It All Started With Hatred-Chapter 194: The past

"I see that you got better." She heard her uncle say.9

Petal nodded her head. She does feel a lot better now.

"You had us worried last night. I understand that you love what you’re doing but don’t push yourself too hard." Ben said as he patted her head.

"I’m sorry." Petal said. Signaling.

Ben thought about something. He thought about how she will react if he told her the truth. That he’s her real father. But he didn’t want to ruin her mother’s perfect image. He wasn’t ashamed of his past. Olivia was his from the beginning; she never wanted to marry Henry and never loved him.

How badly he wished that Henry was still alive so he could make him pay for what he did to her.

Petal noticed the change in her uncle’s behavior and she wondered what happened.

"I forgot to tell you. You win the award for the Best New artist. Congratulations." Her uncle said.

Petal only smiled. I was happy to hear the news but she didn’t feel happy. The award didn’t matter to her but it was the first step to prove herself. She still has a long way to go. She can’t rely on everyone forever. She needs to learn how to be independent.

"Thank you." She replied. signaling.

Petal wished her mother was here to see her. To see how she changed.

______

Twenty-Six Years Ago.

Olivia looked around her worried that she might get caught. She was waiting for the bus to arrive. Today was her boyfriend’s birthday. She sneaked out from the house to meet him and give him his gift.

The bus arrived and Olivia quickly got in it. Sitting on her chair. She held onto the plastic bag tightly. She hoped that Ben would like her gift. She was able to buy it with difficulty with her mother’s watchful eyes.

Once she reached her destination. Olivia quickly got off the bus walking towards the park. She and Ben had agreed to meet here in the amusement park. A place that’s far away from both their houses. She walked inside the amusement park in rushed steps looking for him.

After looking for him for five minutes. She finally found it.

"Ben." Olivia called him.

Ben turned around with a warm smile on his face."You Finally came. I thought that you wouldn’t be able to come." He said walking towards her.

"I... I’m sorry. The bus was late." She replied with shy expressions.

Ben cupped the side of her face. Happy that she was here.

"Here. I bought you a gift. Happy birthday." Olivia said, handing him the warped box gift. She tiptoed and pressed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you. It’s the most precious gift I received today." Ben said as he took the box from her.

Olivia smiled hearing his words.

"Let’s go and enjoy the day." He said, guiding them inside the amusement park.

____________

"Olivia." Her mother called her.

Olivia was reading the letter that Ben wrote to her. Quickly got up and hid the letter before mother saw it.

"There you’re. I want to talk to you." Her mother said as she sat down.

"Did you need something? Mam?" Olivia asked nervously.

Her mother smiled and patted the space beside her for her to take and she did. "There’s someone who wants to marry you. A good and wealthy family and he seems to have seen you before.

"W.... What? Who is this person?" Olivia asked, panicking.

"Oh don’t worry. The family is close to us." Her mother replied."It’s the Santos family." She added watching the surprised look on her daughter’s face. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Olivia tried not to show her happiness. Did Ben want to make this a surprise to me? She wondered. A blush appeared on her cheeks imagining that she would finally become Ben’s wife.

"What is his name?" Olivia asked.

"Henry. The older son of the family. He’s taking charge of his father’s business now. They will come tomorrow to ask for your hand from your father." Her mother replied.

Olivia felt the world stop around her."Mam. Please. I don’t want to get married now. I Still want to finish college." Olivia pleaded with her mother.

"You can do this even after you get married. Now stop acting like a spoiled girl and go buy a beautiful dress for tomorrow. Don’t force me to tell your father what you said." Her mother said.

Olivia nodded her head. She needs to go and see Ben. She didn’t think that he’s aware of what’s happening.

Once her mother left the room. Olivia closed the door and called Ben’s apartment line land number and told him she needs to see him.

______

"Olivia. What happened? You look pale." Ben asked.

"I need to tell you something important." Olivia said, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes."Someone asked for my hand in marriage from my father." She continued.

Ben smiled and pulled inside the apartment."Is this way you’re so pale. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone take you from me. You’re my bride." Ben said as they sat down. Pouring a cup of water and handing it to her.

"Ben. The person is your brother. Henry." She informed him.

Ben’s facial expressions turn from a great shock to anger. His brother. But how? No one knew about his relationship with Olivia. He must have been watching him. That bastard.

Ben is the illegitimate child of the Santos family. He’s the unfavorite son of the family. Henry being the legitimate child he has been promised to take after his father’s empire.

_____

A month later.

Olivia and Henry are married now. No matter how hard she tried to stop this marriage nothing happened. Her family forced her to marry him. The person that she doesn’t love While her lover had to watch her marry another person. His brother.

Ben wasn’t strong enough to stop this marriage. They were parted. But their hearts never parted.