Chapter 14
"What are you planning to do about Olivia's baby?" Matthew's gaze, just like Quinton's, was so oppressive that I didn't dare meet his eyes.
"Mom and Dad have been pushing Layla to have a baby. Since Layla doesn't want one, we can just let Olivia have it. It's my child either way, so what's the big deal?"
As soon as I said this, Matthew grabbed me by the collar.
"William, listen to yourself! Are you even hearing what you're saying? You've completely lost your mind!"
Matthew was incredibly strong. He dragged me outside and punched me right in the face.
In an instant, my mind went blank. I lost my balance and fell hard to the ground.
The pain shooting through my body, combined with the humiliation of being hit, made me furious.
I didn't think I'd done anything wrong.
After all, I'd only done what every man does. And it was just physical cheating, not falling in love with someone else. My heart still belonged only to Layla.
As for having Olivia give birth and then leave, that was a mutual agreement.
I'd promised Olivia enough money to support her for life. She agreed, I was willing—why did everyone have to stick their nose in?
Quinton hated cheating because his father was heartless, but what did that have to do with me?
I wouldn't hurt Layla, I wouldn't bring my mistress home, and I'd even bring them a grandchild. Shouldn't Quinton be thrilled?
On this point, Quinton and Matthew were far less understanding than Harper. Only Harper was on my side and thought I was innocent.
The more I thought about it, the more wronged I felt. Not caring whether Quinton could hear me, I shouted at Matthew, "What gives you the right to hit me? Look around at everyone in our circle—who doesn't have a few mistresses on the side? Why is it such a big deal that I found one woman?"
"I really don't understand—are you my family or Layla's family!"
"You ungrateful bastard! Have you forgotten everything I taught you about honor and decency!" Quinton's angry rebuke rang out. My heart sank, and I finally calmed down.
But it was too late. Quinton came charging out of the house with a riding crop, surprisingly agile, and lashed me with it.
The burning sting of the crop on my back made me jump up instantly. "Dad, I was wrong! Please stop!"
"You were wrong? I don't think you realize your mistake at all! How did the Brown family end up with a disgrace like you?" Quinton showed no sign of stopping. Each strike landed hard on my body.
I could even smell blood in the air.
"Quinton, stop! This is our son! You'll hurt him badly if you keep this up!" Harper ran over in distress, first pleading with Quinton.
When he ignored her, Harper threw herself over me, shielding me with her body and taking a lash herself, which finally made Quinton calm down.
"Get out! Don't come back to this house until you've gotten rid of all those women!" Quinton pointed at my nose with a trembling hand, ordering me to leave.
Looking at the wound on Harper's shoulder, I felt both heartbroken and guilty, but I also increasingly felt that Quinton and Matthew were overreacting.
"Dad, I just made a mistake that all men make. Why can't you give me another chance!"
Just as I finished shouting this, Matthew asked casually, "William, if Layla cheated on you with another man, would you be willing to accept her?"
"Of course not!" My instinctive answer made Matthew laugh.
I didn't understand what I'd done wrong. After being kicked out by Quinton, I sat in my car, lost and confused. Only the dull pain from my body reminded me this wasn't a dream.
I couldn't help but think back to how it all started—that first reckless night with Olivia.
Thinking about my current situation, anger surged through me, and I blamed her as the source of all this trouble.
"It's all that bitch Olivia's fault! I don't want this baby anymore!"
The angrier I got, the more I wanted Olivia to have an abortion.
Layla leaving home, insisting on divorce, Quinton's fury and beating—it all came down to Olivia being pregnant.
If this baby were gone, everything could go back to normal, and I wouldn't have to bear the label of being a scumbag!
Once this baby was gone, everything would settle down, and we could all go back to how things were!
In that moment, getting rid of the baby was all I could think about. Without hesitation, I floored the gas pedal and headed straight to Olivia's place.
Ten minutes later, Olivia opened the door wearing a face mask.
Seeing it was me, she cooed playfully, "Why are you so late? I couldn't find you these past few days. I thought you didn't want me and the baby anymore."
"I don't want you anymore," I responded flatly.
"You're such a joker. How could you not want us..." Olivia thought I was kidding and playfully tapped my chest.
Before, whenever I saw her acting cute like this, it would lift my spirits.
But now, I just found it incredibly annoying.
I coldly pushed away Olivia as she leaned in, pulled out my checkbook, and said, "I'm not joking. Name your price. How much will it take for you to abort this baby?"
"Why? Didn't you say before that you wanted me to have this baby and give it to Layla to raise?"
"You said it yourself—that was before. I don't want this baby anymore." I frowned impatiently. "Just name a price. One-time payment, and you can never bother me again."
"Why? Is it Layla who wants to abort this baby?"
I lost my patience and said sternly, "It's me who doesn't want it. You're coming with me right now to get rid of it."
"No! No! This is my baby. I want to keep it!"
"William, my feelings for you are real. Can you really bear to abort our love child?"
"William, please, let me have this baby. I swear I'll behave. I'll leave right after giving birth and never bother you and Layla again. Isn't that enough?"
No matter how much Olivia begged, I turned a deaf ear. I grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the door.
"No! I won't abort my baby!"
I was already irritated, and Olivia's piercing screams gave me a headache. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.
The sharp sound of the slap finally made Olivia quiet down.
I grabbed her chin roughly and warned, "You know exactly why I got together with you in the first place, don't you? A woman like you doesn't deserve to have my child!"
"I suggest you listen to me while I still have patience. Otherwise, I'll make sure you get nothing and never work in this circle again!"
Olivia's eyes widened in disbelief. Frightened and trembling, she stopped resisting.
Thinking I'd intimidated her, I continued dragging her toward the car.
But just as I went to open the car door and briefly let go of her, Olivia turned and ran.
She was wearing slippers, though, and hadn't taken more than two steps when she slipped and fell headfirst to the ground.
"Olivia! Are you okay?"
Though I seemed heartless, seeing Olivia fall and get hurt made my heart clench. I rushed over to check on her.
"Blood! William, I'm bleeding! Get me to the hospital!"
A stream of crimson slowly flowed from between Olivia's legs.
"William, our baby..."
I'd said I wanted to abort this baby, but faced with actually losing it, my heart clenched so tight I could barely breathe.
In that moment, my mind went blank. Instinctively, I picked up Olivia and rushed her to the hospital.
I realized I couldn't be cold-blooded enough to abort my own child after all.
Well, since things had come to this, I'd keep the baby.
As for Layla, I believed our ten years together meant she couldn't just walk away.
She was such a kind person—she would accept my child with Olivia. It was just a matter of time.