OliviaThe past week had been relentless.I threw myself into work the moment I woke up, filling every spare second with reports, calls, and planning sessions. It was the only way I knew how to cope. If I stopped, even for a second, my thoughts would spiral in directions I didn’t want to go.So I didn’t stop.I focused on Nexus, on regaining control, on proving that I could handle everything that had been thrown my way. I worked late into the nights, reviewing projections, updating strategies, and ensuring that no detail went unnoticed.And yet, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I buried myself in my responsibilities, one thought kept creeping in.Had I made the right choice?I clenched my jaw, shaking my head. I didn’t have time for doubts.Letting go of Amelia’s betrayal had been easy in comparison—she wasn’t worth the effort, and the necklace was just an object. But Lucas… Lucas had been harder. Cutting him off completely, refusing to let him back in, had taken
LucasThe past week had been a slow kind of torture.I had thrown myself into work, hoping it would drown out the thoughts that kept creeping in—thoughts of Olivia, of our last conversation, of the way she had looked at me like she had finally given up on us. I told myself that I had accepted it, that I was moving on, but even as I pulled into the parking lot of Nexus Mall, I knew I was lying to myself.The moment I stepped out of the car, I inhaled deeply, trying to shake the heaviness that had settled in my chest. I was here to restock on essentials—coffee, cereal, and water. Just the basics. Nothing more.As I walked into the mall, the buzz of people moving around barely registered in my mind. I grabbed a shopping cart and started moving down the aisles, picking things up without much thought. Everything felt mechanical—grab, toss, move on. I wasn’t even paying attention to where I was going until—Thud.Something small and fast slammed into me, catching me off guard. Before
Lucas"How? Just how did it happen?" Vivian asked again, her voice filled with disbelief.I exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of my neck. I didn’t know how to answer that question—not in a way that made sense, not in a way that didn’t make my chest tighten."Vivian, it’s… complicated."She raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with that answer, but she didn’t push me further. Instead, she reached down and grabbed Aiden’s hand. "Come on, sweetheart, we need to get going."I nodded, turning back toward the shelves. "Give me a minute. I just need to grab a few more things."I walked a few aisles down, picking up a head of cabbage, though my mind was barely on what I was buying. My thoughts were still tangled in the unexpected reunion, in the way Vivian had looked at me—so full of shock and questions I wasn’t ready to answer.I returned to them at the checkout line, setting my items on the counter. Aiden stood beside his mother, swinging his little legs, humming some tune under
Olivia The boardroom was silent as everyone took their seats. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind of tension you could almost feel physically. I sat at the head of the table, my gaze fixed on Lucas as he prepared to present the figures. The chart he was about to show us would give us all a glimpse into how well Nexus had been doing with its recent investments. It was supposed to be a victory, a moment of pride for the company, especially for Lucas. The projector hummed to life, and the numbers appeared on the screen. Lucas's voice filled the room as he explained how Nexus's little investment had grown. The graph was steady, showing a positive trend. The board members leaned forward, their eyes widening as they saw the results. It was impressive—there was no denying that. But as I watched them react, something inside me stirred. This wasn’t about numbers or growth anymore. It was about me, about Lucas. It was about what I had learned over the past few weeks, what had
OliviaThe moment I stepped into my office, the weight of my decision finally settled over me like a heavy blanket. I had just made a move that would alter Nexus’ course, cutting ties with Lucas’ company without hesitation. My heart pounded with the realization that there was no undoing what I had done. It was final.For the sake of my peace and the integrity of Nexus, I had to do it. I needed Lucas out of my life in every way. There was no way I could run this company while constantly dealing with him. Business and personal life had to stay separate.Vivian sat on the office couch, gently rocking Aiden in her arms. His tiny hands were curled into fists, resting against her shoulder as he slept soundly. His little chest rose and fell rhythmically, undisturbed by the chaos of the world around him.I let out a deep breath, walked over to my desk, and placed my laptop and files on the table. My body felt drained, as if all my energy had been zapped away in that boardroom. I pulled ou
OliviaMy fingers were lingering over the trackpad. The proposal to Robert Miller had been sent, and now all I could do was wait. I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples as exhaustion started to creep in.Across from me, Vivian sipped her iced coffee, watching me with that familiar knowing look. “You need a break, Liv.”I shook my head, barely glancing at her. “I’ll rest when Nexus is stable.”She rolled her eyes. “You keep saying that, but when will it ever be stable enough for you to stop running yourself into the ground?”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. She wasn’t wrong. Lately, I had been drowning myself in work, using it as a distraction. But the weight of today’s decisions—the tension in the boardroom, the confrontation with Lucas, and my father’s call—still lingered in my chest.“I just need to stay ahead,” I murmured. “I can’t afford to be careless.”Vivian set her cup down, leaning forward. “Olivia, you’re burning out. You already sent the proposal. Trust that you’ll
