Chapter 2 A Million Pieces

• OLIVIA’S POV
• Lex was on the bed with Victoria, my colleague, and his secretary. Their clothes and pants were undone and had bedsheets over them.
• Their eyes met mine. We just stared at each other, and I felt like I'd been hit in the gut.
• "Olivia," Lex whispered, almost taunting. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to come back?
• Victoria smiled wryly and pulled the cover up tighter around her. "Well, well, well. Look who's here. The poor, abandoned fiancée."
• "You're something, Victoria," I spat, my voice low and even. "I never would have pegged you as the type to screw over your friend’s fiancé."
• "Oh, Olivia. Don't play dumb. Do you believe you're the first girl Lex has ever dated? He's been a player all his life."
• Lex just stood there watching. I turned to him. "Lex, say something. Tell her to stop."
• He shrugged, not caring. "What’s there to say? You’re overreacting."
• "Overreacting?" My voice shook. "You're sleeping with my friend, and it's nothing?"
• "This is all drama, Olivia."
• "Then be honest," I said coldly. "How long has this been happening? Did you even love me?"
• Lex's eyes flashed for a moment, and then he glanced away. "I don't know, Olivia. But I do know that I'm finished with you."
• Anger flared through me. "Unbelievable. First of all, you humiliate me, now, this! And you think it's nothing?"
• Victoria rolled her eyes. Lex smirked. "Just leave, Olivia. Before I call security again."
• I turned and walked out with Emily beside me as I left the penthouse.
• "Are you okay?" Emily asked when we got to the hallway.
• I nodded, feeling lighter. "I'm okay. Better than okay. I'm free."
• As we ran down the hall, Lex yelled after us. "Gold-digger!"
• But I kept going. Not even looking back.
• Emily caught my arm as we came to the elevators. "Olivia, wait."
• I shoved her away. "I've got to get out of here," I said, my voice shaking.
• The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. I hit the button for the lobby, barely breathing until the doors closed. Safe at last. But then, a wave of nausea hit me. I stumbled, pressing a hand to my stomach.
• "Olivia?" Emily's voice was anxious.
• I barely made it out of the building before I doubled over and vomited in an alley. Emily held my hair back and spoke softly.
• "I'm so sorry, Liv," she whispered.
• I looked up and saw something strong in her face for the first time.
• "You are going to make him pay, Liv," she said, her voice firm. "We will take him down."
• Her words had given me strength. I was not alone in this.
• Then, my phone rang. It was my dad.
• "Olivia, where are you?" His voice was slurred and desperate. "Come home. Now."
• My heart sank. "Dad, what's wrong?
• The phone call ended.
• I turned to Emily. "It's my dad. I have to go. He sounded. concerned."
• She nodded. "Be strong, Liv."
• I walked away from her and hurried home. When I opened the door, I saw my dad leaning on the couch with an empty whiskey bottle in his hand. The TV was shining a soft light over him. I sighed and walked toward him.
• When I turned, I accidentally knocked over a chair and woke him up.
• "Olivia," he muttered, his eyes red-rimmed.
• "Dad, you need to stop."
• But he shook his head, trying to sit up. "We need to talk."
• I helped him stand up, and he winced, holding his head. "I’ve messed up, Olivia. I’m in trouble."
• I felt a shiver. "What kind of trouble?"
• He took a deep breath. "I… I’ve been using company money. There’s debt. So much debt."
• "How much, Dad?"
• He looked away, embarrassed. "Over a million dollars."
• I stared in disbelief. A million?
• His face became gloomy as he approached. "I made a deal with Marcus Thompson. To pay the debts."
• "What kind of deal?" I asked, uneasy in my stomach.
• He looked down. "I gave him some of our company shares. It was the only way to keep us going."
• I felt fury and fear well up inside me. How could he be so stupid? And with Marcus Thompson?
• "There's more, Olivia." He said, very low. "Marcus. He wants more than just shares."
• I swallowed. "What more does he want?"
• He looked into my eyes, guilty. "He wants… you."
• "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling.
• My father's face was very serious. "I've decided to arrange a marriage between you and Marcus' son, Regan. It's the only way to get the loan and save our business."
• I felt as though I'd been sold, nothing more than a pawn in my father's game. "No," I whispered, fury rising. "You can't do this, Dad. You can't just sell me off like property."
• He turned his head. "I didn't have a choice, Olivia."
• I was so depressed. He had used me to get his problems, just like Lex had destroyed my life. "So, will you take this?" he whispered.
• "No way! I'm not marrying Regan!" I snapped. "Go fix your problems. I told you about your gambling issues."
• You know what? I’m leaving!
• I hurriedly left and went straight to my apartment.
• Late that night, restless, I folded a few clothes, grabbed some essentials, and stuffed them into the bag. My mind was racing with thoughts of where I could go, and how I could start fresh. I knew I had to leave, but I had no idea where I was headed.
• I sat down at my desk, grabbed a pen, and started writing.
• “I never cheated on you, Lex. I thought our love was real, but I see now it was all a lie.
• You believed the worst of me without a word….”
• The baby?… no, this letter wasn’t about that. It was about my pain, my heartbreak. I finished it, signed my name, and left it on the kitchen counter.
• "Goodbye, Lex," I whispered.
• I sent a message to Emily, telling her about my dad and my decision to leave town for good.
• The next day, I went to the bank and withdrew my savings. I bought a one-way ticket to New York City Airport to book a flight to Italy. I had changed my identity, to a new name - Danielle Wilson. That night, I landed in Venice, Italy—a place I had always wanted to visit. I could feel the sun on my skin when I finally got out of the plane, and I found a little excitement inside of me.
• I met Signora Bianca, a real estate agent, at a café. She showed me different places until I found a nice apartment in the Dorsoduro district, looking over a canal.
• "Can we see that one?" I asked, so excitedly.
• "We can see it tomorrow," she said with a smile. "The owner's nice; I think you'll like her."
• I met Signora Gentili, the owner of the apartment, the following morning. The apartment was perfect—small but lovely with a great view.
• When I signed the lease, Signora Gentili handed me a card. "If you need a doctor," she said, "she's a great gynecologist."
• I was surprised and wondered how she knew I was pregnant. Then I quickly realized I’d need to make an appointment soon.
• The next few weeks, I searched for a job and I eventually got one via a recommendation from a friend, and an interview was set.
• I arrived for an interview at Bella Vita, a famous fashion spot in Venice. The creative director was Signora Rossi; she looked through my portfolio while I talked about my work as a fashion intern in New York.
• She became more interested as I spoke, and we discussed a trial period. I left feeling hopeful with my mind full of ideas for this new chapter in my life.
• Back at my apartment, I re-created my business cards and built a website. Danielle Wilson—a new beginning, confident in myself, and free. But as I typed, my mind began to wander back to Lex. "Would he search for me?"
• I brushed it off. I had more important things to think about now. I scheduled my first doctor's visit and, a few days later, I was amazed to see my baby's heartbeat on the ultrasound screen.
• "That's your baby," Dr. Bianchi smiled. "About twelve weeks along."
• I gazed at the screen, mixed emotions churning inside. I was going to be a single mother.