LOGINOlivia pov;"You cannot schedule a bridal fitting and a quarterly board review on the exact same afternoon, Olivia," Ethan said, tapping his finger against the screen of his tablet as we stood together in the penthouse kitchen.I crossed my arms, looking down at the digital calendar displayed on the glass counter. "I can, and I already did. The board meeting is at one o'clock, and the boutique in Riverwalk Plaza squeezed me in at ten. I have three hours. That is plenty of time."Ethan lowered his tablet, his steel-gray eyes narrowing slightly with that familiar, protective stubbornness I had come to know so well. "You are constantly rushing yourself. You spent all week finalizing Luca and Adrian's wedding logistics, and now you are trying to squeeze your own wedding preparation between corporate balance sheets.""I am the Chief of Staff of Kingsley Global Holdings," I replied, grabbing a ceramic mug and pouring myself a cup of black coffee. "Juggling multiple high-priority tasks is li
Ethan pov;"If you adjust that tie one more time, Ethan, you are going to cut off your own oxygen before we even leave the front door," Olivia said, standing by the bedroom mirror while trying to clasp a silver earring.I dropped my hands from my collar and let out a sharp breath. "Neckties are a relic of corporate warfare. They serve no practical purpose on a Saturday morning.""Then take it off," Olivia laughed, turning around to face me with a wide, bright smile. "We are going to Luca and Adrian's wedding in Maple Grove, not a hostile board meeting at Kingsley Tower. Nobody is checking your silk knot."I looked at her reflection in the glass. She wore a tailored charcoal-gray suit with clean lines and soft silver jewelry, her chestnut-brown hair pinned back neatly from her face. There was no tension in her shoulders, no defensive posture, and no trace of the heavy armor she used to wear every day just to survive."You're right," I murmured, stepping closer and resting my hands ligh
Olivia pov;I looked down at the smooth silk fabric between my fingers, then raised my gaze to look at my reflection in the massive three-way mirror.The woman staring back wasn't the terrified, broken person who fled into the stormy night with a single suitcase. She was tall, confident, and dressed in a sharp executive suit she had bought with her own money. She had a multi-million-dollar foundation bearing her name, a company that respected her authority, and a man waiting at home who loved her strength instead of trying to cage it.The old wound pulsed faintly, like a dull ache in a healed bone, but it didn't break me. It only reminded me how far I had traveled."Penny for your thoughts?" Luca asked softly, noticing the sudden silence.I smiled, shaking my head as I handed the fabric swatch back to the boutique assistant. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am.""Well, put that thought on hold because we have to go taste the lemon-raspberry cake samples," Luca announced, grabbin
Olivia pov;"Are you serious, Luca?" I asked, my voice catching in my throat as I stared down at the embossed wedding invitation in my hands.Luca blinked rapidly, his fingers still wrapped tightly around mine, and a bright tear spilled over his eyelashes."I've never been more serious in my entire life, Liv. I want you standing right beside me at the altar."I let out a shaky breath, pulled my hands free from his grip, and threw my arms around his neck. "Yes," I whispered against his shoulder, my own eyes stinging with sudden tears. "Yes, of course I will."Adrian walked over, wrapping his arms around both of us in a solid, comforting embrace. "We wouldn't have it any other way," he said quietly, his deep voice steady and reassuring."I better get going before rush hour traffic hits the bridge," I said softly, stepping back and wiping a stray tear from my cheek.Luca pulled me into one last, fierce hug, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Go home to your billionaire, Chief of Staff. But
Luca povNow, looking at the woman standing in front of us, the contrast was staggering. The scared, broken girl who showed up on our doorstep had completely vanished. In her place stood a brilliant, powerful executive who walked into boardrooms, faced down hostile reporters, and commanded the respect of some of the most powerful people in the country. She hadn't just survived her past; she had rebuilt herself from the ground up, brick by brick, with an unshakeable strength that left me in awe."Earth to Luca," Olivia snapped her fingers lightly in front of my face, pulling me back to the present moment. "Are you listening to me, or are you having another existential crisis about table linens?""I was just thinking," I said softly, my voice losing its usual theatrical edge. "I was thinking about how far you've come."Olivia's smile softened. She looked down for a second, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee cup, before lifting her gaze back to mine. "I couldn't have done it with
Luca pov;"If you bring one more sample of ivory silk into this house, Adrian Brooks, I am going to throw myself off this balcony!" I yelled, dropping a heavy designer swatch book onto our glass coffee table with a loud thud.Adrian didn't even look up from his architectural blueprints spread across the kitchen island. He held a silver mechanical pencil between his fingers, his eyes fixed on a structural floor plan. "Ivory matches the hydrangeas better than champagne, Luca. You're the professional stylist. You should know that.""I am a celebrity fashion stylist, Adrian, not a miracle worker!" I threw my hands up in the air, pacing across the polished hardwood floor of our Maple Grove living room. "Hydrangeas are blue and purple! Ivory will look completely muddy against them! We need crisp white, or stark silver, or—or absolute neon orange so people know we actually have a pulse!"Adrian finally lowered his pencil, letting out a long, slow sigh. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of







