MICHAEL “What a sly bastard.” I paced in my office, flipping through the file in my hands, my gaze skimming over each image. Every picture was of Olivia Carter, the woman supposedly carrying my stepbrother’s child. I scoffed, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. Christian? Expecting a child? Who were they trying to fool? Not me. Deep down, I knew the truth. This was nothing but a sham. Christian had planned the whole idea to fool everyone but I was smarter. And the evidence of this entire lie was now in my hands. Most of the photos my private investigator obtained showed Olivia Carter dressed casually, but one in particular caught my attention. A CCTV capture of her stepping outside a restaurant to throw out trash, dressed in a waitress uniform. The timestamp wasn’t too long ago, confirming she had been working there until recently. I clenched my jaw, shutting the file down on my desk before turning to my private investigator seated on the couch a few feet away.
OLIVIA I sighed, glancing at the black Rolls-Royce waiting for me at the school’s parking lot. Why on earth did Mr. Blackwood want to see me? “Ma’am?” One of the men who had come to pick me up called out expectantly, holding the car door open. Wringing my fingers in nervous anticipation, I forced myself forward, ducking my head as I slipped inside. The door shut behind me with a quiet thud, sealing me in. And just like that, we were on our way—to where, I had no idea. All I knew was that Christian’s grandfather had demanded to see me. A shiver ran down my spine as my mind raced with possibilities and why he wanted to see me. Was this about the pregnancy test? My heart pounded at the thought, a cold sweat forming at my temples. If it was about the test, what was I supposed to say? Panic curled around my chest, tightening with each passing second. I hadn’t taken the test yet—mostly because I hadn’t noticed any symptoms. My body felt the same as it had since the countless time
OLIVIA Racing heart. Sweaty palms. A game of confidence with Mr. Blackwood. I folded my arms and leaned back in my chair, feigning ease. I couldn’t let him see how nervous I was—I needed him to believe every word of my story. “Christian told me what his mother went through just because she was like me,” I said, meeting his gaze. “After his father married her.” I let the words linger, watching for a reaction. “He said he wanted to protect me from that.” To my surprise, Mr. Blackwood chuckled, settling back in his chair. “Everyone knows what happened to Christian’s mother,” he scoffed. “She was never accepted into the family. Anyone could easily pay any journalist to expose the full story.” I clenched my fists beneath the table, forcing myself to stay composed. “I didn’t expect you to believe me,” I said evenly. “But I will say this—” He raised a brow, waiting. “Your constant disapproval of me,” I continued, voice steady, “Will only make Christian blame you even more for his mot
OLIVIA After Mr. Blackwood left to attend to other business matters, I found myself alone with Ophelia and her staff. I couldn’t help but feel relieved. His presence had been… slightly uncomfortable. As if faking smiles and laughing at his jokes after blatantly lying to him wasn’t bad enough, his unexpected kindness, his apology, his insistence on bringing me here—only made me feel worse. Like I was the most deceitful person in the world. At least he’d forgotten about the pregnancy throughout the whole ordeal or he just didn’t care anymore. My revelation about Christian’s mother must have shocked the curiosity right out of him. Plus I didn’t think I had any more lies or excuses left in me anyway. “And… what about this one?” Ophelia’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. She arched a brow, pointing at a diamond-studded necklace displayed in an illuminated glass case. “Do you like it?” I stared at the necklace, mesmerized by the way the diamonds caught the light, sparkling like tin
CHRISTIAN I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window, my mind racing. Grandfather had summoned me for dinner again, out of nowhere. These dinners were becoming more frequent than usual and they were always exhausting. ‘Meet me for dinner tonight.’ That was all the text had said. No explanation. No hint. Nothing. It felt like I was walking into a blind date except, in this case, it wasn’t the person that was unknown. It was the purpose. And I didn’t like it one bit. I preferred knowing exactly what I was walking into, preparing myself for whatever lay ahead. Still lost in thoughts, we pulled into the estate, smoothly gliding into an empty parking spot in the garage. The moment the door opened, I stepped out, adjusting my jacket. With careful strides, I crossed the forecourt and entered through the main entrance. As I stepped into the grand lobby, I slowed down, catching the faint murmur of voices drifting from the dining room. Michael was here too? I clenched m
