Chapter 5: The Choice

Olivia's POV

I blinked relentlessly. Everything hurts.

White ceiling. Bright lights. The smell of antiseptic.

My head. My back. My stomach. Especially my stomach. Everything hurt.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I gasped and fell back against the pillow.

Hospital. I was in a hospital.

The elevator. It dropped and I fell.

My hand moved to my stomach immediately I pressed gently.

Please. Please let the baby be okay.

I looked around the room and it was…empty. It was just me and the beeping machines.

Where was Ethan?

The door was closed. I could hear voices outside. Muffled. Distant.

My throat was as dry a sandpaper. I needed water.

I pushed myself up slowly. Inch by inch. The pain made my eyes water but I kept going.

My feet touched the cold floor. I stood to my feet and I felt all wobbly. I grabbed the IV pole for support.

The water pitcher was across the room. On a small table.

I took one step. Then another. Each movement sent pain through my body.

Almost there.

Voices got louder. Coming from the room next door.

"I was so scared." A woman's voice. Mara. She was crying. "I thought I was going to die in there."

"You're safe now." Ethan's voice. Soft. Gentle.

I'd never heard him sound like that.

"I shouldn't have come back." Mara's sobs got louder. "I know it's wrong. But when I heard about Grandfather passing away, I just... I couldn't stay away anymore."

My hand froze on the water pitcher.

"Mara."

"He was the only one keeping us apart. You know that." Her voice broke. "Your grandfather. He never approved. Never wanted us together because I'm your stepsister. But now he's gone, Ethan. We could..."

"Now isn't the time."

Silence.

My heart pounded in my ears. Louder than the machines. Louder than everything.

"Have you fallen in love with her?" Mara asked. Her voice was small. Scared. "With Olivia?"

Say yes. Please say yes.

Silence.

The silence stretched. Filled the room. Filled my chest. Crushed my lungs.

He wasn't answering. Why wasn't he answering?

"I knew it." Mara started crying again. "You don't love her. You can't. Because I'm the one who should be standing by your side. Me. Not her."

I stumbled backward as the room began to spin.

His resolute back. That's what I kept seeing. Him climbing out of the elevator. Leaving me there. Walking away without looking back.

Choosing her.

He'd always been choosing her.

I made it back to the bed somehow. Collapsed onto it. Stared at nothing in particular.

The door opened a few minutes later. Or maybe an hour. I couldn't tell.

Ethan walked in.

Mara's perfume came with him. Sweet. Floral. It clung to his clothes.

"You're awake." He came closer. "How are you feeling?"

I didn't answer. Didn't look at him.

"Olivia?"

"I'm fine."

"The doctor said you have some bruising. Nothing serious. You can go home tomorrow."

Tomorrow. Like this was just a minor inconvenience.

"That's good," I said. My voice sounded far away. Like it belonged to someone else.

Ethan pulled a chair up beside the bed. Sat down. "I know you're upset about the elevator. It was scary. But you're okay now."

"Is Mara okay?"

He nodded. "She's resting. The claustrophobia attack was bad. She could barely breathe."

"Of course."

"She's had it since childhood. Bad experience. Got locked in a closet during a game." He rubbed his face. "I should have gotten her out first. You understand that, right?"

I turned to look at him. Really look at him.

"Do you love me?"

He blinked. "What?"

"It's a simple question. Do you love me?"

"Olivia, where is this coming from?"

"Just answer."

"We're married."

"That's not an answer."

He sighed. "I care about you. I've given you everything. The shares. Security. A home."

"But do you love me?"

"Love is... it's complicated."

"No, it's not." My eyes burned. "Either you do or you don't, Ethan."

Why couldn't he say it? Why did he act as though the words were forbidden to say?

"Why are you doing this? You almost died today and you want to have this conversation now?"

"I almost died and you saved her first."

"She has a medical condition!"

"So do I!" The words burst out. "I have malnutrition! Anemia! I collapsed last week! I've been working myself to death for your company and you didn't even notice!"

"That's different."

"How? How is it different?"

"Because Mara was having a panic attack! She couldn't breathe! What was I supposed to do, leave her there?"

"You left me there."

"For five minutes! The crew got you out five minutes later!"

I let out a laughter, but one of amusement, one that had so much pain and unspoken words behind it.. "You don't even see it, do you?"

"See what?"

"That you'll always choose her. Every single time."

Ethan stood up and slowly paced to the window. "You're being unreasonable. Mara is family. She's my sister."

"Stepsister."

"What difference does that make?"

"Apparently none." I stared at the ceiling. "You're right. I'm being unreasonable. Expecting my husband to care if I live or die. How silly of me."

"Don't twist this. I do care."

"Just not as much as you care about her."

"Olivia." He turned to face me. His jaw was tight. "I'm trying to be patient here. You've been through something traumatic. You're emotional. But you need to understand that Mara has real medical issues. Claustrophobia is serious."

"And my issues aren't?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

We stared at each other. The machines beeped. The clock ticked.

"I think you should rest," Ethan said finally. "We can talk about this when you're calmer."

"I am calm."

"No, you're not. You're upset and irrational."

"Irrational." I repeated the word. Tasted it. "Right."

"I'll come back tomorrow morning. To take you home." He moved toward the door.

"Ethan."

He stopped. Looked back.

"Do you even know why I was at the hospital yesterday?"

"You fainted."

"And? Did you ask what the doctor said?"

"You said you were fine."

"I tried to tell you. Multiple times. But you kept cutting me off."

He frowned. "Tell me what?"

The door burst open.

A nurse rushed in. Her face was flushed. She looked between us.

"Who is the patient's husband?"

"I am," Ethan said.

"The patient's condition is very bad. Malnutrition, anemia." She flipped through papers on a clipboard. "Any more stimulation could cause..."

"Stop." My voice cut through the room. Sharp. Final.

The nurse looked at me. Confused.

"Don't," I said. "Just... don't."

"But Mrs. Ashford, your condition..."

"I know my condition." I looked at Ethan. His face was blank. Unreadable. "And so does he. He just doesn't care."

"That's not fair," Ethan said.

"No. What's not fair is that I've been killing myself for two years trying to earn your love. And I just realized I never will."

"Olivia."

"Get out."

"We need to talk about this."

"Get. Out." I spat out the words firmly.

The nurse backed toward the door. Ethan didn't move.

"Please," I whispered. My voice broke. "Just go."

He stared at me for a long moment. Then he turned and walked out.

The door closed.

I was alone again, like I had always been.

My hand moved to my stomach. The pain was still there. Dull now. Constant.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to the baby that might not even be there anymore. "I'm so sorry."

The tears finally came.

Every drop I had held on to since this whole drama started, flooded down my face