I DID IT

CHAPTER FIVE. I DID IT. Lila. "You okay?" Olivia asked me as she entered my room to find me on the bed brooding. I nodded positively, giving her a weak smile despite finding it hard to move. It's been months since we left New York City and came here, to Tuscany. Life hasn't been boring. Olivia and her father treated me like an egg, barely letting me do anything while also showering me with love. I couldn't be more lucky to have them by my side, especially at a moment like this. "You miss him, don't you?" Olivia whispered as she sat beside me on the bed. I stiffened and hid my face away, not wanting her to see I was growing teary again. These days, I have been having terrible mood swings. If I wasn't crying, I was lashing out at innocent people, but they all took it gently with me, knowing it was pregnancy hormones. I placed my hand on my belly, as I felt a sharp kick to my abdomen. I swallowed a groan, my face twisting in pain as I rubbed my belly, which was already so big I feared I was going to have six babies. My mind drifted to Lucien, and I wondered if he at least missed me. I was watching the news before Olivia came in and turned to face the TV fully, wanting to get my mind off things, but what I saw next made me gasp. "Billionaire Tycoon Lucien Hunter and his wife spotted outside a boutique, acting lovey-dovey." The news read, followed by a picture of them together, looking so happy and joyful. "Rumors are that Mrs Hunter could be pregnant. Judging by the bulge on her tummy". The reporter continued, and I noticed Lily truly had a bulge, instead of her usual flat tummy, her face glowing as she clutched tightly to Lucien, who looked at her with adoration in his eyes. I felt my breath seize, my chest tightening in pain. Olivia's eyes widened as she immediately grabbed the remote and switched off the TV, before turning to gather me in her arms. I couldn't hold back the tears. I promised myself to move on and start afresh, but I did neither. All I did rather was worry about a guy who had forgotten my entire existence. I wanted to laugh at how pathetic I was. Another sharp pain hit me, and this time, I screamed, falling off the bed onto my knees, my back aching. "Argh". I shouted, trying to grab something. Olivia's eyes crossed around the room in panic before she hurriedly came to my side, her hands wrapped around my waist. "What is it, Lila? Are you going into labor?" She questioned, worry evident in her tone. I struggled to nod, feeling my face covered in sweat as I breathed heavily. It felt like I was on fire. My body ached as another pain shot through me, my knees trembling on the floor. Olivia instantly got to her feet, ran outside, and began barking orders. "The baby is coming. Get everything ready and call the driver to get the car around now". She yelled and dashed back inside my room. "Can you stand?" She inquired gently, as she tried helping me get to my feet, but I couldn't move; I felt numb, my thoughts in disarray. 'Lucien, where are you?' I pondered, needing him, his warmth, his beautiful smile as he tried to tell me to be strong, for us, for our baby. I wanted him at the moment but he was nowhere to be found. Another tear dropped as I clenched my hands into fists, feeling the urge to scream out in agony. All I knew was that a guard came in and lifted me carefully into his arms and into the car, with Olivia getting in next to me, her hand holding mine, my head on her lap, as she whispered words of strength to me. Everything blurred out, my eyelids struggling to flick open. My entire body was weak, almost drifting into unconsciousness, but I knew I couldn't. Another pain hit me and I gripped Olivia's hands tightly, my nails digging into her palm as I bit hard on my lower lips. We arrived at the hospital in no time and I was wheeled in, with everyone running here and there, trying to get me comfortable. I wasn't surprised, Olivia's dad owned this hospital, and I was known to be his daughter, so everyone trying to please me wasn't a new thing. "You have to push". The doctor in charge told me, spreading my legs as she stroked my thighs, trying to relieve the ache. I didn't want to push. All that filled my head were memories of Lucien and Lily together, happy and forgetting my mere existence. "Lila, please.". Olivia who was allowed in the ward, pleaded, looking at me with tears in her eyes. My heart ached towards her as I tried to smile. "Why did he leave me, Olivia? Am I that horrible? Is Lily better than me?" I cried, feeling heavy tears run down my cheeks as I sniffled. It was like a knife was being plugged into my chest. Every contraction pain that rippled through my body was a reminder that I was doing this alone, without him, after all the promises we made. "He said he would never leave me, no matter what, Olivia, but where is he now?" I yelled with all my strength as Olivia held me tightly, trying hard not to cry. "Lila, please. Do this for your baby. If you don't push, there will be greater complications. Don't be like Lucien, who abandoned you. Don't abandon your child". Her words struck something into me, and I came back to reality, pulling my hands away from hers to grab both sides of the hospital bed rails. I gathered up all my strength despite feeling fatigued, beads of sweat gathering on my forehead, my teeth clenched in determination as the beeping sound of machines filled the silence, the antiseptic smell of the hospital making me want to gag. I shouted as I pushed with all my might, trying to get what was inside me out, as I panted heavily, my body shaking with each movement. "I can't do this". I sobbed, after trying for the hundredth time. "Yes, you can. It's almost out". The doctor encouraged me, patting my leg as Olivia continued to hold one of my hands, showing her support. I couldn't have done this without her. I gritted my teeth together and gave a very loud, piercing yell as I pushed with all my might before collapsing back to the bed, my heart racing as I shut my eyes. A sharp cry made me flick them open, the thin lines of my brows jumping up in surprise as I watched my baby being carried out of me. I wanted to laugh at how tiny she was but I scrunched up my face as I felt another pain ripple through me. "God! She is having another one". "What?" Olivia shrieked in disbelief, and I wanted to join her but wailed instead as I felt another thing trying to leave my baby. I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white, the pain almost unbearable as I pushed with effort. A second cry filled the room, louder than the first, sending warm feelings through me. For a moment, my pain melted away as my heart swelled with an overwhelming mix of relief and love as I watched two tiny, perfect cuties laying in each of the nurse's arms about to be cleansed. "It's a boy and a girl". Was the last thing I heard before slipping into unconscious, satisfied, letting out a sigh of relief. I made it. Lucien might not be here to witness all these, but I was and unlike him, I was going to be here for them amd protect them from this cruel world.