CHAPTER 7 THE NAME HE COULDN'T FINISH

Olivia remained beside Richard’s bed long after the others had left. The room was quiet except for the soft, steady rhythm of the monitors. She looked down at the small silver key resting in her palm, then carefully slipped it into her handbag beside the still-sealed envelope.

Richard watched her with tired eyes. He noticed the slight tremor in her hands.

“You’re stronger than you think,” he said gently.

Olivia forced a smile, refusing to let the tears fall while he was watching. “You’re going to recover. We’ll go home together. You’ll sit in your old chair and complain about the tea being too strong, just like always.”

Richard smiled, but sadness lingered behind it. He knew there was a chance he would never leave this hospital. Before the nurse returned, he spoke quietly.

“Whatever happens… don’t let anger become your home.”

Olivia nodded. “I promise.”

She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then stepped outside so the nurses could continue his treatment. Richard’s gaze lingered on the closed door long after she was gone.

Olivia walked down the corridor to buy coffee for herself and her mother. She moved slowly, exhaustion weighing on her steps.

She passed a man wearing a hospital visitor’s badge without noticing him. His face was partially hidden beneath a low cap. His eyes followed the handbag at her side.

He spoke quietly into a Bluetooth earpiece.

“She has the envelope.”

A short pause.

“And the key.”

He listened to the reply, then turned without another word and walked toward Richard’s room. Olivia continued toward the coffee station, completely unaware of the danger that had just brushed past her.

Across the city, Lucien returned to Ashford Manor alone for the first time since the divorce.

The silence was heavier than he expected.

He noticed the absences immediately. The fresh flowers Olivia always kept in the entryway were gone. The piano lid remained closed. The dining table sat empty. Her favorite blanket was missing from the living room sofa.

In the kitchen, one of the staff spoke carefully.

“Mrs… Miss Olivia always reminded us not to let you skip dinner when you worked late.”

Lucien said nothing. He realized, with a quiet discomfort, that even after everything, Olivia had continued caring for him in small, unnoticed ways.

Unable to sleep, Lucien wandered into the dining room.

The servants had preserved one small box they found after Olivia left. He opened it.

Inside was the anniversary gift she never got to give him a handcrafted leather notebook with his initials embossed on the cover. He turned to the first page.

A handwritten note read:

“For the dreams you never tell anyone about. I hope one day you’ll trust me enough to share them.”

Lucien closed the notebook slowly.

For the first time since the divorce, guilt began to replace the cold satisfaction he had expected to feel. He stood alone in the empty room and whispered to himself,

“Why does this feel like I lost… instead of won?”

Back at the hospital, Richard woke briefly.

He noticed a figure standing near the doorway. His expression changed at once. Fear filled his eyes.

The visitor did not step inside. He simply smiled a cold, knowing smile then turned and walked away before anyone else could notice him.

Richard’s heart monitor began to race.

When Olivia returned with the coffee, she saw the panic on her father’s face and rushed to his side.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

Richard tried to speak. He grabbed her wrist with surprising strength, lips trembling. Before he could form the words, a nurse entered to administer his medication. The moment slipped away.

Later, outside the room, Olivia’s mother spoke quietly to Richard.

“Did you see him again?”

Richard closed his eyes. He did not answer. His silence was enough.

Olivia overheard only fragments of the exchange. Confusion settled over her. Who were they talking about? Before she could ask, her mother changed the subject, leaving the question unanswered.

Late that evening, Richard asked to speak with Olivia alone.

Everyone else left the room. He looked exhausted, but determined. He reached for her hand.

“There are things I’ve hidden from you…”

Olivia gently stopped him. “We can talk when you’re stronger.”

Richard shook his head. “No. You need to know now.”

He glanced toward the closed door, then toward the window. His breathing grew uneven. His voice dropped to a whisper.

“Never trust anyone from the Ashford family.”

Olivia froze. She had never heard such fear in her father’s voice.

Richard continued, “Especially…”

He suddenly stopped. His eyes widened. He was staring at something behind her.

Olivia spun around. No one was there.

When she looked back, Richard was clutching his chest.

The heart monitor erupted into a loud, continuous alarm.

Doctors and nurses stormed into the room. Someone pulled Olivia away from the bed. She struggled against their hold.

“Dad!”

Richard reached toward her with trembling fingers. His lips moved. She pushed closer despite the nurses trying to restrain her.

Using the last of his strength, Richard mouthed a single name.

“Victor…”

Before Olivia could ask who Victor was, the monitor let out a long, unbroken tone.

“BEEEEEEEEEP”

Doctors immediately began CPR. One shouted for the defibrillator. Another yelled, “Clear!”

Olivia stood outside the room, body shaking uncontrollably, staring through the glass as they fought to save her father’s life.

Her mind kept replaying one word.

Victor.

She had no idea who he was.

But deep in her heart, she knew that name was connected to everything that had destroyed her life