Chapter Forty Three

Emily read Sophia's message again.

When I get home, we must have a conversation. Emily read it for the time.

She wondered for a second if Sophia had sensed the change in her.

The notion was immediately dismissed by her. 

Emily slowly breathed in and laid her phone down.

Sophia's desire to discuss anything may be put off until her return.

Emily needed a few more minutes alone for now. She stared out the window.

It seemed unusually peaceful from where she was standing, and Emily was beginning to love the peace and quiet.

She had no clue how long it would endure.

___

Olivia was at a restaurant she had visited numerous times elsewhere in the city.

She had selected a table in the corner.

Private, calm and easy to leave

Olivia liked things that way.

Her glass of water, which she hadn't touched, was positioned beside her phone.

She verified something she had previously suspected  by her earlier encounter with Damian.

Emily was a big deal to him.

That should have been enough reason for Olivia to quit.

However, she has never been good at accepting things she hasn't chosen.

After Damian terminated their engagement, she had spent two years reconstructing her life.

Her silence on the subject led people to believe she had moved on but they were mistaken.

Olivia had just discovered how to contain her emotions. After the engagement was over, she didn't plead. She didn't keep phoning him. She never showed up at his place. Instead, she disappeared from his existence.

She wanted Damian to believe she had accepted the breakup.

She had only been waiting for the right moment for her to strike.

She became more self-sufficient and successful during those two years.

She made friends in circles Damian could have never imagined.

She began to learn about how people function. She learned what frightens them.

And she realized that information was often more significant than money.

That's why Olivia was so risky.

She rarely acted out of rage and  thought before she acted.

She could ignore an insult if it will help her achieve her goals.

She was able to smile at someone she didn't like.

She had the ability to shake hands with someone she didn't trust.

She sat there looking out of the window and then she noticed a man coming into the restaurant. She recognized him right away.

He went over to her table. He occupied the seat facing her.

"You shouldn't have contacted me," he said.

Olivia said, "I needed information."

"About Damian?" He asked.

Olivia shook her head and said "No."

The man looked surprised. "Who else?"

Olivia reclined. "I'm looking for some information about Emily Carter," she said.

His demeanor changed and he asked "Why?"

"Because Damian considers her important," she said.

"What exactly do you want to find out?" He asked.

Olivia stared him in the eyes.

"Her private life is of no concern," she said.

“What is it then?” He asked.

"I want to see if she is as innocent as she appears," Olivia asked.

He fastened his eyes on her.

"Are you going to destroy her?" He asked.

Olivia's expression hardened as she said "No."

"Why are you looking into her then?" He asked.

Olivia gave a slow head shake.

"I don't care about her," she said as she grabbed her handbag.

"I'm just making sure I'm fully informed about the person who is now separating me from the guy I once thought I would marry."

The guy bent over and said, "Olivia, let her be." With a calm look, she looked at him and said, "That's exactly what I'm doing."

"There is no need for me to harm Emily," she said.

"So what is it you want?" He asked.

Olivia looked at the door of the restaurant as she said, "I need to know if Damian is doing it wrongly again."

As soon as she said that, she turned around and went away.

Once outside, Olivia entered her car.

She got behind the wheel without starting the car.

For a long time, she just stared through the windshield.

She began to think of Damian.

Emily came into her mind.

She then remembered the life she had once imagined for herself.

She had been fond of Damian. Perhaps a part of her still did.

She was unable to regain Damian's affection. She wouldn't beg him to come back.

Olivia started the engine. She had no intention of pursuing him. No plans on making a spectacle.

There are no intentions to obstruct Emily. She would step back for the time being.

However, stepping back did not imply that she had stopped caring. And Olivia understood herself well enough to know that buried feelings never truly disappear.

___

Finally, Sophia returned to her apartment.

Emily was already waiting for her in the living room. She took off her coat immediately as Emily looked at her.

"You said that we needed to have a conversation," Emily said. Sophia nodded and said "Yes." "What is it about?" Emily asked. Sophia paused.

"I've been considering all you've experienced recently. I think you should make some changes," Sophia said as Emily looked at her closely.

“How do you mean,” Emily asked.

"You're attempting to reconstruct your life because your marriage has broken apart. 

"I am fine the way things are right now," Emily said.

"Whatever you decide to do, don't let anyone, including Ryan, choose the path your life takes," Sophia replied.

"I will not," Emily said as she nodded.

As soon as they were done talking, she felt a bit lighter, and decided to lie down for a while. But when she stood up to go to bed, she stopped. She placed her hand on her tummy and lowered her eyes. She was still not willing to tell Damian about the baby. She had to keep the secret protected until she figured out what she wanted. And for now, that was enough.