Filed To Story: Cheating with My Boyfriend's Best Friend Novel Read Online (Olive & Aaron)
Kristy met my gaze, and her lips parted slightly.”If you have to see it that way, yes.”
A buzzing filled my ears. My parents’ truth had finally been revealed.
To them, my existence was a mistake! And now they wanted me to abort my child be-cause they believed I was repeating their mistake.
“When Aaron approached us, he sharedyour struggles and your pain. Your father and I were initially moved. We thought hav-ing an independent, accomplished child wasn’t a bad thing. We could be your friends; you wouldn’t need us to return to New York and take care of you.” Kristy moved closer, her voice softer.
“We wanted to heal your scars with wordsof regret and apology.
But considering your situation, we decided to share our true thoughts. It’s the best we can do as parents.”
With her eyes locked on mine, she settled on the edge of my bed and enunciated, “Don’t underestimate the impact a babycan have!”
She continued, “You may choose to keep the baby now, whether out of defiance or to prove that you’re not like us. But have you considered the aftermath? How are you going to take care of him?
At the very least, my father and I love each other. What about you? Don’t tell me that there is no barrier between Aaron and you.”
An incandescent fury seared through me, aiming squarely at Kristy’s audacious and antagonistic demeanor.
I craved the satisfaction of a biting retort, but my tongue felt as though it had been cemented in place, held down by a potent adhesive that sealed every possible retort within.
The oppressive sensation was like an over-inflated balloon strained to its limit, teeter-ing on the precipice of an explosive pop.
“I maintain my stance,” I said, fixing herwith a resolute and unwavering gaze. “I am not like you.
Given a choice between my career and my children, I would unhesitat-ingly choose the latter. Your support, or lack thereof, is irrelevant. My decision is immutable.”
A pang of frustration coursed through me as I realized my physical limitations. If only I were not so weak, I would have flung aside the covers and strode away with a modicum of dignity.
“Let’s not waste each other’s time any-more. We are fundamentally at odds,” I said, wrenching my gaze away from her. “Once I recover, I will leave this place andnever return.”
I reached for the call bell, and the metallic sound was my eviction notice for Kristy.
“Olive, when you become a mother, you’llunderstand that my words were meant for your benefit,”
Kristy said sadly, her eyes welling up with tears.
“I don’t need it,” I interjected, my tone icy.”Since you regretted giving birth to me andabandoned me, don’t play the parental ad-visor now. My future, whether filled with joy or regret, is my concern. It has nothing to do with you.”
The door to the war d swung open, and Aaron stumbled in, his eyes bleary with sleep.”What’s wrong, babe?”
I barely registered his presence, my mind still embroiled in my tumult.
“Mother, this is the last time I’ll addressyou that way.” The anger and sadness within me had crystallized into a strange calm. I looked into her eyes peacefully and continued, “If you still harbor regrets about my birth, let’s just pretend I was never born.”
With that, I turned away and closed my eyes. A teardrop slid from the corner of my eye, disappearing into my hairline.
My viscera felt like rusted machinery, spas-ming and convulsing inside me. My heart pounded ruthlessly, each beat tearing through my breath. I detached myself from the external world, sinking into the depths of my private grief.
The overwhelming nightmares would stop haunting me, but I knew that my life would never know true happiness again. My ties to my family were severed, leaving me adrift in the world.
The room started buzzing with activity as the nurses on duty rushed in, alarmed by my fluctuating vitals.
After Kristy left the room, my tears wet the stark white pillow, my sobs echoing through the silent night.
“Sweetheart, don’t cry. Tell me what is going on,” Aaronimplored, his voice softer than I’d ever heard.
He was crouched by my bedside, his warm hand enveloping mine, his lips brushing against my skin.
But I was too consumed by my turmoil to consider his feelings.
A flicker of resentment sparked with in me. Just now, Kristy revealed that Aaron had approached them. He had orchestrated this insincere façade of sympathy, leading me to believe that they truly regretted their past actions.
“I need space,”I said, my voice raspy.
My mind wanted to escape the presence of everyone, including Aaron. This overwhelming sense of despair made me resent everyone in my vicinity, even myself.
I was foolish enough to journey to the ends of the earth, to the desolate expanse of Antarctica, just for a postcard. I was the one still yearning for parental love, like a naive pupil, despite being a 30-year-old woman.