Lucas’ POVLying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling. My mind was in turmoil as the past few days had turned my entire life upside down.My company was facing an inevitable downfall. My contract with Nexus had been terminated. The board members were furious, and shareholders had been calling non-stop, demanding an explanation. My inbox was flooded with emails, each one screaming the same thing: What the hell is going on?I didn’t have an answer.I had switched off my main phone hours ago, hoping for some peace, but it never came. The feeling of failure pressed down on me, threatening to crush me entirely. Not having the biggest share in my own company meant that, at any moment, I could be voted out as CEO. The thought alone made my stomach churn.For the first time in a long while, I felt entirely powerless, and I hated it.A knock.I wasn’t in the mood for visitors. I just wanted to be alone. But, as expected, the door creaked open anyway."Lucas," my mother’s voice filled the
Olivia’s POVDinner was warm, lively, and exactly what I needed. Sitting at the table with Vivian and Aiden filled the emptiness that had been lingering in my house for weeks. It had been so long since I felt this kind of joy—simple, uncomplicated happiness. Watching Aiden’s tiny hands struggle to cut his food while Vivian helped him, laughing at his exaggerated expressions, made me realize how much I missed moments like this.“You’ve barely touched your food,” Vivian pointed out, eyeing me as she fed Aiden a piece of chicken. “Are you okay?”I blinked, realizing I had been lost in thought. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... happy you’re both here.”Vivian smiled warmly. “We’re happy to be here too, right Aiden?”Aiden nodded enthusiastically, his cheeks stuffed with food. “Mhm! Aunty Liv, your food is the best!”I chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his curls. “I’m glad you like it.”Just as we finished dinner, Vivian’s iPad rang from the table. The screen lit up with Marcus Calling. Befo
Lucas's POV The hospital walls of the hospital room wall a prison, its sterile walls and incessant beeping a constant reminder of my fragility, my confinement. Over a week had passed since I texted Olivia—“Please visit again. I have something for you”—and the silence that followed was a weight crushing my chest. Each day without her reply deepened the ache, a mix of worry, longing, and confusion that gnawed at me. What was going through her mind? Had she given up on us, pushed away by Amelia’s pregnancy, my mother’s venom, or the chaos that seemed to follow me? My heart clung to the memory of our reunion—her tears, her hands steadying me, the warmth of her presence—but the lack of response felt like a door slamming shut, leaving me to wonder if I’d lost her for good. My body was healing, the fractures in my spine and shoulder less agonizing, the concussion’s fog lifting, but my spirit was battered, trapped in this room with the two women who made every moment a trial: my mother
Olivia's POV The kitchen was a quiet haven after Dad’s departure, the clink of dishes was a gentle rhythm as Austin and I stood side by side at the sink. My hands moved mechanically, scrubbing plates, rinsing mugs, but my heart was a storm of emotions—gratitude for Austin’s steady presence, guilt for the unanswered question about our marriage, and the raw ache of letting Lucas go. Dad’s directive to cut ties with Lucas echoed in my mind, a confirmation of my own resolve, but it didn’t ease the pain, the longing for a love now out of reach. Austin’s stunned reaction to Dad’s mention of meeting his father lingered, a puzzle I couldn’t solve, stirring an unease that gnawed at me. My chest tightened, my breath shallow as I focused on the dishes, hoping the task would anchor me against the turmoil threatening to spill over.Austin’s voice broke the silence, soft but piercing, catching me off guard. “Olivia,” he said, his tone cautious, his hands pausing in the soapy water, “why do yo
Olivia's POV The morning light filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a soft glow over the counter where I stood, the scent of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee filling the air. My hands moved with purpose, cracking eggs, flipping pancakes, arranging fruit on a plate, but my heart was a tangle of resolve and lingering pain. Last night’s decision to let go of Lucas weighed heavy, a choice that felt both necessary and devastating, like severing a piece of my soul. His face—his desperate hug, his whispered relief in the hospital—haunted me, but so did the reality of Amelia’s pregnancy, his mother’s hatred, the family he was building without me. I couldn’t be the mistress, the shadow in his child’s story, and that truth had solidified my resolve to step back, to protect my heart, to honor the marriage I’d made with Austin, even if it was born of convenience. My throat tightened, my chest aching as I stirred the eggs, the clatter of the spatula a distraction from the tears threa
Olivia's POV The car was a pressure cooker, the air thick with tension, Austin’s words—“You’ll end up a mistress, a second woman”—still burning in my ears, fueling a rage that pulsed through me like wildfire. My hands shook, my chest heaving with a mix of anger and hurt, my tears streaming down my cheeks as I glared at him, his profile rigid against the city lights blurring past. His accusation had struck a nerve, igniting a fury I hadn’t expected, a defiance against the idea that my love for Lucas could be reduced to something so degrading, so small. But beneath the anger was a gnawing fear, a whisper that he might be right, that my place in Lucas’s life was precarious, shadowed by Amelia’s pregnancy and his mother’s hatred. My throat tightened, my heart aching.The guilt of hurting Austin, and the stubborn love for Lucas that refused to let go.Austin’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched, but his voice broke the silence, low and sharp, pushing the tension higher.
