CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20

Olivia’s POV

I stretched my arms as I felt my back hurting. I’ve been sitting on my chair for over two hours, and didn’t even notice the time. It’s already 3 in the afternoon, and I missed lunch.

I still have so many sketches to finish, finalize some designs and also prepare for our upcoming meeting with Gabriel’s father. Also, we are aiming to release a new winter collection in a runway show.

"Miss Olivia, you have a visitor." My secretary said at the voice intercom.

I pressed it and replied without looking, "Let him in."

I checked the other white folder to see if the designs are done, if everything is finalized. I heard the door open, but I didn’t lift my head to greet him because I knew it was Daniel.

"Did you miss me, honey?" I questioned.

"Yes, I missed you."

I stopped when I recognized that voice. To confirm my suspicion, I looked up and saw Gabriel standing a few meters away from my desk. My eyebrows immediately connected, stood from my seat and went to him.

"How could you show yourself here after what you’ve done yesterday?" I angrily asked.

He sighed, "I didn’t come here to have an argument with you, Olivia."

I crossed my arms, not believing him. "Then what are you doing here?"

He extended his arm to show me the bouquet of pink roses, but I just looked at it before returning my eyes to him. "What do you want me to do with that?"

"It’s my gift," he answered.

I took it from him, saw the note and my blood boiled. After that, I let go of it and watched those flowers hit the floor. "I don’t need your gift, Gabriel. You have crossed the line. I told you to stay away from my son because I knew what you were trying to do!"

"What exactly am I trying to do, Olivia?"

I scoffed, "Are you freaking serious? We both know what you’re trying to do. You’ve been wanting to prove that my son is your son, even though I told you he isn’t. You even made a fake DNA test just to fool me."

He furrowed, "Why are you so mad at me? I don’t know what I have done to deserve your rage, Olivia."

"Because you’re a jerk!"

Gabriel let out a deep breath before moving closer to me until we’re inches away from each other. I didn’t move from my standing position, even though I could feel his breath on my face.

"If you’re still mad about what happened at the restaurant, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that," he muttered.

Somehow his apology was pure. But I’m convincing my heart and brain not to believe it.

"I was a jerk for mocking Daniel. I shouldn’t have crossed the line, and didn’t even humiliate him in front of our parents. I know I freak you out with the DNA result I brought the day after we met, but you can’t blame me. You disappeared, Olivia."

I swallowed deeply, "You know we have to, Gabriel. Whatever happened between us 5 years ago should be buried, especially since we’re family now. I don’t want my mother to discover that you and I had a one night stand."

"If that’s your decision, I will respect it. But I don’t want you to distance yourself from me just because you were afraid that I will take your son away from me," he stated.

Why is he doing this to my heart?

After those reckless kisses, he was standing in front of me defenseless. My heart was breaking the walls I built up around it, and now I felt like regretting putting a wall between us.

But why?

This is what I wanted.

"Truce?" He asked, extending his hand.

I stare at it for a second before accepting his hand and respond, "Are you really asking for a truce?"

He takes his hand away after the normal handshake. "I just want to fix the misunderstanding between us because as you mentioned, you and I are part of one family. I don’t want to live in the same house with a heavy atmosphere."

I chuckled, "Me too..."

"If you allow me, I want to be Uncle to your son. If he only permitted me to fetch him at school and treat him with ice cream." Gabriel was asking for my permission, and I was amazed.

I shrugged, "Why not?"

The heavy atmosphere suddenly lifted at my office as our soft laughter covered it. I shouldn’t have forgiven easily, but my heart was going against it. It was like telling me not to be prideful, especially since there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Even though he is the biological father of my child. I don’t want to ruin my mother’s happiness. Although Gavin will start looking for his father...

"I thought you won’t forgive me, Olivia."

"I shouldn’t have. But you came here as a human being, and I don’t want to be rude. If my step brother was asking for a second chance, then there’s no need for me to reject it."

No Olivia! Why are you listening to your heart?!

I averted my gaze because I’m having an argument with my heart. "I will tell Daniel about this. Besides, he already forgives you and you should be paying for it because my man has a soft heart. If not, you are definitely in jail right now."

"Is that a threat?" He joked.

"Hmm, maybe. But who knows?"

"Yeah, who knows. Anyway, I came here to tell you that I apologized for all the things I’ve done to you, especially on how I keep pestering you. I want us to start all over again. I want to show my father that he will have the family he wanted," he smiled.

"That’s only one, too. My mother has been lonely for years ever since my father died, so when she found her soulmate. I didn’t intervene, so I hope this is the start of our good relationship?"

"You bet."

Silence prevails between us. I don’t know what kind of spell he put on me, but when I saw how sincere he was. My mood immediately shifted, thinking he might definitely meant it.

"Before I leave, I wanted to give you this." Gabriel handed me an invitation card, and I accepted it out of curiosity.

It was an engagement invitation. I opened it and was shocked to see his name engraved on that paper.

I faced him, "You are engaged?

"I am. Ever since I was 10 years old, I think. It’s time for me to comply with that engagement, and I thought of giving you an invitation to be there."

My heart aches and I don’t know why. I felt like it was stabbed so many times until it shattered into pieces, making me swallow sharply as I felt my throat go dry.

My hands were trembling, so I hid it before he could notice it. "O-of course. I’ll be there, Gabriel. As your step sister..." I whispered.

"Great, I’m counting on you, Olivia."

I smiled forcefully, "Sure." I’ll be there.