Stefan's Private Office,

Stefan's Manor

O L L I E

I was busy checking the files contained in the microchip that Devon opened in his laptop when Trevor nudged my shoulder. I glanced at him, confused. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Not something, but someone. Look." He pointed towards Stefan with a frown on his handsome face. My daddy was busy checking his part of the files, a permanent scowl on his face. "Why is your man being sulky over there? Did something happen?"

I scrunched my face and focused my full attention on Trevor, then glanced at Stefan who smiled at me when he saw me looking, then he went back to what he was doing. "Sulking? I don't think so. He just smiled right now, Trev," I casually answered and he shook his head.

"Nope, that big bear is definitely sulking. I know him. He tends to bottle up his feelings instead of talking about them, but ever since meeting you, he became a little more open," Trevor explained and I glanced again at Stefan worriedly.

"I'm not sure what happened, Trev. What should I do?" I asked in a panic, the thought that I might have done or said something upsetting to Stefan made me anxious, my fingers digging into the hem of my hoodie, my breathing labored and shallow.

"Hey, hey. Calm down, bud. Deep breaths, okay? Deep breaths. Inhale... exhale." Trevor rubbed my arms and helped me through my breathing exercises. "Calm enough?" I nodded and rubbed my chest. "Good. I don't want your man to misunderstand and think that I'm bullying you," Trevor added with an amused smile and a small eye roll.

"Silly Trev. What do you think? Should I ask him directly?"

"Cool, the straightforward approach," he nodded in agreement, his index finger tapping his chin. "That might work, then throw in a couple of puppy eyes, some lip biting and fluttering of eyelashes, and you will get him hooked, I tell you," he added with a wink, earning a smack in the back of his head from Devon who was listening in to our conversation.

"You son of a... get back here!" Trevor gritted out dangerously and Devon hid behind me, gulping nervously and pale as a white sheet.

"Oliver as a shield? Asshole," Trevor gave up and sat on the opposite couch, but not without throwing sharp glares at Devon.

Devon chuckled nervously and sat beside me. "Don't worry, Oliver. Whatever it is, he's trying to figure it out on his own. Give him time," Devon advised and patted my head, then stood up and went to Stefan. That means Stefan talked about his troubles with Devon, and a knot formed in my throat. At the same time, a heavy feeling settled in my chest. Stef doesn't trust me? Is that the reason why he turned to Devon? Am I unreliable? Maybe Devon is better than me since Devon and Stefan are best of friends.

Stefan and I promised to be honest with each other, and that includes expressing what we feel if one of us made a mistake. Taking a deep breath, I blinked away my tears and squeezed the front of my hoodie, hoping that it will help me relieve the tension and the unpleasant feelings.

Trevor cursed patted my shoulders, then sat down. "Hey, bud. I could be wrong. Maybe I read it all wrong," Trevor tried to console me and I appreciate his effort to do so. I glanced at him and cracked a cheerful smile, hoping that it was enough to disguise the painful feelings gnawing in my chest.

"Don't mind me, Trev. I'm fine. Let's just examine all the files so we can devise a solid plan of attack against Elena and Bryce." He nodded and picked up his laptop while I worked on my part. I never thought that I would feel this useless again. Call it being overdramatic, but Bryce had ingrained in my mind that no one will ever put their trust in me because I'm not worth it, and Stefan not telling me what's wrong with him just proved Bryce right.

To distract me from the pain in my chest, I busied myself with my tasks, while Trevor gave me worried glances, then sighed again. After fifteen minutes, we decided to discuss the necessary course of action. We were gathered in Stefan's office and even if I wanted to sit beside Stefan, I decided against it and settled beside Trevor.

I don't want to do something that might upset Stefan even more. Trevor just sighed again and began the discussion while Stefan looked threw me confused glances. I chewed my lower lip and focused my attention on Trevor. I get weak whenever I look at my daddy, so I forced myself not to let my eyes wander to him.

"Okay, as we all know, Elena and Bryce are after Oliver's massive fortune, and all the things they did in the past were intended to make Oliver insane, and broken, and worse, kill him," Trevor stated bluntly and I almost winced. Trevor is not the type to mince his words, and Stefan didn't like it one bit. Stefan growled lowly and threw a threatening glare at Trevor,

Trevor arched his brow. "Stop growling, Stefan. You're not a dog." Devon and I facepalmed while Trevor smirked. Stefan scowled and I gave him a small smile, hoping to ease his annoyance, and thankfully, it worked. However, I averted my eyes right away and pretended to check some documents on the table after.

It's hard to meet his gaze. I'm still conflicted about whether or not I should confront him about the issue. When I felt Stefan's burning stare, I elbowed Trevor slightly and gestured for him to continue his discussion. Trevor cleared his throat and nodded. "As I was saying, the files that we got from Oliver's microchip is more than enough to incriminate Elena and his son, and of course, all of their allies who abetted Elena for her schemes."

Devon nodded in agreement. "That's correct. We have established very solid proof that they are guilty of their crimes, and with their financial situation, they would be chasing rainbows if they think they can get a good lawyer." I snapped my head and looked at Devon, a bit confused. "My friend, you should know how much influence and power your parents and grandparents hold in this country. I don't even want to imagine what will happen if your grandparents found out about what happened to your mom and dad."