If only I had the strength, I would have slapped myself back to reality.
“Honey, talk to me. What did your mother say to you?”
Aaron persisted, trying to piece together the puzzle.
But I couldn’t u tter a word, not with the thought of Lukita still looming over me.
“I said, leave me alone!” I wrenched my hand free from hisgrasp.
My eyes squeezed shut, and hot tears coursed down my cheeks.
Aaron tried to comfort me one last time, but sensing my heightened state, he finally retreated. As his hurried footsteps receded, I guessed he was seeking Kristy’s help to understand the situation.
Whether Kristy would reveal the truth or not was inconsequential at this point. I was resolved to protect this child growing within me, regardless of how Aaron would react upon learning about it.
This child, this life blossoming within me, was not for him. It was my sole connection to family in this desolate world.
My fingers traced a reverent path over the expanse of my flat belly as I yearned to detect some sign of the tiny life yet to take shape with in me.
The unborn child, in his nascent wisdom, appeared to pick up on the melancholy waves emanating from his mother and responded with a faint nudge.
This subtle communication sparked a bittersweet reaction. My lips curled up, but my smile was swiftly swallowed by the sadness welling up in me.
Warm tears brimmed my eyes once again, and I allowed them to flow unchecked for a whole night.
My mind, ever the rationalist, attempted to convince me that I had no reason to mourn the absence of two people who had never quite filled the roles of parents. But my heart, the eternal sentimentalist, stubbornly clung to the pain and frustration. The memory of their harsh words was a bitter pill, causing a fresh wave of tears to break free.
When dawn broke, I was a study in silence. Apa rt from the telltale puffiness around my eyes, there was little outward evidence of my inner turmoil.
Yet, it was as if everyone around me possessed some uncanny ability to see through my facade.
Their eyes bore into mine, filled with a sympathy that I neither asked for nor wanted.
I didn’t ponder over whether this was some projection of my mind or a genuine intuition. Instead, I moved mechanically through the morning, obeying the instructions of the nurses and doctors with numb detachment.
Aaron didn’t visit me that morning, and I could guess where he was going. When he finally appeared in the ward at noon, I turned to study him.
With his eyes down, he looked normal, but it somehow confirmed my suspicion. Kristy had kept my pregnancy a secret from him.
Had Aaron known, he wouldn’t have been so composed. He might have been able to maintain a calm demeanor, but his eyes would have betrayed him, instinctively drawn toward my belly. Our subconscious has a way of revealing the truths we try to hide.
Aaron took a seat next to me, offering me a si p of water. “What did you and your mom discuss last night?”
His silence only lasted five minutes after he entered the ward.
I turned my head away, choosing to correct him instead of answering his question.”Kristy.”
“What?”
“She’s not my mom. I don’t have a mother anymore.”Ipaused for a moment, allowing the words to sink in.”Or a father.”
Aaron sagged a little at my words, releasing a heavy sigh. “Okay, Kristy. So, what did you and Kristy talk about lastnight? Why are things like this?”
“Didn’t you go to ask them? Didn’t they tell you?” I was tooexhausted to even look at him.
The emotional blows, coupled with my deteriorating health, had sapped all my energy. I could not weave any lies.
All I wanted was to recuperate, return to the States, and find a secluded sanctuary where I could bring my child into the world.
But, even the simple act of going to the bathroom was a Herculean task now.
“Damn it!” I cursed, my frustration boiling over.
Aaron took my hand in his, searching my eyes for answers. “Tell me. What’s that I can’t know?”
“Can you just stay out of my sight?” I snapped, mypatience finally wearing thin.”I’m sick of seeing your face right now.”
His presence served as a constant reminder of all the reasons that had brought me to this point.
Why did I leave the comfort of my life in America to confront a pair of unfit parents?I could have severed those ties back in the States, sparing myself from the avalanche, the late-night ambushes, and the pain of broken bones.
I wouldn’t have wasted my bonus on this. Hell no! The thought of the wasted bonus was a stab in the gut. I could have used it to purchase a ton of milk powder.
“Honey, remember why you’re here?” Aaron’s tone wassurprisingly patient. “I don’t want you and your parents to be worse off for it instead.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.