CHRISTIAN“May I speak now, Grandfather?” Michael asked, leaning forward in his seat, barely containing his anger.I was certain he couldn’t. He was about to explode if he kept it in. “Go on,” Grandfather urged, nodding.Michael pushed himself to the edge of his seat, linking his hands tightly. “Didn’t you even look at the report I sent?” he asked, his face contorted with agitation. “Christian lied about Olivia Carter!”“Did he?” Grandfather arched his brow. “Christian never claimed anything about her background. We all made our own assumptions—assumptions born from a narrow, misguided mindset.” His gaze shifted between Michael and me. “A mindset that changes today. We have already lost so much in this family because of it. I want it to end now.”Michael scoffed, his eyes darkening with rage. He looked ready to burst but also shocked at the same time, like grandfather was speaking a new language. Watching him, I felt an irresistible urge to smirk and I did, making sure he felt every
CHRISTIANI said nothing, and he pressed on. “I know I made life unbearable for your mother, Christian. But I was just following orders—my parents’ orders. Back then, there was a strict rule in the family, one made from sheer pride and ignorance.” He exhaled sharply. “I see now that I should have stood up to them. I should have protected my son and his wife. I failed them, and I’ve failed you.” He placed a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I won’t fail you again. That’s a promise.” I sighed, nodding despite the weight still pressing against my chest. “Thank you, Grandfather.” He patted my back before turning and limping away. As I watched him go, I exhaled in relief, finally piecing together what had happened with Olivia. He had confronted her. But instead of blurting out the truth, as I’d expected, she had taken a different approach. She had used my past, the one I’d indirectly mentioned to her at the desert, against the very man responsible for it. I scoffed, shaking my
OLIVIA I walked down the hallways in one of the fancy dresses Christian bought me, humming along to the familiar tune blasting from a phone somewhere nearby. Ever since I won Mr. Blackwood over in our last impromptu meeting, I had been in an impossibly good mood. Even though I hadn’t told Christian yet, I couldn’t wait to tell him all about it, to see his reaction, to revel in the moment. “Is that her?” The words drifted to me as I passed a group of girls lingering in the hallway, snapping me back from my thoughts. Just as I turned around, I caught one of them pointing directly at me. What did I do this time? It was always something, always some reason for them to whisper, to judge me. “Yes,” another girl confirmed, her voice carrying that cruel tone I had come to recognize too well. “She’s the slut.” The word slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs. My heart dropped, the happy mood evaporating in an instant. Slut? Me? “I heard that’s how she affords tuition at o
Christian’s POVI lifted my knuckles and rapped twice on the door, and my grandfather’s voice rang out almost immediately.“Come in.”I pushed the door in and stepped inside the study, glancing around briefly.“I’m glad you arrived swiftly,” he added gesturing me to a seat, and I nodded and sank into it, keeping close to the edge.We sat in silence for a few seconds, and I just stared pointedly at him, waiting to hear the reason he had called me over.“So,” he started after a few more seconds, “you don’t care to know how your brother’s faring? Or Ms. Hales?”He cocked a brow as he asked the question, incredulity etched deep into his face.I leaned back in my seat, keeping my eyes closely trained on his face. “If Michael’s condition has gotten worse, I’d know that, don’t you think?”My grandfather flinched a bit at my tone, his eyes narrowing slightly.“I mean,” I continued, “he’s been bankrolling the press, hasn’t he?”My grandfather shook his head in what seemed to be disbelief. “I f
OLIVIASmiling to myself, I walked up to the piano, running my fingers across the sleekness.I was mesmerized by it, but even more, by the fact that Christian had gotten me a freaking huge piano, and a guitar, without any care in the world if I could play or not.All I did was simply ask, not even fully intentionally, and he’d gotten what I asked for, in just three freaking hours.I shook my head, an excited giggle spilling out my lips.What on earth was he even thinking, being so sweet and intentional?I ran my fingers across the keys, strumming up a chaotic melody, and the sound bounced off the walls, echoing across the hallways.Oh. Interesting. Now I’d have to learn.As the noise died down, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs drew my attention, and I turned towards the direction.Martha stepped down the last step and came towards me, a pleasant smile on her face.I returned the smile, turning fully to face her. “You could have used the elevator, you know, instead of goin
Olivia’s POVI woke up feeling a bit groggy, heavy to my bones and deeply satiated.As I started to collect my thoughts slowly, my eyes adjusted, moving round the room, and I was a little surprised to find that Christian was nowhere in sight.Where had he gone to?I could remember—a bit groggily, anyway—that he’d been by my side before I fell into the unplanned nap.Did he leave? Work?Sighing, I slid down to the edge of the bed and picked up my knee walker, groaning as I struggled to get out of bed.Now steady on my feet, I exhaled shakily and started out of the room, nodding at the maids that called out their greetings as I walked down the corridor.I was tempted to just call one of them and ask about Christian’s whereabouts, but decided to save that card for the last few minutes of the severe panic. While silently hoping it doesn’t get to that.I got into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor, my lips pressed together as I tried to calm my suddenly raging nerves.
