It had been seven months since she had last seen Oliver in person. But it didn't mean that she hadn't seen him at all.
Actually, she had searched every picture taken of him and every article written about him on the internet. Just so she could see his face.
Some might even call her a stalker, but she just missed him so much.
Since they broke up and Oliver started dating Hazel Smith, the paparazzi and the media had been all over him.
Hazel's fans loved their tandem. Who wouldn't?
The darling star of Hollywood and the dangerous CEO of the Morton Group. In love.
It certainly appealed to the headlines.
"That's your Dad." She whispered to her unborn child as she stared at his latest photo on Hazel's Instagram.
As much as she loathed Maximus Morton, she could never hate Oliver. It was not his fault. He was also manipulated by his father.
Nonetheless, she was disappointed with him because he had lied to her all these years. He didn't trust her enough to tell her about his secrets.
After four years, he never even tried to hear her explanation. Instead, he had blindly listened to his father's lies.
Sadly, "You'll never have a complete family," her child would never have what she had.
Once her baby was born, Oliver and his father intended to get custody of her child. Based on the lawyers she had consulted, she had no case since she had signed an agreement.
Even if the contract was voided, she would still be up against a powerhouse. After all, the Morton family was a wealthy and influential family with many political and underground connections.
Winning her case would have been an uphill battle that no lawyers were willing to take on.
"How did we end up like this?" After four years, she thought their love was enough to get through the hard times. But she was wrong.
Maybe he truly never loved her.
Then, a flash news came into full display on the screen.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Most eligible bachelor CEO Oliver Morton is finally engaged to the lovely superstar Hazel Smith, heiress of the Smith family.
Pictures of their engagement spread across the various social media apps.
"They look happy." A sincere observation, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt like hell to see him with another woman, giving his ring while declaring his love.
For years, she had dreamed of becoming Oliver's wife, having his children, and building a home for their family. Same as what she had with her parents. Simple but happy.
She guessed not all dreams come true.
"Hey, Cupcake, are you all packed?" The voice of his father, Edward, broke her reverie, forcing her to look up from her phone.
"Almost." She smiled guiltily, seeing her clothes still lying on the bed.
Well, she was supposed to be packing her things. Not obsessing with her ex.
"Come on, Amelia. We need to leave soon." Edward checked the time on his wrist before giving her that look that said, "Hurry up!"
But instead of leaving her room, her father hesitantly walked forward and sat beside her on the bed.
"I'm sorry, Cupcake, for dragging you into my problems." Edward placed his arm around her shoulders in a comforting embrace.
Her father still blamed himself for what happened to her. Abandoned, betrayed, pregnant, and alone.
"Don't apologize, Dad, it's not your fault." If anything, it was she who had brought this drama to her family. "I just hope that we can start a new life."
Her parents had arranged for their escape. It was not easy since the Morton family had many spies who reported their every move.
But she could not just give up her child. She could not let her child grow up surrounded by monsters. Therefore, moving far away and starting a new life under a new name was a risk that they were willing to take.
"But I'm going to miss this place." Her eyes roamed around her room. She was born in this house and had millions of memories in this room.
But tonight, they were leaving for good. And they were not looking back.
After tonight, she also planned to forget him.
One last time, she stared at his picture before she erased him from her life forever.
By tomorrow, Oliver would never be a part of her future, her present, nor her past.
As the clock struck twelve, her father ignited the car's engine and slowly drove out of their driveway. Like a thief in the night, they made their escape.
"Mom, don't worry. We'll be ok." She tapped her mother on the shoulder, who sat in the front seat, right beside her father. It was clear that she was tremendously nervous.
She had gathered enough savings to keep them afloat until she found another job.
But money was never the issue. The real adversity was getting away from those mobsters who threatened to ruin their lives.
Soon, her father cautiously maneuvered through the light traffic until they reached the highway without much trouble.
A few more hours, and they were already far from the city.
"Are you sure we're not being followed?" Her mother, Stella, asked, her hands shaking, her eyes kept looking outside her window.
She could not blame her mother when she had been doing the same thing. Fortunately, she hadn't noticed any black car that was tailing them.
"Relax, sweetheart. I don't think anyone noticed us leaving the house." Edward squeezed his wife's hand before returning his hand to the steering wheel.
Watching the sweet gesture, she could not help but be envious. She honestly thought that she and Oliver would end up like her parents. But she guessed it was just her wishful thinking.
Feeling like they had finally escaped safely, she relaxed on the backseat and dozed off. It was not exactly easy for a pregnant woman who was almost due anytime soon to travel under such a stressful situation.
A mother would do anything and everything to save her child, even if it meant sacrificing her life. At least that was what her parents were doing for her. They were putting their lives on the line for her and her child.
Kring! Kring! Kring!
The ringing of her phone inside her pocket woke her up from her short nap. Slightly disoriented in such a cramped space, she pulled her phone and answered.
But the voice that echoed in the speaker definitely snapped her out of unconsciousness.
"Do you really think that you can run away with my child, Amelia?" There was no question who it was on the other line. "Think again."
"You didn't give me any choice." She collectedly spoke on the line, although her heart was far from calm. "You can't have my baby."
Bitterly, their relationship had reached the point of no return.
"But I can and I will." The threat struck her with a promise that this was not going to end well. For her.
Still, she was not backing down. She was not about to give up her child just because he had money and power. He could not scare her into giving up her child.
This baby in her womb was her son. And she would protect him with her life.
"Then, don't blame me for what will happen next," Oliver said, his voice as cold as ice.
"Fuck you, Oliver. Fuck you to hell." Quickly, she ended the call before he could respond. Then, turned off her phone.
"Don't worry, Mom." Again, she noticed her mother glancing her way. She assumed Stella heard the conversation. "Oliver was just being an ass." Making light of the situation.
However, she could not shake the feeling that her ex was not done. Just like her, he was not giving up either.
"Oh, shit!" Her heart almost leaped out of her chest when a car behind them suddenly honked its horn.
But as soon as the sports car passed them, it sped up and disappeared from their sight.
"Calm down, Amelia." She whispered to herself. The last thing she wanted was to alarm her parents.
A few minutes had passed without any incident, and her eyes began to drowse again. She could not help it. Her pregnancy just drained her energy.
Until—
"Edward, what's wrong?" The worried voice of her mother penetrated her sleepy thoughts.
"I don't know..." Her father responded, but the uncertainty in his tone was quite evident.
Blinking her eyes against the darkness and the passing lights, she peeked at her parents, who seemed worried.
No more like panicking.
"Is there a problem? Dad?" Her eyes watched her father's jerky reaction. "Mom, what's going on?" This time, she could already tell that there was something they were not telling her.
Her father looked at her through the rearview mirror, worried lines etched on his face.
"I'm sorry, Cupcake, but you need to secure your seatbelt and hang on tight."
Somehow, she understood what was about to happen when she noticed her father tightly holding her mother's hand.
"Dad..." She called to him. "Mom..." Then, she smiled at her, glancing at her.
"We love you, Cupcake."
Then, that was it.
Bright lights.
Bang! Blag! Boom!
Shattered glasses.
Clashing metals against metals.
Loud noises.
Lots of voices.
Complete chaos rolled into one.
Then, deafening silence.
"I love..."
"Save mmm..."