Page 17 of Behind the Mask

"There’s nothing you could do that you haven't already done." I reached for my purse and got up, not realizing he still had my phone. I was almost to the door when he called out my name. Despite all the lingering stares, it was just the two of us as everyone else faded to the background.

He waved my phone around. "Seems like you forgot something."

I walked over, snatched it, and turned around, about to put my hand on the handle.

"Oh, and Olivia? Don't forget that I run this town and everyone in it." I froze. "Mark my words, you will be mine again."

I broke out of there and hurried home as fast as I could, thanking God that no one was in the house to see me break down.

I slammed my bedroom door shut and locked it. I slid down the door, hugged my knees to my chest and rocked back and forth letting the pain take me away.

Brad was the enemy and he just reminded me of that fact. I had hoped I wouldn't run into him, but that hope quickly faded. I had to tell Axel the truth before Wilson did something neither of us would come back from.

For the rest of the night I ignored several calls and texts. I ignored my parents and I didn't go to work. As the dust settled, I curled myself into a ball on the floor and cried. My anxious breaths got the upper hand, and I crumbled.

I cried for my past, my unborn children, and Axel.

Chapter Fourteen

Olivia

The bar was busy tonight as there were several college football bowl games on. Men were shouting at the televisions and women were in groups drinking amongst their friends. It was a nice break for me because I could ignore my problems for just a little while longer. Axel had called constantly since he'd been gone but I hadn’t had the heart to answer. I knew when he got back, I would have to tell him my secret, but I was afraid I would lose him for good this time.

"Olivia, you have someone at the end for you." I sighed and nodded to Matt as I finished putting the glasses in the dishwasher. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and put on my best smile. My lips turned into a frown when I saw who waited for me.

Vanessa's brown eyes met mine. A bemused smirk plastered on her lips as she tapped her perfectly manicured nails along the bar top. I inwardly groaned. I was really beginning to despise her.

"Vanessa," I paused. I was still trying to figure out why she was here. "What can I get for you?"

"Nothing really." She averted her eyes and started picking her nails. She seemed bored and uninterested to be here. "I was just so excited to tell Axel the news, that I forgot he was out of town." Her eyes raised to mine. Her lips curved into an evil grin. "I figured while I waited for him, that I would tell you instead."

My stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

A full-blown smile appeared on her face as she leaned over the bar, exposing her chest that I really didn't care to see. "Oh, well I found out the other day that I'm pregnant!"

No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. It had to be a mistake."Assuming from your blank face, you’re thinking that it couldn't possibly be true. That I'm lying just to get him back. But you are in fact, wrong. He's mine and we are going to raise this baby together as a family. He had a nice run with you, but his future is with me." She raised herself from the stool and waved. "See you around."

My head spun with the news. My thoughts became incoherent, and my vision became blurry. I excused myself and went to the restroom. Tears began to flow down my face freely as I realized it was all over. Whatever I hoped would prosper between us, was finished. There was no way he would be with me now.

Maybe, it was better this way. I guessed I really could keep my secret now. It didn't matter anymore. I clutched my throat. It hurt like hell. She was going to give him a healthy, full-of-life child. What could I possibly give him to even compare?

I rushed into a stall and heaved the contents of my stomach. A sickness entered me and I became weak all over again.

"Liv?" Lindsey's voice interrupted what was left of my dry heaves. "Matt said you rushed in here, are you alright?"

I took some toilet paper and wiped my mouth before I threw it in the toilet and flushed. I came out of the stall and walked over to the sink like a zombie. I washed my hands in silence, dried them off on a paper towel and threw it away.

Once I turned towards her, she gathered me into a hug. She whispered that everything would be okay. But I knew it wouldn't be. I lost him for good this time. There would be no happy ending for us, and I would never be able to love someone as much as I loved him.

I lost my soulmate.Again.

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Lindsey let me go home early. I felt bad because it was the second time I had left them shorthanded and I knew eventually if I wasn't careful, I would lose the only source of income I had at the moment.

I came back to an empty house because my parents were out of town for one of Mom’s craft shows. She loved doing arts and crafts in her spare time and surprisingly, she made quite a bit of a profit from it. Dad would normally give her shit for it, but he loved her, so he supported and went with her.

I dropped the keys on the counter, grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and went upstairs to my room. I quickly undressed, turned the shower on and got under the scalding hot water hoping it would drown my sorrows away. There were many times in my life when I felt utterly hopeless, but now it was as if the world was stripped away from me.

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