Bitter Memories

Olivia filled a new glass with alcohol, sat down at her desk, and looked at her watch. It was ten o’clock, and it reminded her that she had married Harrison in the past. The memories flooded her mind...

Six years ago...

"I love the scent that your skin gives off, Olivia. I could spend hours brushing my nose against it. I swear I wouldn’t get tired." Harrison kissed Olivia’s chest. She tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him in deeper.

"And I love the nights I spend with you, Harrison. We’ve been dating for a year now, and I’m the happiest woman in the world."

Harrison began to shower her with kisses, his lips slowly descending her belly until they reached her hips. There, he paused for a moment, wreaking havoc on her mound of Venus. Olivia barely rolled her eyes from pleasure and arched her body to give him better access to her beloved’s mouth.

After devouring every last drop of her, he moved down her legs, showering them with kisses, running his tongue slowly until he reached her feet, where he placed each finger in her mouth.

"Stop! You embarrass me," she murmured in her excitement.

"And I love doing it! You’re not going to deny me," Harrison said, running his tongue over the soles of her feet.

Olivia writhed in pleasure. He not only made her feel the luckiest woman in the world but also the most desired. Since they had met, there wasn’t a single part of her body that he didn’t worship with tenderness. That man kissed her to the bone.

After riding her tenderly and making her touch paradise, he fell sprawled on Olivia’s breast, catching his breath. As he recovered, he planted sweet kisses on her neck.

"I have to tell you something, Olivia," he said, looking into her eyes.

"Tell me, honey, what is it?"

Harrison walked over to the small table next to the bed, took out a thin velvet box from the drawer. She raised her eyebrows in confusion and, with a mischievous smile, asked:

"What’s this?"

"Now that I’m the CEO of Martens Industries, I want you to be my wife and my life partner, Olivia." Harrison opened the box and handed her a beautiful diamond ring. She didn’t expect it. Her heart began to beat hard, and excitedly, she hugged him.

"I do! I do!" Olivia put on her ring and happily threw herself at him, showering him with kisses. That night, they loved each other madly.

Three months later, the marriage was a fact. The bride and groom in love swore eternal love to each other, and by the way they loved each other, it seemed like it was going to last forever. But six months later, news arrived that would shatter their happiness.

"Harrison, close your eyes, my love," Olivia hid something behind her back.

"No! Tell me what it is," she couldn’t stand it and put her hands in front of her. In them, she held a pregnancy test. When he saw her, his heart began to beat a thousand times an hour. His eyes even filled with tears because the great dream of becoming a father was becoming a reality.

"It’s positive, my love!" Olivia said, smiling. Harrison knelt before her, lifted her shirt, and began to fill her belly with sweet kisses.

"Thank you, my queen! Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world."

Two loud knocks on Olivia's door snapped her out of her thoughts. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away the tear that had managed to fall due to her emotions.

"Come in!"

"Olivia, sorry for the interruption," Megan had returned to her office.

"What are you doing here, Megan? Your workstation can't be empty."

Megan lowered her head, her cheeks flushed.

"I know, and I apologize, but I want to ask you a big favor, if possible."

Olivia wrinkled her nose, cleared her throat, and regained her posture.

"Sure, tell me."

"Olivia, more than anyone, I know I'm not in a position to ask you for anything, but I'm in my last semester of college, and my classes start at 6 p.m. From here, I leave at 5 p.m. And of course, you can deduct it from my salary."

Olivia barely sighed. Megan didn't inspire her with negative feelings. Among the Martens, she was the only one spared from inheriting their misery. She was a special girl, and Olivia had never treated her the way they did.

"Oh, Megan! Okay, I'll amend your contract, but on the condition that as soon as you graduate, you do good things with your life. You must be better than your brother and your parents."

"Why do you hate us so much?" Megan asked innocently.

"I don't hate them, I don't hate you, Megan."

"What do you mean you don't? I mean, do you hate my brother and my parents?"

Olivia fell silent, wondering if what she really felt for them was hatred.

"No, hatred is an emotion, and I can tell you for sure, I don’t feel anything for them."

Olivia stood up to avoid Megan's probing gaze, walked to the window, and wrapped her arms around herself.

"I hope one day you can forgive us... or maybe, you can forgive my brother. The rest of us took advantage of the situation."

Olivia turned to Megan and looked at her, annoyed.

"What have you really come for? To ask for a schedule change? Or to defend your brother?"

"I don't want to defend him, because he was a big bastard. I’m just pretty sure his change was because he could never bear the pain of—"

Olivia quickly walked over and wrapped her arms around the chair Megan was sitting in, barely able to tolerate the stench of alcohol emanating from her mouth.

"Don't even think about saying it, Megan!" Olivia's eyes filled with tears, but she swallowed them to avoid crying in front of the girl.

"Why? Because you couldn't get over it either, and you put up with all the sudden changes from my brother, letting him treat you like that?"

"Shut up! You don't know what you're talking about, and I don't ever want you to do that again."

"He and you never knew how to face that situation, and that brought misfortune, not just to you, Olivia, but to everyone. I just want you to know that my brother has also suffered, and my family hasn’t helped him the way he needs."

"You're not going to defend him...!" Olivia snapped. "Nothing justifies him messing with another woman and treating me the way he did. I was always loyal to him and chose him above everything."

"That woman duped him! You know the company had many financial problems because of my father's addictions, and my brother was consumed by pain. You never talked about it—he was just a weak man, and you..."

"What about me?" Olivia glared at her, angrier.

"And you're a coward! He never wanted to accept reality, and now you feel guilty about what happened. Many times, you confirmed it wasn't your fault, but you’ve never wanted to talk about it because it still hurts. But I’m sure that when you decide to talk about it, you’ll feel better. That’s what happened to Harrison."

"Get out of my office, Megan!"

"Why do you refuse to talk about it?"

"Get out, I said!" Olivia was even angrier.

"Someday, you'll have to talk about it, Olivia. I know I’m part of the Martens, and you may not trust me, but I’m here to listen to you. Thank you for your help."

The young woman got up from her seat and obeyed Olivia's orders. As soon as she left, she smashed the glass of alcohol against the wall, leaving everything in a complete mess. It was incredible how Megan justified Harrison's bad actions when he was her husband, knowing that she was also suffering at that time and still didn't go looking for a third party.

The day dragged on for Olivia. She didn’t want to attend to visitors, suppliers, or anyone. That day, as it hadn’t happened for a long time, she drank two bottles of wine in her office. She wasn’t used to doing that, but she was anxious and desolate. She could have everything she wanted just by snapping her fingers, but there was one thing she couldn’t get—true love. She had only loved once and regretted that she couldn’t tear that love from her chest.

Meanwhile, Harrison returned late to his apartment. His family had had a long day at work. The Martens' first day at McGregor Industries was catastrophic, and his was no exception.

He sat down in the darkness, accompanied only by silence, poured himself a drink, and, coincidentally, the memories came flooding back. How he regretted making the only woman he had ever loved in his entire life suffer.