Chapter 59

Gabi Hernandez worked part time as an auxiliary assistant at the private lab Victor had chosen to run the DNA test. After eavesdropping on Victor's conversation with her boss and checking the results later, she informed Bo. Bo then got the whole story from Gus who'd signed a sworn affidavit afterwards, revealing how Vivian had gotten a forger to make up a false private investigator's report and death certificate to convince Victor Olivia wasn't of Kiriakis blood after all. Questioning the technician who ran the test had sealed Victor's fate.

Olivia thought over it again as she leaned against her car in the Park. She'd spent a restless night; feelings of rage, betrayal and hatred cruising through her head, that a man who'd professed to love her would do such a thing all because he was still smarting over Carly leaving him... so many years ago! A man who could hold a grudge that long was simply dangerous and evil.

'You honestly think Victor might hurt me? Because Ma scorned him?'

'In a nutshell, I don't trust him; I never did...'

Victor had actually stooped to murder...he'd tried to kill my father, his own son! Olivia thought, still shocked. What sort of man would do that? No wonder Dad didn't want me anywhere near him!

Nathan had called her wanting to know if she was alright; having heard the whole story from Hope. EJ too, refusing to stop calling until she talked to him. The rest of the night was spent in deep thought and before dawn she'd made a big decision.

She straightened up as a black Mercedes pulled to a stop behind her car and EJ got out, striding over to her.

'Hey...' he hugged her tight before she could step away from him. 'I was so glad to get your call.'

Olivia swallowed, bracing herself for what she was about to do. 'Thanks for coming... I need to talk you.'

EJ touched her face. 'How are you bearing up?'

'Fine.' She muttered, pulling away. 'Seriously, we have to talk... about us.'

EJ shook her head, hoping she wasn't about to say what he feared she was going to say. What Victor had done really shocked him and he'd spent an agonising night worrying about Olivia and how things would stand with them from now on. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

'Olivia... I can imagine the huge shock you had last night, but you can't base what happened to your parents not to give me a chance...'

'Damn it EJ, wake up!' Olivia shouted. 'How can you still think there could ever be anything permanent between us after what my mother went through with Lawrence and Victor and your own track record?'

'Because I love you!' was EJ's loud declaration.

'The same thing both those bastards said to Ma and it turned out to be a sick, twisted obsession that led them to do terrible things to her and my father and I even got my own share!' Olivia hurled back. 'And I'm through with the drama EJ... no more of it! What I want is a normal life, a normal relationship with a man and it can never be you, I see that now.'

'Don't say that...'

'I am saying it, loud and clear.' Olivia insisted. 'Yes I had feelings for you and they've haunted me for a long time because I had no idea what they were. And the cold hard truth is... it's not love.'

EJ slowly shook his head, unable to digest what she was saying to him. 'Come on...'

'It's NOT. What I felt for you was... passion. Passion because in spite of myself I found you very attractive and probably because you're forbidden to me thanks to our families' past. But you're mature enough to know passion begins with white hot heat and then ends up in cold ashes before you know it. And it has, EJ and I'll be lying if I said I'm not happy it did. You and I... can never happen and you have to stop believing that it could.'

'You didn't even give it a chance for it to evolve into love!' EJ protested. 'Does that seem fair to you? You kept pushing me away!'

'It would have been unfair to both of us if we actually started something not because of our families now but we would've ended up just like you and Sami.'

'That's not true!'

'Being in love and thinking you're in love are two different things.' Olivia pressed on. 'What sort of relationship would that have been? Until I met my father and saw him and my mother reconnect, I had no notion about love at all, what it entailed. The more I watched them and then knowing just how they fought to stay together in spite of Lawrence and Victor, it became clear to me. I spent the whole night going over this and I can now stand here and say this... I don't love you.'

EJ felt like his whole world was crashing down. Olivia didn't love him and the way she said it was so blunt that it couldn't be an act. He was so stunned and devastated that he couldn't speak at first.

Olivia bit her lip as she stared at him. 'I'm sorry, so very sorry. But it's for the best.'

'Olivia...' his voice shook. 'What will I do without you? I love you, so much. My life changed the day we met; I kept imagining a future with you.'

Olivia shook her head.

