Husband With Benefits
Chapter 432: Goodbye

Chapter 432: Goodbye

Olivia packed the last box of clothing and finally slumped into the couch of the living room. Her eyes scanned the now empty shelves that had stored her mother’s precious belongings. She’d loved to collect those little sculptures but looking at them, reminded Olivia of all the fun times they’d shared choosing them on their travels. She sighed. It was better to pack them and put them in storage than let them sit somewhere to collect dust. Maybe someday when she settled and bought a house of her own, she would put them on the shelves again... and not feel so broken about it.

"It’s done," she murmured, her voice tinged with exhaustion and sadness which made her wince. It had been a month since her mother had gone from the world, and she hadn’t been able to get herself to come over here and pack her things.

Isabella reached out a hand, gently squeezing Olivia’s shoulder. "You did well, Liv. Its alright. Aunty is always going to be with you..."

Nora nodded in agreement. "And we’re here for you, always."

Olivia managed a weak smile, grateful for her friends’ unwavering support. She knew if they had not come over today and practically began packing things themselves, she would have spent today staring at everything as well, not doing anything else... "Thank you, both of you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you."

"Oh, you’d have done fine, Olivia. You’re a strong girl." Isabella murmured as she passed a container of food to Olivia. The girl needed to eat. She’d lost so much of weight since the past month.

"I don’t know about that. I haven’t been able to do anything well these past few weeks. I doubt I could have arranged for the funeral... I feel so lost..." As she said, Olivia could feel her voice choke and tears threaten to fall. This is what she had been doing the entire time. Even as she told herself repeatedly that she should stop crying and be strong, she started crying at the most unexpected times.

As Nora and Isabella hugged her, she tried to compose herself. She heard Nora pat her head gently consoling her. An ironic smile graced her face as she looked up at Nora," You’ve grown up! Now you’re even consoling me so well, someone who is older than you."

Nora chuckled softly, brushing a stray tear from Olivia’s cheek. "Well, someone has to keep you in line, Olivia. Also you’re not much older...so don’t try to claim seniority."

Olivia managed a weak laugh, grateful for the lightness that Nora’s words brought to the heavy atmosphere. "I suppose you’re right. I am atmost at an age to become a granny only..."

Isabella and Nora chuckled at Olivia’s attempt as Isabella nodded," Oh please. You would be too young a granny." Isabella handed Olivia a tissue, her expression gentle. "Give other grandmothers a run for their money why don’t you?"

Olivia wiped her eyes and chuckled as Isabella probably wanted her to. She then took a deep breath, steeling herself to change the subject. " So, bella baby? Any plans for the wedding? Or is that going to be handled by Ian as well."

Isabella shook her head, smiling at the change in topic as she added," Oh, I’ve warned him about that! If it were upto him, we would have been married by now! This time, if he steps a toe out of line, I told him that he would find his bride missing! All decisions regarding the time and date are going to be with me only."

Nora and Olivia chuckled at that and the exasperation in Isabell’a voice. "How is he taking that?"

"Like a pig takes to bath! While he has agreed ont he surface, he has made it a point to share all sorts of practices from China, India, Tibet, Japan about choosing an auspicious date according to the movement of the planets, moon etc. And somehow all those ’auspicious’ days are falling next month! Almost every month this year!"

"Poor Ian, he must be going through quite the ordeal with having to wait for the wedding. I’m surprised that he didn’t suggest elopement."

Isabella cast Olivia a look as if warning her not to give him ideas while Nora chuckled," I’m pretty sure that he must have already considered the idea but doesn’t want to anger Bella baby. She pretends to hate the surprises that he’s been giving her when in reality she is on cloud nine."

Isabella rolled her eyes and made a face at Nora," Well, I have to keep him on his toes, don’t I?"

Their laughter was interrupted by a sudden wince from Isabella, her hand instinctively pressing against her stomach. Concern flashed across Nora and Olivia’s faces as they exchanged worried glances.

"Isa, are you okay?" Nora asked, her voice laced with concern.

Isabella forced a smile, waving off their worries. "Oh, it’s nothing. Just some cramps from Aunt Flo paying her monthly visit."

"Do we need to take you to the hospital?" Nora asked. She still remembered Ian’s phone call from all those months ago...

Isabella shook her head," Nah. Ian has been riding me about making changes in my lifestyle and making sure that I have proper nutrition. While they are still quite painful, they are not as bad as they used to be in the past."

Olivia nodded sympathetically," It is good to have a proper diet...Even I suffer a lot..."

Olivia broke off as she said this. Her mind raced as she tried to recall the last time she had her period. She couldn’t remember exactly, but she knew it had been a while. It had definitely been more than a month... Her last period had been before her mother passed away...

As Olivia’s mind raced, she tried to reason with herself. It couldn’t be possible that she was...pregnant! No no no! they’d been together only one night... One night but they’d done it so many times.. No no no. A few times could not get her pregnant. The more likely explanation was stress. After all, she had been under an immense amount of emotional strain since her mother’s passing. Stress could easily disrupt her menstrual cycle.

Even as Olivia tried to calm herself, she could feel a giant ’what if’ appearing in her mind.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l