Olivia's POV
I shifted my gaze from my husband Riccardo's face to Asia as she spoke those words.
"Wait, Axel? Like Axel Morris?" Her brown eyes locked onto mine, her perfect brows furrowed. "You know him?"
I read so much into her reaction, which clearly indicated that she also knows my best friend, Axel.
I mean, shouldn't it be obvious?
If she is Riccardo's childhood friend, as I have checked online, then it only means that she knows about Axel.
With a slight brush of my tongue against my lips, I sat up to face her properly. "Yeah. Do you?"
If I want to find out things about Riccardo and Axel, then I can get it from Asia.
"Yes. We were friends during high school. Him and Riccardo were–" She replied and would have finished if Riccardo hadn't stopped her.
I turned my head to him, glaring at him while he just stared back at me. "Why would you let her tell me? What could have possibly happened that you don't want me to know about?"
"Sunshine, there are some things that you don't need to know about," he said in a strained voice, fixing his intimidating gaze on mine.
"Really? What did you do to Axel for you to hide the truth from me?"
Riccardo abruptly stood up from the sofa, peering down at me with disbelief and bemusement. "Why did you just come to the conclusion that I am at fault?"
"Well, I know Axel isn't. So, it only leaves you."
"Olivia!"
I jumped in my seat, startled by the venomous anger in his voice calling my name. I also stood up, shocked because he had never once yelled at me like that even when he was màd.
"What is wrong with you?"
"You are. You're my wife, and instead of supporting me—your husband, you're taking sides with your incompétent, sleàzy friend. What's wrong with you?"
I bit hard on my lower lip, completely speechless and taken aback by the fúry in his voice and the hostility in his eyes.
"Axel is not incompétent, neither is he sleàzy. Maybe if you tell me about the issue, then I will know whose side to be on."
"Like I said before, there are some things you do not need to know," Riccardo spat out, this time with a finality I hàte because it automatically keeps me quiet.
I let my gaze travel back to Asia who was thoroughly enjoying the show with a sly smirk playing on her red lips. Her eyes met mine, which only made her smirk more and tilt her head, feigning a sad pout.
Picking up the kitten in my arms, I shook my head and walked to the stairs. With one last glance at Asia's face, I climbed up the stairs to my room, making sure to slam the door.
Childish, I know.
The cat in my arms meowed for my attention, which I lazily gave. My anger and annoyance bubbled in me, flowing through every nerve in my body.
How dare he?
How dare he raise his voice at me in the presence of that bítch?
How dare he...look at me with so much hàte in his eyes?
Dropping the kitten on the floor, I felt a pricking sensation in my eyes and a jabbing feeling in my chest. I blinked once, resting my back against the wall as I replayed what had just happened in my head.
Imagine my utter surprise when something wet dropped on my cheeks and when I lifted my fingers to see, my mouth dropped as my eyes met the single teardrop.
No.
No.
I am definitely not crying because he yelled at me. He doesn't have the power to emotionally húrt me.
No, he doesn't.
All this is because of that woman. If she hadn't come here, we wouldn't have fought. We would have been happy like we were earlier today.
God, I hàte this.
I hàte this feeling.
What is it?
Why do I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest? What is this strange, unusual, and aching nonseñse?
How dare he make me feel so good and alive yesterday and then this morning, make me feel so màd and upset and...and, I don't even know.
The cat, sensing my mixed-up emotions, rubbed itself against my leg, and I bent over to pick it up. It meowed and relaxed in my arms.
"What should I name you?" I asked, staring into its big blue eyes. "Tell me, what would you like your name to be? You need to see Dahlia. I think she would love you."
I let my body fall on the bed, bouncing a couple of times with the cat. He walked on my body, his paws pressing gently against me.
"I know. What do you think about Shadow? You're Shadow, baby." I rolled onto my stomach, cradling him like a teddy bear. "Shadow. Shadow. Shadow." I repeated the name, trying to familiarize him with it, smiling as I did.
