woman embroiled in scandals, who’s been married, miscarried, and now has slim chances of conceiving again? You think the Major is gullible enough to take on that baggage?”

“Watch your tone!” Stella barked. “I was trying to help you, daughter.”

“Well, wake up!” Olivia shot back, her voice trembling with fury. “Your ridiculous dream will never happen! I will take care of myself!”

Before Stella could retort, Olivia ended the call abruptly, tossing the phone onto the bed. She buried her face in her hands, her chest heaving as tears spilled over.

Unbeknownst to Olivia, Patricia stood just outside the door, having overheard the tail end of the heated conversation. A pang of pity flickered in her chest as she heard Olivia’s muffled sobs. Letting out a deep sigh, she turned and walked away.

Entering the master bedroom, she found Richard seated on the bed, his newspaper in hand. She settled beside him and sighed heavily.

“What is it now?” Richard asked without looking up.

“It’s Olivia,” Patricia said. “She’s going through a difficult time. As a woman, I understand her pain. She’s lost so much.”

Richard lowered the newspaper, his expression hard. “Her plight is regrettable, but she crossed the line earlier by disrespecting us. I won’t tolerate that!”

Patricia placed a calming hand on his arm. “I’ve been thinking… When the dust settle in a few months or a year, we should suggest alternatives—IVF, surrogacy. Science has advanced so much. This will be another opportunity for Olivia to have a child.”

Richard frowned. “A year is too long. We will give her some time to recover, but after that, we’ll discuss these options with her and Owen. If she refuses…” His voice trailed off, his tone darkening. “We’ll ensure Owen gets a child, one way or another.”

Patricia nodded slowly, though a sliver of doubt clouded her thoughts.

—

Xander’s Private Residence.

At the other end of the city, Xander’s convoy pulled up in front of his private residence. He stepped out first, extending a hand to Aurora with a warm smile.

She took his hand and she said something that lighted up his face as she got off the car.

Xander chuckled, slipping an arm around her waist. “When will the Vogue issue be released?”

“Oh,” Aurora said thoughtfully. “According to their timetable, it was released earlier today. A copy should be delivered to me tomorrow morning.” She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she hinted at a possible dramatic shock. “I’m sure my stepmother, a loyal subscriber for over thirty years, will receive hers before most people.”

“I can already imagine her reaction.” Xander smirked, leading her towards the stone path in front of the patio.

Aurora laughed, leaning into him as they ascended the short stairs together. “It’s going to be priceless.”