Stefan frowned and stared at me perplexedly. "Y-your grandparents don't know?" I shook my head and bit my lip. I want to tell them but Elena and Bryce did everything to block off any contact I tried to make.

Stefan swore silently and excused himself, then went out of the office. I tightened my hold on the hem of my hoodie and felt the burn from the unshed tears. My throat constricted from the lump of emotion and my chest tightened painfully. "I-Is... is he mad? Is he angry at me?" I asked Devon in a panic, my eyes still fixed on the door where Stefan rushed out, so many negative thoughts invading my mind.

Devon stood up and gave me a brief hug, while Trevor rubbed my back. "Oliver, he is mad, but not at you. Knowing him, he should be talking to his father right now so he could contact your grandparents," Devon informed me with a smile, but the news did not bring me a sense of relief. Instead, fear struck my chest and my limbs began to tremble. Both of them noticed my scared expression.

My breathing got heavier and my vision started to get blurry from lack of oxygen. I heard a commotion and Devon asked me to calm down, and that he will get my medicine and Stefan. Trevor helped me with my breathing exercises but the anxiety only made things worse. "N-No. They can't know. E-Elena... will kill them," I whispered in staggered breaths and coughed. The tears started to flow when I remembered the threat Elena made a few months ago... that if I don't zip my mouth, I can say goodbye to my grandparents... for good.

If she was able to do it to my parents, there was no doubt that she can also do that to her adoptive parents, the bitterness and spite Elena harbors for them were so strong, that the rotten emotion began to fester and eventually consumed her entire being.

"What do you mean, bud?" Trevor asked worriedly, and I want to reply but I was busy gasping for air. My chest hurts, I feel dizzy, and I need some air. It feels as if someone was choking me to death by the way I let out shallow gasps.

"T-Trev... I-I... need...to... breathe," I managed to utter in between heavy breaths, clutching my chest, as tears streamed down my cheeks. Before my vision went black, an oxygen mask was slipped onto me and I felt the familiar, warm and comfy hands on my back, rubbing soothing circles, as I leaned onto Stefan's thumping chest and labored breaths. He must have run to get to me.

I inhaled the much-needed air and closed my eyes, the tears flowing freely as I chased my breath. He lifted me and seated me on his lap, holding the mask while his other hand squeezed mine gently. "Breathe, baby boy. You can do this, my love. Breathe along with daddy," Stefan murmured and kissed my temples. I did what he said and followed his breathing pattern, my hand tightening my grip on his while my other hand squeezed his shirt.

I inhaled deeply a few times until my breathing became steady. I squeezed Stefan's hands, and he understood. He lowered the mask and wiped my sweat and tears with a fluffy towel, then pressed his lips on my forehead. "Good boy. Such a good boy, my love," he purred and I cracked a tired smile.

Devon placed my medicine on the table along with a glass of water while Trevor opened the double doors of the balcony to let the fresh breeze in. After that, Trevor handed me two pills while Stefan assisted me. When I looked at Stefan, his eyes held fear and worry, as he scanned my face for any signs of discomfort.

"D-Daddy..."

"Ollie... don't scare me like that. You don't know how terrified I was when Devon told me about your attack," Stefan said akin to a whisper and pulled me closer, embracing me as if I were a fragile gem. I slipped my arms around his neck and nuzzled on the hollow of his throat, soft sobs bubbling out of my lips. Stefan hitched a breath and we heard the door click. Trevor and Devon went out to give us some privacy.

"D-Daddy, I miss you," I murmured and sighed pleasantly. Stefan always gives me peace that's why I needed to confront him about his actions earlier. My heart can't take it anymore. I need to know, so with tears in my eyes, I gathered enough courage to utter the words,

"Did I do something to hurt you, by any chance?" His startled expression confirmed Trevor's theory and Devon's words. I couldn't hold back the tears so I let them flow.

Stefan regained his composure, a silent curse falling from his lips as he tried to comfort me in panic. It was kind of amusing how he looked so flustered, trying his best to calm me down, kissing me all over, rubbing my arms and brushing my hair, soft words of comfort slipping from his lips. "Baby... no. It's so childish and..." He averted his eyes when I tried to keep his gaze on mine as he bit his lip nervously, a tinge of red creeping up his cheeks.

I sniffed and wiped my tears as I stare at my daddy curiously, and him getting redder by the second, a series of flowery curses flowing freely from his lips. I tilted my head, "Daddy? What's wrong?"

Stefan took a deep breath and finally met my eyes, his green orbs filled with confusion, hesitance, and embarrassment, and quickly looked down. When I finally got to take a good look at him, I realized something. His expression is very familiar it hurts. This is probably how I looked when I was struggling whether to tell him my secret so I understand the struggle he is facing right now.

I cupped his chin and lifted his face, so we can see eye to eye, and gave him a fond smile. "You know Daddy, you are the one I love the most in this whole world. My heart screams for you and all of me responds to your ministrations. What are you so afraid of? Is my love that shallow that I will leave you after I hear what you have been keeping from me? Didn't we promise each other that we should be honest to each other?"