☆☆☆☆
"Olivia, please, let's talk. I know you're awake and can hear me. Come on, let's talk it out," his pleading voice reached me from outside my door.
I rolled my eyes, typing away on my laptop, determined to ignore him completely.
"Please, my love. I'm sorry for yelling at you. Let's talk it out, please. I love you a lot, and you know that, right?" Riccardo waited for a response, but when none came, he continued, "I was just really upset that you chose your friend over me. I'm sorry, Sunshine."
Closing my laptop, I pursed my lips, still resolved not to open the door for him. He can't angér me and then try to win me back with sweet words. He just can't.
"Don't think I can't break the door, Olivia, because I can, but I don't want to," his tone shifted from soft to firm in an instant. "Please, let's talk, Sunshine."
Before I could comprehend, I found myself at the door, ready to open it for him. His expression softened the moment our eyes met.
"Sunshine..." He sighed deeply, stepping into my room, reversing my initial decision. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. But I don't regret calling Morris names."
"I don't think he deserves that."
Riccardo scoffed audibly. "Olivia, I believe Axel, your dear best friend, does deserve those names. He is everything I called him and more. I need you to trust me."
Trust him? How can he ask me to trust him after what he did?
"Well, I can't. Axel is my best friend, and I won't stand for you speaking ill of him."
"Olivia, please, stop supporting him." I tried to resist his plea, but his dark eyes implored me to trust him. "Please, my love."
I can't trust him, especially when he talks about Axel that way.
"No."
The hope in Riccardo's eyes faded as soon as I spoke, leaving him at a loss for words or actions.
"I can't. Tell me what happened, and then maybe I'll consider it," I said softly, attempting to coax the truth out of him. He shook his head, refusing to disclose anything. "Riccardo, just tell me."
"Why don't you go ask him? He'll tell you, considering how much you trust him."
"I do trust him, Riccardo. He hasn't given me a reason to doubt him or hide anything from me."
Riccardo looked at me incredulously before letting out a mocking laugh. "You really think so?"
I stood my ground, arms folded. "Yes."
"Did he mention that he's in love with you?" He asked, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
"What?"
"You heard me. Did your 'best friend' confess his feelings for you?"
That can't be true. Axel doesn't see me that way. I'm sure he considers me a friend, just like I do.
He's like a brother to me. Sure, he's handsome, but we're just friends.
I don't know what Riccardo's trying to achieve, but I won't fall for it.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. You won't believe it even if it tells you the truth. You're too blinded by your trust in him to see clearly anymore."
Offended, I retorted, "I'm not blindly trusting anyone, least of all Axel."
"Let me ask you something. Has your 'best friend' been in a relationship since he met you?"
In our final year of high school, a new student joined our class, which was quite unexpected as we were preparing for our exams in just two months. Axel, the new student, was reserved, but Felicity's cheerful nature eventually led him to become friends with our group.
As we progressed to college, while City and I had boyfriends, Axel remained focused on his goal of becoming a lawyer and didn't pursue any romantic relationships. However, recently he confided in City and me about a special someone he has in mind.
The idea of Axel loving me seems as far-fetched as aliens visiting Earth.
"See? You don't even believe it yourself. It's pathetic, Olivia. I expected more from you," Riccardo expressed his disappointment.
"Riccardo, stop." I was getting increasingly frustrated. "You're fixated on Axel supposedly loving me and questioning our friendship, but did you know that Asia, your childhood friend, loves you?"
"Of course, she loves me. We've known each other for years."
I closed my eyes in exasperation, sighing heavily. "No, you dimwit. I didn't mean it like that. I mean, she actually loves you, like in a romantic way."
He chuckled hysterically, not believing a word of what I said. "Sunshine, c'mon, that is not even possible. Asia is like my little sister; she is like a fetus."
Stifling my amusement threatening to explode into laughs at the way he scrunched up his face in disgust; like, the mere thought of him and Asia thoroughly irritated him. I shook my head, hissing in feigned annoyance. "How old is she?"
"Twenty-three," he shrugged.
