Chapter 4 Breaking point

Oliver James was a senior at my university.

I remembered him from my first year, when I was scrambling for every penny to stay enrolled and he was gliding through his final year like he owned the world. The rumors about him being transferred from some prestigious university abroad to here followed him. His reasons were that he preferred home.

Everything about him had irritated me then. The designer clothes, the casual way he'd buy coffee for entire study groups without blinking, the confidence that came from never having to check your bank account before ordering anything. I'd lumped him in with all the other rich spoiled kids. Shallow, completely disconnected from reality.

But Oliver had always been... different. When I'd dropped my books rushing to my part-time job, he'd helped me gather them. When other students whispered about me, being a money grubber, he'd simply nod hello like I was worth his time.

It had confused me, made me question my hatred of anyone born with a silver spoon. But I'd pushed those doubts away. Rich people were all the same, I'd told myself. He was probably just better at hiding it.

And there was also a time when he adamantly escorted me to one of my part-time jobs at a convenience store, which was a night shift. Even when I had told him he didn't have to, he refused.

"I can't allow a lady to walk at night alone." He said.

I reminded him we aren't close enough for him to be concerned about my safety, but still..

He waited longer than I had thought, helping me arrange things at the store, taking out expiring products as per my boss's command.

Tonia stopped by that day, showing her real self just as always, with no reason. She took some snacks without paying. I didn't say anything because it had always been like that. I pay for it. But instead of leaving, she decided to humiliate me before Oliver stepped in.

"Leave while I'm saying nicely." He said, calmly.

Tonia glared at me, stunned by his appearance before leaving shortly.

Since then, her jealousy increased; she thought there was something between me and Oliver. And told me to stay away from him that she likes him and will have him soon.

He was never mine to begin with. Who cares?

# Back in the present#

"Kaira..." Oliver's voice was barely above a whisper, and then his eyes rolled back, his body going limp.

"Wait, what?" I murmured.

Panic shot through me as I scrambled for my phone, my hands shaking so badly I could barely dial. The paramedics seemed to take forever, though it was probably only minutes. As they loaded Oliver onto the stretcher, I followed without thinking, my heart pounding with guilt and fear.

He'd saved me. Again.

* * *

Damien James sat behind his desk, the portrait spread before him. His secretary stood at attention, having just delivered a report.

"Her name is Kaira Yaren, business major at Metropolitan University," He said.

Then tucked in his hand inside his pocket to get his phone. He sent Kaira photos to Damien instantly.

"Sir, I just sent you a photo of Ms Kaira."

Damian stared at it immediately, taking in her features for a while before ordering his secretary to delete the photo from his phone.

He breathed a sigh of relief after finally getting back all of his memories. Alcohol, sure did them bad? They were both lightweight. So, of course, they were easily drunk.

She seemed nice, innocent, and..

"Go on with your report." He ordered, his face stoic.

"She is twenty years old and worked part-time at The Glass House as a bartender until about four weeks ago, then disappeared from their employment records."

"Twenty years," Damien murmured,

"She's young." He added.

"Probably too young for the complications my world would bring her." He said, inwardly.

"That metropolitan, isn't that where my brother is schooling?" He asked.

"Oliver, he's also a business major, right?" He added.

"Yes sir." His secretary replied.

"Find where she lives. Making discreet without Oliver finding out about it," he ordered, his expression hard.

"Let me know as soon as you get her current address." He added.

His secretary bowed slightly.

"Yes, sir. Immediately."

"May I ask how important this lady is?" Curiously, his secretary asked.

"It's not in your place to ask," Damien replied.

"But I will answer your question, to avoid you losing your job soon." He added.

"Kaira, she will become my wife soon. And your boss.

So when you find her, be reminded of this and treat her well. Being rude to her is the same as insulting me." Damien said, in a serious manner.

"I will bear that in mind sir." His secretary said in a bow.

"And if words link out, be ready to bear the consequences," Damian warned.

"You may leave." He added.

* * *

In the hospital, I sat on the uncomfortable plastic chair beside Oliver's bed, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, trying to process what the doctor had just told me.

"Miss Yaren," Dr. Patel said gently,

"Mr. Oliver has a history of previous injuries. The impact when he hit the pavement aggravated an old leg injury, and the head trauma could potentially cause temporary memory loss. We won't know the extent until he wakes up."

