Chapter 89

Ollie’s POV

Soon, it’s the day for Sylvia and Diana to leave on their trip. I’ve already been summoned to help load the car, so I’m presently out in the driveway, grabbing bags from the ground and loading them into the trunk alongside the driver.

I can’t even complain about the work right now honestly, because it’s a good distraction from what’s going on right beside me, with the brothers fawning all over Sylvia.

“Are you sure you are going to miss me?” Sylvia asks, batting her long lashes.

“Terribly,” Hugh tells her.

They each get hugs, one at a time. Even Declan gives her a big bear hug, when he’s typically so standoffish with everyone else.

I try really hard not to let my heart sink at the sight of it.

“I’ll send you a dozen postcards,” Sylvia says. “One every place we go. And I’ll call you every day.”

“We’ll answer,” Conrad promises. “Of course we will.”

I frown slightly, overhearing that. I’m not terribly fond of the idea of the brothers being on a trip with me, and then stepping away to talk with Sylvia. Though I guess I’m not surprised. If it’s only limited to phone calls, it still feels like a victory.

Blocking out their further conversation, I focus fully on placing the excess of bags into the trunk. I’m honestly surprised it all fits, because the amount of luggage here is actually ridiculous for only having two people on this trip. The driver only has a small bag that he keeps under his chair. I’ve already seen it. The rest is for Diana and Sylvia.

When we finished loading, the driver moves to the side of the car to open the doors when the passengers are ready. I stay near the back of the car, as out of the way as I can possibly be.

I wish this scene would just end, but at least I can comfort myself in the knowledge that soon I will be on my own trip with the quadruplets, off on some sandy beach somewhere, enjoying myself for a change.

That thought is the only thing that keeps me going in this moment, watching the brothers fall all over themselves lest Sylvia not think they will miss her enough.

As Sylvia and the brothers continue to say their goodbyes, Diana comes over to stand beside me, waiting.

“I’m sure you won’t mind having a few days free of us,” she tells me good-naturedly. Before I can reply, she adds, “Try to get along with my sons, won’t you? They are the Alpha Kings now. I know you hold some animosity for them labeling you as an omega, but I hope you will eventually understand.”

My own good humor at having a semi-normal conversation with Diana quickly falls. I’m at a total loss over what there is to understand. The brothers were angry with me over a perceived slight against Sylvia and wrongfully punished me for it.

Now, because of this action, it has made my life increasingly difficult.

What does she expect from me? Does she want me to be grateful?

I bite my tongue, not willing to say any of this to the woman who adopted me all those years ago. For years, she treated me like her own child, and I am still partial to her for it. I know that anything she says to me now that hurts me is not intentionally cruel.

She just put a wall up between herself and me a long time ago. Now, I’m not sure she really thinks overmuch about my feelings when she says these kinds of things.

“I’m truly looking forward to this trip,” she continues. She’s not even looking at me anymore, but at Sylvia. “When I saw and heard about how close Ella and her mother became with their trip, I had to try it out with Sylvia. She is such a light in my life, I wish we could be closer.”

She smiles, kindly and fondly, and it’s that smile more than her words that cuts down into me.

The way she is looking at Sylvia now, is the same way that she looked at me when I was growing up in her house, with her as my mother figure.

In another universe, perhaps it is she and I going on this trip together, bonding and growing closer.

Instead, I stand as an outsider to a life that was once my own, watching as Sylvia fills the places I once stood, the life I once held.

“I’m so looking forward to spending some alone time with my daughter,” Diana says.

I try to give her a smile, though she’s not looking at me. But just in case she turns her head, I don’t want her to see that I’m sad. I want her to only think of me kindly, even now, even with that wall built between us.

She doesn’t look though, and too quickly my smile wobbles and falls. It had a shaky foundation to start with and couldn’t hold for long.

“I hope you have a wonderful time,” I tell her, because I do still love her, even if it hurts. I might not be her actual daughter, but I still want the best for her as a daughter would for her mother.

She doesn’t acknowledge that I said anything. I’m not even sure she heard me.

Instead she steps forward and calls for Sylvia. “Are you ready, dear?”

Sylvia demands one more hug from each of the quadruplets before joining her mother in the backseat of the luxury sedan. The driver closes the door, then moves around to the front of the car.

Before long, the brothers and I are left watching as the car goes up the driveway, onto the road, and out of sight.

As my own vacation with the brothers starts tomorrow, I spend the evening packing my suitcases. Ella and I have gone shopping so I have a bunch of new outfits, including a few swimsuits – some revealing bikinis and others more conservative one-pieces. I fully intend to go with the flow, however I feel.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m going to be spending most of this trip naked.

I smile to myself, eager to be the center of the brothers’ attentions once more.

Then, suddenly, there’s a knock on my door.

“Who is it?” I call out, hoping its Ella.

“It’s Conrad.”

What do I do? If he comes in here and sees my suitcase, I’ll be in big trouble. Not to mention that he might piece some things together. I can’t let that happen!

When the doorknob starts to turn, I dash over to the door and draw it open – only so far so that my face is visible between the door and the door frame.

Conrad frowns at me. He tries to look past me but I block the door like my life depends on it.

He sniffs, likely trying to scent if there’s any intruders. Does he think I’m hiding Jake again? Blessedly, I haven’t seen Jake and all, and can only hope he’s moved on with his life and that Sylvia has left him alone.

“You are alone,” he says.

“I’m folding laundry,” I explain. It’s not a lie! “I don’t want you to see.”

He narrows his eyes, but doesn’t mention anything about it. Instead, he seems content to just glower at me.

“Did you need something from me?” I ask.

His answer is short and to the point. “Yes.”