CHAPTER 5: Let's get married

CHAPTER 5: Let's get married

The tremors in Olivia's hands did not cease even as she held firmly onto the cat on her lap. The flashes of her encounter with that stranger continued to plague her. Olivia had woken up confused and shocked, but when she remembered everything,she had panicked and fled in shame and fear.

She remembered spending an hour in the shower trying to wash away his touch and scent from her body. Her tears had mixed with the water as she had cried her eyes out in the shower. Olivia felt ashamed and guilty of betraying and cheating on Connor with a man she did not know. Maybe her mother was right, she was really a child of sin.

Connor stole a glance at Olivia, and finally concluded that something was wrong. She had looked very upset and visibly shaken, when she had arrived at their meeting point where they had boarded the train they were currently on,and she looked like she had obviously been crying. He knew making the decision to leave with him had not been an easy one.

He gently placed a hand on her hand. “Are you okay?”

Olivia suddenly jerked from her troubled thoughts, which caused Connor's forehead to noticeably crease.

“I'm okay,” she replied with a forced tight-lipped smile, while avoiding his eyes. She slowly shrugged off his hand on her arm, and began to stroke the cat, which purred with satisfaction. She felt too soiled and tainted for him now—not worthy of his touch.

Connor was worried about her behaviour. Though they had been in a chaste celibate relationship, Olivia had never pulled away from his touch. She had been that way since today. He was worried and did not know what to do. Was she already regretting her decision? Was he wrong by asking her to elope with him?

As Connor was battling with his thoughts, he saw her unconsciously pull at the huge turtleneck sweater which she was wearing in the middle of summer.

Olivia felt like her skin was crawling as she remembered the way that man's hands roamed, pressed, and touched her naked body all over. She felt her heart die in shame as she remembered the lewd, obscene noises that had come out of her mouth, as she enjoyed his ministrations on her body. She was sore ,and still ached all over, especially between her legs. That man had the stamina of a horse and was insatiable.

She could remember how she had begged him to stop but he had kept on going until he was satiated, which she had no idea when that was, because she had passed out. The sweater she was currently wearing was to hide the many bruises, and bite marks that littered her body.

The thought that she had lost her virginity to a stranger, brought fresh tears to course down her cheeks. Connor watched her wipe away tears, but chose not to pressure her, but wait till she was ready to confide in him. As he adjusted himself on his seat, and felt the rectangular velvet box in his pocket, a fear that she might not accept him took root in his heart.

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Sitting on the bed in the tiny apartment that belonged to Connor's which they were staying in in a new town, Olivia moped into thin air. It's been three days since they arrived at this little quaint old fashioned town. If it were in the past, she would have loved and appreciated the place much more.

She was weighed down with guilt and shame, and sobbed quietly into her pillow every night, crying herself to sleep when she thought that Connor was already asleep. Her gaze fell on her suitcase, and she walked like one in a trance, and unzipped it. Her eyes locked the dark expensive looking male jacket that was nestled between her clothes.

After she had woken up that day, she had discovered that her dress was ripped in the middle, so she had grabbed the jacket that was draped over the chair to cover her dress, and quickly fled the scene. Unable to stand the sight of the offending apparel and its memories, she snapped the suitcase shut, just as the door opened, and Connor stepped into the room.

“Are you okay?” He asked her after observing her briefly from the door. She was still dressed in her heavy oversized sweater, and she looked like she had been crying.

Olivia quickly swiped at her tears and forced a smile on her face. “What's up? Did you get the job?” She asked as she returned to her former position on the bed.

Connor had been searching for a job since they arrived here. They did not have enough money on them, and it would run out in no time, so Connor had already begun to look for a job. She had offered to get a job too, but he had refused.

Connor was worried about her, but he flashed her a smile. “Yes.”

Olivia's eyes sparked with real joy and happiness. “Thank God. That is wonderful news,” she exclaimed.

He nodded and moved further into the room. “I was able to get the position of a factory worker in the local shoe company in town. The pay is not much, but it will tide us through in the meantime.”

Olivia nodded. “That's okay, it's a blessing. But you know it would be better if I were to get a job too,” she tried to argue once more.

“No, my love. I will work hard, and save up enough for you to start up your own little cafe.”

Olivia's heart ached with the love, and devotion she saw in his eyes, because she had betrayed and cleared him. She felt she did not deserve him anymore.

Connor noticed that she was lost in her very obviously troubled thoughts again, and walked up to her and took her hands gently. He was very relieved and happy, when she did not reject his touch.

“Livie, I know this must not be easy for you, but I want you to know that whatever may be the problem, that I am always here. I will always be here. I would never leave you. I love you so much, and that will never change no matter what happens, or whatever that has already happened. I will work very hard to take care of you, and make you very happy, “he confessed earnestly, making Olivia's eyes cloud with tears.

She felt just how much he loved her, and she loved him just as much. She decided to just tell him the truth. Even if he decided to leave her, she would gladly accept his decision even though it would tear her apart.

“I love you so much too,Connor, but–”

Connor quickly got down on one knee, and interrupted her quickly—afraid of what she was about to say next.

“Then let me do what I've been planning for a while,” he said, reaching into his pocket. Olivia's brows furrowed as he retrieved the box which he had been carrying around for a while.

He let go of her hand, and gently popped the lid, revealing the small ring inside, which he took out and held up to her. Olivia's eyes widened in shock. She was not expecting this.

“I know I have nothing to offer you now but my heart and my promise of undying devotion. Please make me the happiest man by agreeing to become my wife?” He asked hopefully.

“But Connor–”

“No buts, Livie. I don't care about anything else. Just say yes. Nothing else matters,” He urged desperately.

Yes, nothing else matters, Olivia thought. This was all she ever wanted and wished. She would just tell him the truth later.

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you,Connor,” she answered with tears of joy. Connor was ecstatic and over the moon with joy as he slipped the ring onto her slender fingers, and drew her into a passionate hug,before they drew back, and she began to admire the ring.

“I know it's not a diamond, or anything fancy, but I promise to get you a better engagement ring as soon as–”

It was Olivia's turn to interrupt him with a smile now. “Don't worry about it. I love it. It's beautiful, it's perfect.”

Connor was relieved and happy, nothing else mattered at this point. “Look,Lulu seems happy as well,” he added pointing to the cat that was meowing in the corner, and Olivia laughed her first real laugh in a long time.

“I spoke to some people in town, and they said we could sign, and register the marriage license at the city Hall tomorrow, or we would have to wait till the next four months.”

“It's fine, let's do this tomorrow. Let's get married,” Olivia answered with a smile.

The next day, Olivia was dressed in a simple pretty baby pink shift dress that fell a little before her knee. Her beautiful long raven hair was tied up in a ponytail, and Lulu was perched on her lap. Connor was beside her, behind the wheels of the rental car they had gotten to take them to the city hall.

Connor had one hand on the steering wheel, while the other held Olivia's hands tenderly to his lips as he pressed small soft kisses to the back of her palm. He looked in the rearview mirror and his face morphed into a frown.

“What's the problem?” Olivia asked, noticing the change in his countenance.

“We're being followed.”

Olivia became afraid, and looked behind, and sure enough there a black sleek tinted SUV with dark tinted glasses hot on their trail. She became alarmed.

“Who are they? What do we do?”she cried.

“Don't worry, I'm going to lose—”

A loud deafening sound was heard, and another car slammed into their car from Connor's end. Olivia screamed, before the car began to somersault. When the car eventually landed upside down, Olivia managed to see some heavily armed men in black suits begin to approach their wrecked car, before she succumbed to darkness.