Ting Fang and Jazzlyn let Oliver head into the room alone as they waited for him outside.

  The frail sight of Olivia, though in a dim room, made him feel guilty. It took him a while to muster up enough courage to head to her bedside. The sight of her bulging stomach worsened his guilt. He couldn’t help but cry while holding her hand.

  Olivia stirred awake thinking it was Jazzlyn.

  “Wei Wei, is that you?” Olivia wanted to sit up when she recognised his features.

  “Oli…” She whispered as Oliver held her hand tighter.

  “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Via…” Oliver wept as he knelt by her bedside. It brought Olivia to tears too. She could understand those tears. It was all the burden, sacrifices and will he had accumulated while enduring it all by himself.

  Jazzlyn wanted to enter to help them out but was stopped by Ting Fang. “Wei Wei… Let them be. It’s between them now.”

  Ting Fang smiled in satisfaction watching the couple reconciling as she led Jazzlyn away. “Accompany your mother for some good coffee would you? I heard Malacca has very nice coffee?” Ting Fang tried distracting Jazzlyn who started to share about her food adventures with Isla and Ellie previously.

  “Oli, could you help me up first?” Olivia requested when Oliver’s gaze met hers. Oliver quickly pressed the button to raise the bed for her. She switched on the table lamp and had a better look at him.

  “Oli…” She reached out to caress his face as he sat by her bedside. “Why didn’t you take care of yourself?” Olivia asked while tearing up.

  “Why didn’t you take care of yourself well? What happened to all the alimony you had? Shouldn’t you get better maternal care than this?! Why didn’t you tell me…” Oliver choked on his words when he wanted to ask why she didn't tell him of her pregnancy as he held her hand.

  She caressed his hand to comfort him. She teared up watching him drowning in guilt and regrets which reminded her of his brother.

  “Oli… Is William threatening you? Is he embezzling the hospital’s funds?” Olivia didn’t give him any chance to escape despite the sombre mood.

  “How did you…” Oliver was caught off guard.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you let me know anything, Oli?” Olivia pestered but Oliver could only mum his words.

  “Have you forgotten, I studied a little of accounts before we married? I would have made it far if it weren’t for our marriage…” Olivia reminded him as Oliver sighed at their arranged marriage fate.

  “What did he threaten you with Oli?” Olivia was firm with him to know the truth.

  “That he would harm you if I don’t follow his arrangements… I…” Oliver covered his eyes with his hands in disappointment with himself.

  Olivia could understand his action as she hugged him. “You divorce me over that? You don’t want your child or me because of that?” Olivia complained.

  “No… I do care. I want you. I still want you. I need to keep you safe. That’s what all that money is for… I…” Oliver defended himself, wanting to continue telling her that he didn’t know of her pregnancy but Olivia smiled and kissed him before he could.

  “I love you too, Oli. Don’t keep everything to yourself from now on. You have me and him…” Olivia let him touch her stomach.

  “He’s moving…” He chuckled. “He’s moving Via!” He shirked excitedly.

  “He knows his daddy is here… And you will see him in a while, Oli. You must…” Olivia told him as they both anticipated their bundle of joy.

  “I will… Via, it’s been harsh on you… You had the chance to leave. Why didn’t you? This stupid arranged marriage is pointless…” Oliver vented.

  “No it’s not, Oli. Though it was arranged, I do love you now. It took me a while to understand you. To learn about you. And to love you. Else, I wouldn’t keep him…” She rubbed her belly gently.

  “Thank you, Via.” He hugged her while tearing up. Never would he imagined his arranged marriage would ever end blissfully. He had to admit Olivia was smart and different from all the other women he had met and that was part of the reason he was willing to give into the arranged marriage. Eventually, it was because of that which charmed him to fall for her.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Sometimes, life just throws you surprises like this.

  “Thank you, Via… While I navigate the family issues, would you promise to wait for me? Stay healthy and recuperate? I will grab every chance to come visit you. And him…” He said as she nodded.

  “Have you thought of a name?” Oliver asked her as she pouted.

  “What’s wrong?” He coaxed.

  “All I had been thinking about were girls' names. Till I had a check up recently for my condition and they told me it was a boy…” Oliver chuckled as he embraced Olivia.

  “Oh, Via… It’s alright. Save your girl names for the future…” Oliver comforted as Olivia understood he wanted more children with her.

  “But… my body… I…” Olivia was happy they were to continue being together but she was very disappointed with her weak body.

