LOGIN[Olivia’s pov]The first thing I realized, sitting across from Nina with a half-eaten plate of fries between us, was that I hadn’t felt this normal in days.No tension pulling at my chest.No Carter or Ronan looming in my thoughts like an unresolved storm.No hospital alarms echoing in the back of my mind.I leaned back slightly in my chair, sighing in contentment as I stole another fry off Nina’s plate.“You know,” I said thoughtfully, chewing slowly, “if life were fair, this would be my permanent job.”Nina raised a brow. “Stealing my food like you used to do in high school?”“Yes,” I nodded seriously. “It’s a highly skilled profession.”“You mean shamelessness.”“That too,” I admitted easily.She shook her head, smiling despite herself. For a moment everything felt light. Like I could almost forget everything else. And then a voice came up.“Is this seat taken?”My hand froze mid-air.No.No, no, no—I didn’t even need to look up.I knew that voice.I slowly turned my head and th
[Carter’s pov]“Is that any way to greet me?” She teased lightly.“Yes, Camilla.” I replied flatly. “It is when you show up uninvited.” I didn’t want her to realise that I was in a hurry. She laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh, Carter,” she said, her tone almost indulgent. “Don’t be like that.”“I asked you a question.” I snapped at her. “Answer me and be on your way. I don’t have the energy to deal with your lies.” “And I’ll answer–” She said, tilting her head slightly, her eyes studying me with that same familiar, knowing look I had grown to despise.She took another step forward.Then another.Until she was standing just a little too close.“You need a plus one tonight.” She said simply, while placing her hands over my collars as she pretended to adjust them. I stared at her with fury in my eyes. I didn’t want her close to me, not even her scent when my Olivia was about to meet me.“No.” I replied immediately. “I don’t.”She hummed softly, circling sli
[Carter’s pov]I didn’t realize how tense I was until I stepped out of the car and into the quiet of my house. I had already made the deal with Mallory and now all I had to do was to wait for any news.But the wait was the hardest part of all.Shaking my head I headed inside. It didn’t take me long to know that Candice was already sleeping with my mother. The silence hit differently tonight.It was just hollow.I loosened my tie as I walked in, my mind still replaying the day. Olivia’s voice, her expression, the way she had looked at me when she said she believed I hadn’t cheated.And then left, just like that.I could not shake it off from my mind that she knew something. Only if Mallory could find some dirt on Ronan.I swear I would bury that man alive for clinging to my wife!Wife. Right! I had to show Olivia that I still cared for her. And for that I had to accept her as my wife in front of the world.I exhaled sharply, shrugging off my coat and tossing it onto the bed in my ro
[Olivia’s pov]“It was for me.” I said simply.That made her pause. And for a moment neither of us spoke.I exhaled slowly, leaning back again, staring up at the ceiling.“Dating him would be…” I trailed off, then huffed a small, humorless laugh. “Honestly? It would feel like Stockholm syndrome.”Nina groaned loudly. “Oh my God, that is such a dramatic take.”“It is a realistic take,” I shot back.“You’re unbelievable. He was not your kidnapper or forced you into some trauma bond.” She groaned and then calmed herself before resuming. “I am not saying your pain is little but Olivia….my love, you have to move on. People change.”Her words struck me like a slap.She was right, people change.Carter changed!“People change and yet,” I replied lightly, “here I am still stuck in the past.”She shook her head again, but this time she didn’t let it go. “He’s not that person anymore,” she said, her tone shifting, more serious now. “People change, Olivia. Give yourself and Ronan a chance.”I d
[Olivia’s pov]The silence after Nina’s almost-confession didn’t last as long as I expected.Maybe because I didn’t let it. “So—” I said, dragging my legs up onto the couch and curling slightly into myself, “if we’re exchanging life-altering secrets, I should warn you that mine are deeply disappointing.”Nina arched a brow, still watching me carefully, as if she hadn’t entirely let go of whatever she had been about to say.“That’s hard to believe, I am sure you must have something worth gossiping.” she replied.“No, really,” I insisted, waving a hand lazily. “Other than your brother treating me like a full-time hobby to win over, there is absolutely nothing interesting going on in my life.”Her lips twitched. “Ronan is not that bad.” I could see she was uneasy with the way I talked about her brother.I let out a soft, incredulous laugh, tilting my head back against the couch.“Oh, I’m sorry.” I drawled. “Were we talking about the same Ronan? The one who exists solely to disturb my pe
[Olivia’s pov]The moment the operating room doors slid shut behind me my legs were heavy and my shoulders ached. Two hours.Two hours of absolute focus, of walking a razor’s edge between life and death. Especially when that life belonged to a child.I barely registered the congratulatory nods. I just nodded back faintly and kept walking. Because right now I had exactly one goal.My couch.And five minutes of not being Doctor Olivia Jude.The moment I pushed open the door to my cabin, I didn’t even bother turning on the lights. I just dropped straight onto the couch.A groan slipped out of me as I sank into the cushions, my head falling back, eyes fluttering shut.“Oh God…” I muttered under my breath. “I deserve financial compensation for emotional damage. My ass would require one too!”My arms felt like jelly.My brain felt fried.If anyone talks to me right now, I will legally pass away. As if summoned by that exact thought the door burst open. I didn’t even open my eyes. “No!” I s
[Carter’s pov]Then there was silence. I could not speak anything. My mind struggled to catch up.“That’s not—” I shook my head instinctively. “That doesn’t make sense. How could Candice even do something so gruesome like this?” I denied. Not that I was worried that perhaps Olivia was lying to m
[Carter’s pov]My phone rang just as I was about to take a turn toward the school. I didn’t hear it at first among my worry and scattered mind. The phone rang once again and when the car stopped at the red traffic light I snapped out of it.Olivia.Her name flashed across the screen. For a second,
[Carter’s pov]The moment Camilla walked away, my whole life felt hollow. Like something had been ripped out of it.Out of me.Olivia. I stood there for a few seconds, unmoving, staring at the empty chair. Her words still echoed in my head, each one digging deeper than the last.Camilla had levera
[Olivia’s pov]Ronan waited for the cab and while it got delayed I had to reluctantly come with him. He didn’t utter a single word to humiliate me. Instead he began distracting me with the other students. Ronan reminded me of multiple batchmates. The more we talked the more I realised he had actua







