Chapter Forty One

Olivia knew exactly what she needed to do when the stranger told her that she ought to have been upfront with Damian.

She had to quit looking for answers.

For the time being, at least.

She stared at the lonely road below from her apartment window.

The old papers were still in the black box on the table. She already examined it three times. The missing document was still gone.

The picture was still there. The message remained.

You should have told Damian the truth when you had the chance.

Olivia sat down slowly. Most people would have experienced dread after receiving a statement of that kind. It sparked something else for Olivia. Anger.

After Damian broke off their engagement, she had spent two years putting her life back together. She had trained herself to manage her emotions and never let them show when someone had wounded her.

That made her more dangerous.

She moved slowly. She waited patiently.

Then, at the time when the other person was least prepared for it, she made her move.

Her experience with Damian had demonstrated that.

Olivia had believed three years prior that she would be his wife.

Their families had rejoiced at their impending union.

At every significant event, she had imagined herself standing next to Damian.

Children had been on her mind.

A house. Family.

She had envisioned growing elderly with him.

Damian then underwent a transformation.

He became remote. He put in more effort at work. He stopped discussing their future. Finally, one evening, Olivia confronted him.

"Do you still love me?" Olivia inquired.

For a few seconds, Damian gazed at her.

"I care about you," stated Damian.

"That wasn't the question I asked," Olivia retorted. Damian dropped his gaze.

He said, "I don't think we should get married."

They had planned to live together, but Damian simply no longer desired that life.

Olivia would not ask for anything.

She removed her engagement ring and placed it on the table.

She said, "You'll regret this."

She didn't shed a tear when she left.

She was able to tolerate rejection.

She was able to tolerate shame.

Being ignored was something she couldn't tolerate.

And Damian had already moved on.

Emily then became a part of the situation.

Olivia saw the first picture Emily and Damian together.

She recognized the expression in Damian's eyes right away. It differed.

He wasn't simply protecting Emily.

He had affection for her.

The emotions that Olivia thought were extinct were brought back by that awareness.

She began asking questions.

She didn't want to hurt Emily.

At least, that was what she convinced herself of.

She wanted to know what Emily had that she didn't. The solution became clearer over time. Emily had no intention of winning over Damian.

He wasn't being chased by her.

She was asking for nothing from him.

Because of that, Damian felt even more protective of her.

Olivia realized it at that time.

She couldn't confront Emily directly if she had any chance of winning Damian back.

She'd be defeated.

She needed patience more than anything else.

She desired more information in order to get Damian back.

She also had to get familiar with Damian's past in order to win him back. She started digging and discovered several business transactions that were linked to persons she had never expected to see in Damian's father's records.

Thomas Reed's name appeared multiple times. Also there were references to Carter Holdings.

For months, Olivia had attempted to decipher it but she finally gave up, though.

She had no reason to intervene any longer. Until someone entered her apartment and took one of the documents.

That transformed everything.

Someone else wanted the same information.

Olivia called Claire right away and she didn't waste any time to pick up.

"Did you discover who stole the paper?" Olivia asked.

"No," Claire responded. "I think we should quit looking."

Olivia smiled weakly.

"Why?" asked Olivia.

"Since the person who stole it knew exactly where to search," Claire said. "This means they were observing you."

Olivia became quiet.

Claire carried on.

"I no longer think this is safe."

"You're correct," Olivia stated.

Taken aback, Claire spoke.

"You agree?"

Olivia replied, "Yes." "We're halting."

"Completely?" Claire inquired.

"Absolutely," stated Olivia.

Claire exhaled

"Excellent."

After hanging up the phone, Olivia opened the drawer and checked for any remaining documents.

After that, she closed it once more.

She had already spent enough time trying to understand what had happened.

The previous investigation may wait for now.

She didn't care what was happening to Damian's family any longer.

She was faced with a new issue.

Damian and Emily.

Olivia retrieved the picture from the Astoria Crown and  stared intently at Emily.

Then, her gaze shifted to Damian.

She was overcome by a bizarre sense of tranquility.

She had no animosity for Emily.

She admired her, in fact.

Emily had overcome a broken marriage and all of its repercussions.

However, respect did not imply that Olivia planned to just disappear.

Once upon a time, she had loved Damian.

Part of her still did.

And she was not the type of woman to depart without saying anything.

She grabbed her phone and opened Damian's contact information.

She kept her thumb over the call button.

She then paused.

If she phoned him, she would just appear desperate.

She put the phone back down after that.

If Damian really wanted her out of his life, he could just tell her.

Until that happened, she would remain in the background. Waiting.

___

Emily was seated by the window in Sophia's flat on the other side of the city.

She had to have that quietness.

She needed time to ponder on her marriage.

She needed time to think about the baby growing within her now.

Damian was still in the dark. She was not prepared to tell him.

Her phone vibrated. Emily looked at the screen. Ryan's lawyer was the one calling.

She ignored the phone call.

A second call came after a little while.

It was Damian this time.

She stared at his name.

She didn't grab it immediately.

She waited before she finally responded.

"Hello?" Emily remarked.

Damian said, "Emily, I was beginning to suspect you were avoiding me."

Emily replied, "I've had a lot on my mind."

"I get it," Damian stated.

Emily remained speechless.

Then Damian said something again.

"I'd like to ask you something."

"What is this?" Emily inquired.

"Was anything wrong at the hospital?"

Emily's pulse stopped.

She held the phone more tightly. Emily replied, "No."

It was the first lie she had ever told Damian. She despised how easily it escaped her lips.

"Are you sure, Emily?" Damian then spoke softly.

She closed her eyes. "Yes," Emily remarked.

Damian answered, "Then I'll rely on you," and ended the call.

Emily lowered the phone.

She placed one hand over her belly.

She softly said, "I apologize." She was not ready. Not right now.

Olivia, however, stood before her mirror in her room, holding the engagement ring that Damian had given her a long time ago.

She had kept it for two years. Inside a small box, she put it.

Her countenance was then covered with a grin. Olivia whispered, "I will not pursue you," and then closed the box.

"However, I will also not disappear."

Olivia made a decision for the first time since the engagement ended.

She would stay away from Damian. For now. But, she had no intention of departing from his life forever.

Emily wasn't aware of who Olivia really was. She was never informed by Damian of every detail regarding the lady he had loved. She would have to face her eventually and Olivia intended to be prepared for the occasion when it came.