Chapter 7

“Olivia!”

I flinched. The hot coffee I was pouring into the glass overflowed, splashing onto my hand.

Brenda stared at me in confusion, her thick brows knitting together. “Are you okay?” She took the glass from me and told me to rinse my hand under the sink.

I barely felt the pain. It was like I’d gone numb.

My thoughts kept wandering, spinning through all kinds of crazy possibilities about Xavier. About our insane agreement. About that promising touch that kept making me wonder every second.

What exactly was Xavier planning?

When would he demand that agreement?

And why… was a part of me actually curious?

“You’re spacing out again, Olivia. What are you thinking about?” Brenda’s warm, crisp voice broke into my thoughts. I turned to her and found her raising an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about Dent. He’s out of town on a business trip,” I lied, even though Dent hadn’t crossed my mind at all—despite the fact that he was my husband.

“Oh, you could call him if you miss him.” Brenda set the glass in the sink and began washing it beside me while I stood there frozen.

Miss him?

Where did that feeling go? Whenever Dent used to leave for business trips, I would always miss him. I’d want him to come home as soon as possible just so I could see him again.

Where had that feeling gone?

I stared blankly at the glass in Brenda’s hand. When she glanced at me, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts.

“Just call him,” Brenda said.

I gave a weak nod.

Seeing that the other staff could handle the customers, I headed to my office and picked up my phone. I called Dent, and he answered on the very first ring.

“Sweetheart, you finally called me. Are you that busy?” Dent asked, sounding excited—very different from my flat response.

“Pretty busy. I just finished helping Brenda at the counter.”

“You’re at the café, right? Don’t overwork yourself. Just work enough,” Dent said gently.

I fell silent. Normally, words like that would soften my heart. But why not now? Why did I feel nothing?

I leaned back in my chair before responding with a soft hum.

“How’s your work there? When are you coming home?”

“Maybe next week. There’s a lot I need to take care of.” Dent let out a tired sigh. “That’s okay, right?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I lowered my gaze, watching our wedding photo sitting on my desk. “I miss you,” I whispered.

Miss him?

You’re lying to yourself—and to Dent, too. You don’t even feel restless about him being gone, my inner voice sneered.

“Me too. I’ll call you tonight. Have a good day at work, sweetheart,” Dent said.

I kissed the phone screen before ending the call.

Letting out a long sigh, I rubbed my temples. Brenda walked in with a grin, gesturing toward Elena, who followed behind her.

I immediately stood up to greet Elena, who walked in with a wide smile. She looked perfectly fine—even after openly admitting to her affair.

“You look gloomy. What’s wrong? Did you fight with Dent?” Elena asked as she sat across from me, resting her hands on the table.

I shook my head with a faint smile. “Just tired. And Dent’s out of town.”

Elena laughed. “Ah, that explains why you look so worn out.”

I pursed my lips, understanding the implication behind her teasing. I rested my arms on the table and looked at her carefully.

“How’s your relationship with that man?”

“We’re getting closer.”

“You don’t feel guilty toward Brian?”

“I do. But what I get from this man is worth what I want.” Elena grinned. “As long as Brian doesn’t find out, I’m going to enjoy this little affair.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “Wow. You really are crazy.”

You’re not much different, my inner voice chimed in.

“Brian might give me everything,” Elena said casually. “Money, a house, even children.” She traced small circles on the table with her finger, distracting herself. A moment later, she looked up at me. “But this man gives me satisfaction.”

“That’s just temporary pleasure.”

“You’re not in my position, Olivia. It’s easy for you to say that because you’ve never felt it,” Elena shot back, letting out a long sigh. She leaned back in her chair. “Anyway, I didn’t come here to talk about this!”

Still processing her words, I glanced at the invitation she slid toward me.

“Come, okay? My husband is throwing a party to celebrate his company’s success.”

Elena grabbed her bag and stood up. “If Dent can’t come, you can bring anyone.”

I nodded. For a moment, I considered asking Xavier to go with me—but how would Elena and Amanda react if they saw him? Would they think something was wrong?

Deciding to think about it later, I said goodbye to Brenda.

By late afternoon, I went home with a messy head. But when I saw Xavier’s car already parked in the driveway, it was clear that my chaotic thoughts were nothing compared to what was waiting for me inside.

When I entered the house, I saw him sitting casually in the living room.

“You’re home already?” I asked nervously.

The atmosphere in this house always changed whenever I was with Xavier. There was an invisible tension in the air, and it made me weak.

“Yeah. There weren’t many patients today, so I closed early,” Xavier replied calmly. He patted the empty spot on the sofa beside him.

I obediently sat down, feeling his hand rest on my thigh.

“I’ve made a decision.”

My body stiffened. “About what?”

“Until Dent comes home, I want you to give yourself to me.”

My eyes widened. What was he talking about? Wasn’t the agreement only once? Why was he asking for more now?

I quickly stood up in front of him.

“I won’t! I only agreed to once.”

“I already told you,” he said calmly, looking up at me, “you’re not in a position to control the game.”

I clenched my fists, wanting to slap him.

“You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” he replied lightly. “The choice is yours.” He looked straight at me. “Agree… or the video gets out.”

My lips went dry. My throat tightened at the threat. Just imagining that obscene video being spread was enough to make my knees weak.

I sat back down on the sofa, staring at Xavier as he loosened his tie across from me.

He looked so calm. As if he had been waiting for this moment.

For my surrender.

“For the next seven days, I’ll serve you.”

Xavier crossed his legs and leaned back, his sharp gaze fixed on me. He nodded with satisfaction.

“After that… you’ll never ask anything from me again,” I said firmly. “And you’ll leave this house.”

A thin, mocking smile curved on Xavier’s lips. I didn’t care. I just wanted this agreement to end as soon as possible, even if it meant crossing this damned line.

“Alright.”

He pulled me by the waist and effortlessly lifted me onto his lap. A wide grin spread across his face.

“The agreement starts now.”

I swallowed hard.

Is this the right decision, Olivia? You’re about to taste your own brother-in-law. Where are all those morals you believed in?

Even as my inner voice kept mocking me, I didn’t try to pull away when Xavier lifted the hem of my long skirt. When his lips trailed along my neck and ended with a gentle bite on my heated earlobe.

“Ah… I think I forgot to mention something,” he whispered. “There’s no limit to how many times we can do it.”

I glared at him.

He had just thrown me into the deepest hell, hadn’t he?

You’ve been trapped by him, Olivia.