"What?" The word had fallen from my lips. I'd rubbed the back of my head, completely at a loss for words.

The doctor had given me that sympathetic kind but distant look.

"We're hoping he'll wake up within forty-eight hours, but I can't make any guarantees. These things depend entirely on the patient."

The doctor had also advised me about stress, after a quick check on me.

"You need a lot of rest, Miss. You are carrying a child inside of you." Dr Patel said.

I thanked him for his kind gesture and also used the opportunity to ask him, I wasn't sure, I wasn't going to do it either but I asked regardless.

"About... aborting the baby, Dr." I paused.

"Do not try it except you do not want to ever have a child of your own." The doctor said.

"I regret informing you, but if you get rid of the baby, you won't be able to conceive again. So, the choice is yours." He added.

I wasn't going to kill my child anyway, and I also regretted asking something like that.

Now, staring at Oliver's still form, guilt ate at me...

"You should have let me take the hit," I thought, then immediately felt sick as my hand moved instinctively to my stomach.

But Oliver... what if he never woke up? What if he did wake up but didn't remember anything? having signed the forms when no family could be reached.

The responsibility felt crushing. How could I go back to that house? When Oliver might need someone to help him recover...

A memory surfaced.

There was this run-down apartment I'd put a deposit on months ago. It was tiny, barely more than a room with a kitchenette. The apartment was hidden in a maze of narrow streets near the university. I'd planned to move there to be closer to school, but had never found the courage to tell my aunt and uncle. I'd been considering asking for my deposit back.

Now it seemed like providence.

The money I'd saved for next year's tuition would have to go toward completing the rent. It would mean delaying my return to school even longer, as I had already missed a whole semester. But what choice did I have?

"I will be back for you, Oliver," I murmured before leaving.

* * *

Soon, after the grocery shopping, I rushed home immediately. The house felt more hostile. Tonia was waiting by the front door.

"What took you so long?" she demanded before I'd even crossed the threshold.

"Out flirting with another man? A married one this time?"

I tried to walk past her, exhaustion weighing down my limbs, but her hand shot out and grabbed my hair, yanking me backward.

"Come back here! I haven't finished talking. How rude!"

Pain shot across my scalp, but I gritted my teeth.

I told myself to just endure it a little longer.

"Do you think because you've tasted what adults do, you can act like one? How brazen!"

My patience finally snapped.

"I know. Please let a bitch like me rest."

Tonia's eyes went wide with outrage.

"MOM!" she shrieked.

"MOM, COME HEAR WHAT KAIRA JUST SAID TO ME!"

Aunt Martha's footsteps approached quickly, her face already twisted with rage before she even knew what had happened.

"She called me a bitch!" Tonia lied smoothly, tears actually managing to gather in her eyes.

"I was just asking where she'd been, and she started insulting me! As her older sister, I deserve respect!"

"What did you say to her?" Aunt Martha asked, angrily.

The truth didn't matter. It has never been in this house. Before I could even attempt to defend myself, Aunt Martha's hand connected with the side of my head, sending me stumbling into the wall. The grocery bags fell from my hands, cans rolling across the floor.

"Two years older!" Aunt Martha continued, punctuating each word with another blow.

"You think because you're grown enough to spread your legs, you can disrespect your elders? I'll teach you the home training you deserve!"

I curled into myself, one hand protecting my face, the other wrapped around my stomach as Aunt Martha landed me with a slap.

"Be strong, Kaira. Endure just a little while..." I said to myself, inwardly.

But Tonia wasn't satisfied with just watching. With a cruel smirk, she pushed my protective hand away from my stomach.

"What are you protecting?" she said, mockingly.

"Your little bastard?" she added.

"Thank God Tony isn't around to save you this time, let's see how long you endure.

Tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over.

Aunt Martha raised her hand for another strike, this one aimed directly at my face. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of someone pounding on the front door echoed through the house, but my aunt was too focused on her rage to notice. Tonia also.

BANG!

The door burst open on the third knock, just as Aunt Martha's hand began its descent toward my face.

A hand caught her wrist mid-swing.

"What do you think you're doing?!" The voice was filled with anger.

Aunt Martha's mouth fell open in shock. Tonia took a step backward.

I slightly raised my head up...

* * *