'I suppose now you'll move on with Nathan Horton.' He said bitterly.

'What?'

'Don't pretend!' he snapped. 'I saw the way he looked at you that night, how you acted around him; he's the lesser of two evils, the safe one!'

Olivia glared at him. 'You're insinuating I want to be with him because he's safe?'

'Why not? He's from a well-respected family, closer to your age, doesn't have a sordid past like EJ DiMera! But let me tell you something my dear... if you're choosing him over me purely because of those points then you're making a huge mistake.'

'So what now, you're threatening me?' she accused.

EJ winced, realising too late how that had sounded. 'No... Of course not, never. That's not what I meant at all. I'm fully aware of Nathan's feelings for you. But I'm willing to bet you still aren't sure of yours. If you want to be with him, fine... but do you love him? It's more for your sake I'm asking you this because you said it yourself, you don't want any more drama in your life. The answer to my question should come from the heart and not your head.'

He smiled grimly at the amazed look on Olivia's face. 'Yes, I love you that much! Enough to want you to be really happy even if it's not with me but it should be for the right reasons that you want to be with him.'

Nathan's face appeared boldly in her mind, handsome features, gentle eyes, devastating smile. Every time she thought about him, EJ'S image always intruded. But not anymore... now that she's finally come clean with him. Did she love Nathan Horton?

Yes, I do, her heart answered. There's only Nathan. There only ever has been Nathan. My feelings for EJ kept interfering and I had to make sure they were real. They are real. I love Nathan!

She looked EJ in the eye. 'They are the right reasons. Truly.'

EJ bowed his head. 'I suppose there's nothing left to say.' he said resignedly.

'Will you believe me when I say it wasn't my intention to hurt you?' she asked softly.

'Of course.' he smiled faintly. 'You wouldn't wilfully hurt anyone and it's not like you led me on. Will you also believe me when I say I'll never come between you two?'

Olivia hesitated and he smiled wider, the smile sad now but genuine. 'You have nothing to fear from me. I intend to keep my word.'

'I'm sorry EJ.' Olivia's eyes suddenly filled with tears. 'I'm so very sorry...' Moving forward she hugged him, taking the initiative for once. EJ held her, breathing in the scent from her hair and savouring this moment that will never come about again.

Olivia kissed him on both cheeks and the top of his head before pulling away, still looking at him intently. 'Good bye.'

'Good bye, Olivia.'

Turning away she got into her car, started the engine and drove off. EJ stood watching until the car was out of sight. Tears filled his eyes. 'Good bye my darling.' He whispered.

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Bo, who was the only one up, was amazed to see Olivia entering the house fully dressed. 'Where were you, it's not even 7 o' clock yet!' he exclaimed.

'There's no need to go freaky on me Dad...I went for a drive.' Was the quiet answer. 'Needed to clear my head.'

Concerned Bo went to her, framing her face with his hands. 'Are you alright?'

'Considering last night's bombshell...' she shrugged. 'just when I thought Ma and I left Evil behind for good I found myself facing a much bigger form of it...'

'Hey... hey.' Bo hugged her tightly. 'He's out of our lives for good. Don't you think of him ever again.'

Olivia pulled away, staring hard at him. 'Tell me Dad... that night we met in Paris, would you have accepted me the way you did if I was actually an Alamain?'

Bo nodded without hesitation. 'Not just acceptance, I would've loved you as much as l love you now, baby girl and not for your Mum's sake... but because you are you and I love everything that makes you. You're an amazing kid; smart, beautiful, selfless and very, very brave. Any guy would be more than proud to claim you for a daughter even if you weren't his flesh and blood. And I know you'd felt the same for me.'

'I would have.' Olivia nodded, sniffling as she hugged him again. 'I would have. But all the same I'm so glad I'm yours!'

Bo kissed the top of her head, thinking over Carly's words a long time ago. I want to be able to look at a child of ours and see the two of us...

If Olivia had come to his office in Naveen's stead that fateful night his life changed forever, one look at her would have told him she was that child. And every day he treasured her, vowing to protect her always. 'I'm glad too. I love you so much!' he kissed her forehead again, ruffling her hair. 'Come on... help me fix a breakfast tray for your Mum.

Arms round each other, they went to the kitchen.