  “Don’t worry… Every pregnancy is different. We will give your body some time to nurture it to health before we decide on a second one alright?” Oliver suggested as Olivia blinked away her tears of joy.

  They shared a longing kiss before cuddling with each other.

  “Via, I want to give up on everything… But…” Oliver shared his dilemma with her.

  “Oli…” She held his hands in hers.

  “Could you hold on a little longer? I want to return to help you. I could work alongside your secretary. He could run outside errands for you while I stay in the office. That way you would have eyes while you’re away and in the hospital?” Olivia suggested as he kissed her lips gently.

  “Via, as much as I want to, we need to think of him. We can’t let him stay with mum all the time. Besides, I haven’t thought of how to bring you back to the company, especially with our status…” Olivia smiled.

  “Let’s just sign the marriage registration again. Once he is born and once I’m strong enough. It’s just a formality. Does it matter when we sign it, Oli? To me, it doesn’t change my love for you at all. Whether there’s that paper or not, I still love you the same. No, more without it now.” Olivia declared as Oliver’s eyes reddened and hugged her.

  “What did I do to deserve you Via…” Oliver counted his blessings.

  “I promise I will fight my way for us and him…” Oliver declared as Olivia laughed.

  “Why don’t you bring it up with Mum and Jazzlyn? I’m sure they will be able to come up with something.” Olivia suggested as Oliver nodded.

  “Now, why don’t you tell me what I missed?” He held out his hand to touch her belly as she began to share her pregnancy stories excitedly with him up to how Ting Fang caught her at the wrong time and unveiled everything to where they were.

  An hour later…

  “Oh, how’s my favorite daughter in law doing?” The couple’s intense conversation was interrupted by Ting Fang’s sudden entrance with Jazzlyn as they were closing into her delivery hour.

  “Mum… Jazzlyn!” Olivia was much happier and so was Oliver.

  “I’m much better. I can’t wait to see him…” Olivia said as Ting Fang smiled at the couple.

  “See… You owe me a lot.” Ting Fang directed it to Oliver. He smiled and nodded.

  “Have you thought of a name?” Ting Fang asked as Oliver realised he and Olivia had forgotten that part of their conversation after being very engrossed about her pregnancy stories.

  “Hmm… I had been looking for girls’ names thinking it would be a girl… I am fine if Oli or Mum or Jazzlyn has any suggestions.” Olivia admitted.

  Oliver had not taken a proper look at Jazzlyn since ages ago. He didn’t realise how much had she changed from her haggard look back then during their last family dinner which she was forced to attend. She looked more radiant and healthier now.

  As his gaze met with Jazzlyn’s gaze, he smiled for the first time to her, gratefully.

  “Thank you…” Oliver told her. She felt his sincerity at first but quickly regained her composure, unable to get used to his sudden friendly self.

  “You better treat them well. You are a father now. Don’t be like yours.” Jazzlyn’s hostile reaction was something everyone got used to but Oliver didn’t want to let her leave just yet.

  “Wei Wei…” He called out to her urgently as she turned around at the door.

  “Wait, there’s something you should know…” Oliver said before turning to Ting Fang. “And Mum too…” He added as Jazzlyn closed back the door behind her.

  “Is this about your brother and the business?” Ting Fang checked as Oliver nodded while sharing a worried look with Olivia. Olivia nodded in encouragement for him to begin sharing about William’s threats and embezzlements.

  When he was done, Ting Fang was calm and collected as she had anticipated all this while Jazzlyn, though a little worried, was trying to push away her responsibilities.

  “And so? Why are you telling me this?” Jazzlyn questioned Oliver who wanted to explain but got interrupted by Ting Fang.

  “Wei Wei…” Ting Fang reprimanded her. “You’re also part of this family. It’s a fact you cannot escape.”

  “I didn’t choose to be born into this family. You did. I already escaped. Don’t drag me back into it.” Jazzlyn was clearly upset but her words were as sharp as swords, hurting Ting Fang whose eyes reddened.

  “Then, leave. You’re free to go. Even if Dato Su dies or any of us dies, don’t ever come to the funeral. Don’t even think of me or any of us.” Ting Fang’s replies were savage because she knew that was the only way she could get through to her stubborn daughter who was as egoistic as her husband. Indeed, like father, like daughter.

  “Mum!” Oliver tried to persuade her to not go across the line.

  “Else, stay and listen to my plans.” Ting Fang offered, which made Jazzlyn forcefully wiped her tears away before sitting by the chair by Olivia’s bedside. Olivia held her hands to comfort her as they waited to listen to Ting Fang’s plans.