"I am also twenty-three," I snapped, stepping forward this time and he stepped back.
"I know that."
"So, am I like your sister?" The anger and annoyance not false anymore. "Am I like a fetus?"
"What? No. I am just saying that Asia doesn't like me the way you are thinking."
"Why do you think so? If you are going on about my best friend loving me which is impossibly impossible, why do you think yours can't love you?"
"Because, Sunshine, Asia has been in a series of relationships. In fact, she is in one right now."
"It is a camouflage," I quickly said. "She loves you and she told me herself."
"She did?" Riccardo arched his brows, questioningly at me.
"Well, she didn't say it word for word. But, she did say that you're hers."
"She was just joking," he waved it away, dismissively.
"No, she wasn't. She was dead serious when she said it."
"She couldn't have been, Olivia. Asia doesn't love me romantically."
The snap and tug in my heart suddenly happened, causing me to stumble back. "You...you don't believe me?"
"You don't either."
"It is different," I blurted out.
"How is it different? Because I love you? I am supposed to believe whatever you tell me but you don't trust me?" he asked, taking two steps towards me. "That isn't fair, Olivia."
"Get out."
"Olivia..."
"Just go!"
"No."
"Riccardo, leave my room."
"No, I won't." His hands cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. His dark, black orbs pierced deep into my own eyes. "Fine. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I am sorry. I'll keep apologizing until you forgive me and stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" I muttered.
"Like I broke your heart."
"You can't because you don't have my heart."
"Yeah?"
I nodded my head.
"You're so cute."
"And you're mean."
"I am?" he asked and I nodded again. This time, he let his dimpled smile brush his face and my anger faltered. "Am I?"
"Yes."
His fingers gently brushed the stray strands of hair behind my ear, pinning our eyes more together in an unbreakable lock. "I love you, Olivia, and I want to love me too. It will take time and I'm ready to wait. But, while waiting, can we please not let our fights be about Morris?"
Although my heart thumped loudly against my chest—finally happy again that he is saying his sweet and delicious words—I needed to confirm something.
I licked my lips before asking. "What about Asia? Should our fights be about her?"
"No. Not her either. If we should have a fight, it should be about us. Not anything or anyone else, just me and you. Deal?"
If his words weren't enough, which they are, the way he looks at me while talking would make up for it.
In his eyes, I'm a diamond, and he doesn't hide it. He shows it clearly in his eyes, and I revel and bask in it.
"Deal."
"Good. Can I kiss you now?"
"No."
Riccardo whined, making a childish noise with his throat. "Why not?"
"No reason." I shrugged my shoulder, fighting my smile. My eyes dropped to his lips and back to his eyes and to his lips again, also fighting the urge to bite and kiss the delicious lips.
He read it in my eyes just like he always does and smirked. Riccardo opened his mouth, and when I thought he wanted to say something, he clasped his lips on my greedy ones.
He then kissed me like he has never done. Taking his sweet and precious time to savor the taste of my lips in his, slowly, so slowly, like he knew deep down that I'm always going to be here with him, in his arms.
His hands circled around my waist, pushing me against the wall as he delved deeper into my mouth. His tongue, tasting like the apple juice he had given me downstairs, touched mine, and a grunt escaped his lips into my mouth.
Riccardo squeezed my waist tightly but not enough to hurt, just enough to send pleasurable zaps through my entire body. This time, I was the one who let out a whimper, tilting my head for an even better position to savor his lips.
God, I am addicted to the lips of the man I claim to hate.
I can't even stop kissing him.
I don't even want to.
My fingers slipped into his soft hair, and I played with it while we continued to drown in the kiss, not bothering to come up for air.
At that moment, we were our own air. We breathed each other, and we were more than content with it.
"I love you," Riccardo whispered hoarsely after pulling away from my lips. Our gazes locked again, and he broke it to kiss my forehead. "Olivia Torrance, I'm utterly, completely, entirely, and totally yours. I'm yours, Sunshine. Just yours."
He is mine.
"Yours," he repeated.
Mine.
TBC 📖✍️
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