CHAPTER 3.

Taylor Walker.

The name echoed in Olivia's head. She hadn't heard her mother's name in over a decade. It was that part of her she was taking to the grave. The woman that abandoned her after her father's death went to adopt a son. Was she that bad that her mother had to leave her? She questioned herself.

Theo was watching her now, confusion in his eyes. “Taylor Walker is your mum?”

“I'm sorry I have to leave.” Olivia said as she hurriedly grabbed her things and ran out of the coffee shop before Theo could say another word.

Olivia kept walking, faster and faster, until she was practically sprinting down the sidewalk. She had no idea of where she was going but she just wanted to leave.

She reached a quiet corner and leaned her back against a brick wall, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath. Her entire life has been a lie. The woman she forced herself to believe, left her out of grief. That she lost her husband and just couldn't handle what was left of him and maybe she reminded her of him.

But this is worse.

She left her to build a new life. Adopted a son and raised him. While she had to grow up alone, hide from the secret service, work to take care of herself and pay for school.

It was too much information for her to take in. A part of her wishes she had remained ignorant and the other part of her is a bit happy she knows the woman who gave birth to her and who she doesn't want to be.

The betrayal stung sharper than she thought. Olivia thought she'd cried all the tears she had last night, but her throat was tight again and her eyes were watery again.

Her phone buzzed in her purse. She took it out.

Theo.

Where are you?

Olivia exhaled shakily. She slid her phone back into her bag and stared up at the sky.

Somewhere in Los Angeles, her mother was living happily with her ex. As his mother.

She wiped her face, and pushed off the wall. She couldn't let this break her. Not after everything she has done to raise herself. If Taylor had chosen to erase her, she would return the favour.

––

Back in her office, Katie, her secretary, peeked in after the second knock. “There's someone here to see you.”

“I'm not taking any visitors.”

Katie hesitated. “It's Mr. Page.”

Olivia's jaw tightened. “Bring him in.” She said softly.

A few minutes later, he stepped in.

He took the seat across and sat in front of her.

“Did you know?” She asked, her voice low. “Did you know about my mum?”

Theo didn't blink. “No.”

Olivia scoffed, shaking her head. “So what, you just casually walk in here, offer to invest in my company, invite me to a party that Alex was attending and then ‘mistakenly’ tell me that my boyfriend's foster mother is my real mother?”

“Pretty much, yes. Except the fact that I'm not lying.” He said, in a neutral tone.

“Is this a joke to you?” She said, raising her voice.

Theo remained composed and relaxed in the chair. “I'm not laughing.” He leaned forward, elbow on his knees. “Listen, I had no fucking clue, believe it or not.” He leaned back into the chair.

Silence filled the room. Olivia wanted to believe him but her guard was up now. Too much had unravelled in just 24 hours. Her boyfriend is a liar. Her mother abandoned her to start a new life. Theo was just….there.

Olivia stood up from her seat and started packing her bags. “I'm sorry but I have to go home. I can't deal with all of this.”

She turned the doorknob and Theo said, “I know where she lives, if you want to see her.”

It was as if Theo had dropped a bomb in the room. Seeing her mum was the last thing she expected him to say.

A part of her wants to see the woman who cowardly abandoned her, who left her to rot. She wants her to see how good and perfect her life is now and probably give her a heart attack due to the surprise visit.

But another part of her doesn’t want to have anything to do with her. She wants to erase her like her mum did to her. She wants to live her life believing the woman is dead. Because to her, she is.

“Do you want me to take you?”

Olivia froze at the door. She turned halfway, her hands still gripping the doorknob. “And, why would you ask that?”

Theo stood slowly, his voice calm. “Because you still have questions and I don't have the answers.”

Olivia stood quietly staring at him.

“You don’t have to go,” he said quietly. “But if you want to, I'll take you.”

Olivia took a deep breath in and out. She had no idea what to do.

“It's your choice.” Theo said as he leaned on the table with his legs crossed.