Olivia's POV My heart pounded, my breath shallow, my eyes fixed on Amelia, crumpled on the floor, her hands curled around her belly, her sharp cry echoing in the sterile corridor. Lucas was on his knees beside her, his face pale with guilt and panic, his trembling hands reaching to lift her despite his own weakness, the IV line swaying precariously. My chest ached, torn between the love that had surged during our brief, stolen moment—his arms around me, his lips on my forehead—and the crushing guilt of witnessing this fallout, the chaos my presence seemed to ignite. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes as I stepped forward, instinct driving me to help Lucas, to steady him as he struggled.“Lucas,” I said, my voice trembling, my hands gripping his arm, supporting his weight as he tried again to lift Amelia, his breath ragged, his eyes wild with fear. But Victoria’s hand shot out, shoving me back with a force that made me stumble, her glare venomous. “Stay away!” she spat,
Lucas's POV “She’s a married woman, she doesn’t belong to you”His statement hung in the air, a cold reminder of the boundaries I’d crossed. My chest tightened, a mix of embarrassment and defiance flooding me as I realized the scene we’d made, my arms around Olivia, my lips on her forehead, all under the hospital’s fluorescent glare. Faces turned our way—nurses, visitors, their eyes curious, judgmental—and I felt heat rise to my cheeks, a flicker of shame for letting my emotions override caution. My body ached, the IV line tugging at my hand, the pain in my spine and shoulder a constant throb, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart, the desperate need to hold onto Olivia, to keep her close after nearly losing her.I pulled back, my hands dropping from her face, my voice low, apologetic. “I’m sorry,” I said, my eyes flicking to Austin, then back to Olivia, my throat tight with regret. “I didn’t mean to… I just—I thought you were gone, and I couldn’t—” My words falter
Lucas's POVThe hospital room felt like a cage, its sterile walls closing in, the incessant beep of the heart monitor a mocking reminder of my fragility. My body ached—my spine and shoulder throbbed with every breath, my head pounded with the lingering fog of the concussion—but the real pain was in my chest, a raw, searing ache that came from Amelia’s words: “Olivia’s dead. She died in the explosion.” The memory of her venomous lie, the way it had shattered me before I lost consciousness, haunted me, a wound that refused to heal. I lay propped against the pillows, my hands clenched, my heart a battlefield of grief, doubt, and a stubborn flicker of hope that Olivia was still out there, alive, despite Amelia’s cruelty. The room was a prison, and the two people in it—Amelia and my mother—were the most unbearable company I could imagine, their presence a suffocating weight that made me dread every moment.Amelia sat in a chair by the window, her arms crossed, her face a mask of sullen
Olivia's POV The hospital lobby was a crucible of judgment, every pair of eyes boring into me like a spotlight, their stares heavy with suspicion and curiosity. Victoria stood before me, her face twisted with grief and rage, her voice still ringing in my ears—“Murderer!”—a word that branded me, searing into my heart. My chest heaved, my breath shallow, my legs trembling as I stood frozen. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes as guilt and fear churned within me, a relentless storm that whispered I was to blame, that my presence was a curse, dragging death and destruction to everyone I loved. The whispers of onlookers—nurses, visitors, staff—grew louder, a chorus of judgment that made my skin crawl, my heart pounding with a panic I couldn’t quell.Austin’s hand was on my arm, his presence a steady anchor, but before he could speak, a commotion broke through the crowd. Two police officers pushed their way toward us, their faces stern, their steps purposeful, led by an older
Olivia's PovThe morning sun casted soft shadows across the hardwood floor, but its warmth did little to ease the chill that had settled deep in my bones. I’d chosen to stay home today, my heart and body too heavy to face the world beyond these walls. The past days had been a relentless storm—Lucas’s injuries, the explosion that obliterated my car, Richard’s chilling admission that it was meant for me, and Amelia’s venomous accusations at the hospital. My chest was a tight knot of worry, fear, and guilt, each emotion a weight that anchored me to the sofa, my knees drawn to my chest, a blanket draped over my shoulders like a fragile shield. The news, always ravenous for scandal, seemed to stalk me, my name or my company’s splashed across headlines month after month, a cycle of exposure that left me feeling raw, vulnerable, a target in a game I couldn’t decipher. My throat tightened, my breath shallow as I stared blankly at the wall, my thoughts a tangled mess of dread and despair.