Olivia's POV My heart was alight with a sudden, electric joy as Ethan’s words sank in—he was proposing to Vivian, my best friend, my sister-in-law, the woman who’d stood by me through every storm. My chest swelled, my eyes stinging with tears, my hands trembling with excitement as I faced him. My throat tightened, my breath uneven as I gripped his hands, my voice bursting with enthusiasm, my heart pounding with the thrill of being part of this moment. “Ethan, I’ve got you,” I said, my words rushed, my smile wide, my tears spilling over as I squeezed his hands, my joy a tidal wave that washed away the lingering weight of my sleepless night, Austin’s question about kids, the shadow of Lucas. “Send me the details, everything you need—location, setup, timing. I’ll make sure it’s perfect.”Ethan’s face relaxed, his eyes glistening, his voice low but fervent, his hands returning my squeeze. “Thanks, Liv,” he said, his tone thick with relief, his hands gesturing wildly, his excitement
Olivia's POV My eyes burned, raw from a night of restless tossing, sleep a cruel tease that slipped away every time I reached for it. I lay in the villa’s plush bed, the Tuscan night silent except for the soft hum of crickets.My throat constricted, my hands trembling as I clutched the sheets, my tears soaking the pillow, my guilt a suffocating weight. I wasn’t whole, not enough to give Austin the future he craved, and the fear of failing him, of losing him, clawed at my insides until I couldn’t lie still any longer.I slipped out of bed, my bare feet cold against the stone floor, my heart pounding as I glanced at Austin, his chest rising and falling, his face peaceful in sleep. I needed to escape, to breathe, to find some shred of clarity in the chaos of my thoughts. The villa’s garden beckoned, its promise of cool air and quiet a faint hope against the turmoil in my head. I stepped outside, my skin prickling in the predawn chill, my breath catching as the scent of lavender and
Olivia's POV The car passed through the Tuscan countryside, the golden hills and cypress trees fading into the dusk, but Austin's words were still lingering in my mind, replaying like a broken record. My heart pounded, my hands twisting in my lap until my knuckles ached, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps as I sat beside him, his calm presence both a lifeline and a source of torment. My eyes stung with unshed tears, my throat tight with the fear that I wasn’t ready, that I was still tethered to Lucas. My stomach churned, my fingers trembling as I glanced at him, his hand steady on the wheel, his eyes soft but focused.“Don’t overthink it, Liv,” Austin said, his voice low and gentle, his glance catching mine, his smile was faint but warm. “Take your time, think it through. No pressure, okay?” His words were meant to comfort, but they only fueled my spiraling thoughts, my mind racing with the implications of a family—a child with his smile, his kindness, his strength—collidi
Olivia's POV The airport buzzed with the hum of travelers, the clatter of suitcases, and the faint crackle of announcements overhead, but my world had narrowed to the warmth of Austin’s hand in mine, the steady rhythm of his presence became a quiet anchor after the storm of the past weeks. My heart still carried the weight of guilt—Marcus’s death, the hospital visit I’d confessed to Austin—but the weekend getaway Ethan had planned felt like a chance to breathe, to rebuild, to focus on the love we were fighting for. My chest ached with a mix of hope and unease, as we stood at the gate, Aiden’s small figure darting through the crowd to hug Vivian, his mother, his giggles a spark of light in my heavy heart.“Aunt Liv took me to see Lucas!” Aiden said, his voice high, his arms wrapped around Vivian’s waist, his grin wide with excitement, his T-Rex toy tucked under one arm. “And he sent me a car model kit yesterday—it’s so cool, Mom!” My heart leaped, my breath catching, my hands cle
Olivia's POV The car hummed softly as I pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of our house was a quiet anchor after the emotional whirlwind of the day. My hands gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white, my heart still racing from the hospital visit, from Lucas’s soft apology—“I hope Austin’s doing that for you”My chest ached with guilt, the contract I’d signed to stay away from Lucas Preston a silent vow I’d bent for Aiden’s sake, a choice that now gnawed at me as I glanced at the boy in the backseat, his T-Rex toy clutched tightly, his grin wide with gratitude. My tears threatened, my breath shallow, my heart heavy with the fear of what Austin would think, what his calm exterior might hide, what my honesty might cost us.I turned off the engine, my voice soft but firm, my eyes meeting Aiden’s in the rearview mirror, my heart racing with the need to keep him safe, to keep us grounded.“Aiden, buddy,” I said, my words careful, my smile forced but warm, my hands gesturin
Olivia's POV The therapist’s office had been a quiet sanctuary, its soft lighting and muted colors a stark contrast to the chaos that had defined my life for weeks. Sitting across from Dr. Ellis, her calm voice guiding me through the tangled mess of guilt, fear, and love that knotted my heart, I’d felt a fragile relief, a loosening of the weight I’d carried since Marcus’s death, since Lucas’s shooting, since Austin’s near departure. My tears had fallen, my voice trembling as I poured out the pain—my guilt for dragging Austin into violence, my struggle to let go of Lucas, my fear of losing the marriage I’d fought to save. Dr. Ellis’s words, gentle but probing, helping me see the patterns, the choices, the love I needed to nurture. As I left, my heart was lighter, my resolve stronger, my steps steadier, though the ache of my choices lingered, a quiet reminder of the work still ahead.In the car, Aiden’s chatter filled the silence, his excitement a spark that warmed my heavy heart,