Olivia’s POV
I froze when Mother said it.
"They’re here to see you."
My stomach twisted. The last thing I wanted was visitors, especially them. I wasn’t ready to face anyone, not after everything that happened.
"I don’t want to see them," I said quietly, keeping my eyes fixed on Lennox’s blanket still clutched in my hand. "Can they leave?"
Mother sighed softly, her eyes full of pity for me, like she could do anything to take away my pain. "You have to see them, Olivia. They came all this way. They’re family."
That word again, family. I actually don’t see them as one.
I didn’t argue. I just nodded weakly and followed her out of Lennox’s room. When I entered, they were already seated, my brother Calvin and my mother, waiting. Their faces lit up when they saw me, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile back.
I sat beside Mother, folding my hands on my lap. The silence stretched awkwardly, thick enough to choke on.
Calvin leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle. "You look tired, Oli."
I forced a faint smile. "I’ve been better."
He nodded, clearly unsure what to say next. My eyes darted between them, familiar faces that suddenly felt distant. They were my family, my blood, but I didn’t feel close to them.
My biological mother reached for my hand and squeezed it softly. "We just wanted to see how you’re holding up," she said. "We’ve been worried."
I swallowed hard, staring at our joined hands. "I’m fine," I whispered, though we all knew it was a lie.
She flashed me a warm smile and then suggested, "Maybe a change of environment will help."
"She is not going anywhere."
The authoritative voice of Louis echoed from the stairs as he made his presence known. All eyes turned toward him, and one look at his face was enough to see how angry he was.
"Olivia stays here. She needs us," he declared firmly.
I swallowed hard and looked back at my biological mother and Calvin. "I’m okay being here. If I need space or anything, I can always teleport."
Calvin looked like he wanted to speak, but Mother stopped him by gently placing her hand on his arm. I watched him sigh and look away.
Mother smiled; it looked genuine, but I couldn’t find the strength to smile back. Despite being my biological mother, our relationship was sour.
"I wish to have a conversation one day with you, my dear," she said softly, her eyes glistening. "I know I’ve failed in my duties as a mother, and I hope you can forgive me, give me another chance."
For a moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. Part of me wanted to say something, but my heart wasn’t ready for this. Not now.
"Now isn’t the time for this," I said quietly, forcing my voice to stay steady. "We’ll talk when I’m ready."

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