Olivia’s POVI felt a tingling warmth against my skin, and I peeled my eyes open, squinting them against the streak of sunlight that rested on my face.Deeply satiated, and feeling energized, I stretched against the sheets and yawned with my mouth wide open, the rich sound of Christian’s snores reaching my ears.I giggled softly, turning to his side to watch his peaceful expression as he slept.This was the first time I was hearing him snore, and interestingly enough, it still sounded topnotch sexy.Did he always snore?Smiling, I reached up and picked at his dark curls, and he shifted gently just then, his eyes flickering open just a wink.“Hey,” he croaked in a husky voice, turning fully towards me and pulling me in, burying his face into my chest.“Hey,” I returned in a soft voice, threading my fingers into his hair and massaging gently. “It’s past 9am. Time for work, right?”He shook his head slowly, his breath fanning my naked skin.“Coffee?” I asked, my tone suggestive, and he s
Christian’s POVMy cock throbbed even harder as I stared down at the green-eyed beauty that sucked the living daylights out of me, with half-lidded eyes, her pink tongue swirling around the tip.God, she would be the death of me.Groaning in pleasure, and unable to hold back anymore, I gently pushed her back on the bed, my cock jutting out like a sword as I straddled her.“How much do you want me, Olivia?” I demanded, my eyes running down her face, lingering on her nipples, as I stroked her clit with the tip of my cock.Slowly, I pushed in the tip, my jaw clenching with suppressed hunger and desire. “This much?”“No, a little more,” she breathed, her fingers gliding over my back.Taut veins bulging on the side of my neck, I pushed in a little bit further, her clit hugging my pulsating cock, and we both gasped as a tingling sensation washed down my skin.“This much?” I whispered in her ear, my arm snaking around her waist and positioning her perfectly underneath me.She nodded slowly,
Olivia’s POVI shifted gently on the bed, half asleep, as I reached for Christian on the other side of the bed.When my fingers don’t connect with his skin in the next few minutes, my eyes fluttered open, only to find he wasn’t there.Where was he?I ran my eyes over the room slowly, groaning, and eventually, they landed on him in the corner, a wine glass between his fingers, staring down at me intently.Fear zapped through me for a split second as I stared at him, and I fully opened my eyes and sat up gently in the bed.I pushed my fingers through my hair and rubbed my eyes. “Are you okay?”“Yeah,” he replied, nodding. “I just couldn’t sleep,” he continued, “so I decided to just watch you sleep, instead.”I swallowed, sticking out my tongue to lick my lower lip. His hot gaze followed the movement, darkening, and he immediately pushed himself off the wall, moving towards the bedside table to pour me a glass of water from the carafe.Still keeping his eyes on me, he inched forward and
Olivia’s POVI remained very rigid as Christian carried me into the car, gently placing me on the seat and leaning forward to strap on my seatbelt.I felt like a toddler, with the way he was carrying me, but I couldn’t even argue with him, because he was probably annoyed with me too.But how could I have refused his grandfather’s orders to appear at the hospital? It wasn’t like I could do that and not expect to face his wrath…Sighing heavily, I watched through the rearview mirror as Christian took the car key from the driver and dismissed him, walking over to the driver’s side.As he got in, I kept my gaze transfixed on him. More out of disbelief and curiosity.He jammed the key into the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life.“Why are you taking me home yourself?” I demanded in a loud voice, trying to get myself heard over the engine noise. “What about the driver?”Christian waited until the noise had died down, the engine still running, before he turned his gaze to me. “I sent hi
Olivia’s POVDespite my leg, when Mr. Blackwood demanded to see the entire family, including me, I had to be present.Although I’d been shocked I was even included in the list…But there was no time for questions because Michael was lying on a hospital bed right now.I scratched my arm, glancing across the hallways as I wondered where Christian was.Why wasn’t he here yet?Sighing, I turned towards Michael’s ward, staring a bit longingly as I wondered if his injuries were severe or extreme.We haven’t even seen him yet. It was just Mr. Blackwood with him in there, ever since we arrived, plus he had just come out of surgery an hour ago.I didn’t even care about Lydia, if she was alive. Or not.Was I being too harsh?I let out another huge sigh, throwing my head backwards and closing my eyes. I felt Ophelia sink in next to me then, and she threw an arm around my shoulders.I peeled my eyes open to see she looked as scared as I was feeling, despite trying to act strong.“He’ll be okay,”
Olivia’s POVI picked out the lettuce in my burger, staring at it with a scrunched up nose and twisted lips.I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t enjoying this very delicious-looking snack.What was it?Because I’d been in bed, alone, all day? Or it just wasn’t good, maybe only aesthetically pleasing?The constant ache in my heart was a sharp reminder that my mother and James weren’t around me. I missed them so badly, and I never even thought that would happen, and soon.And there was Christian, who was probably at work, snooping around and trying to find whoever had tried to kill me.I knew he was really into finding that out, because I’d overheard some series of calls he’d made earlier.I sighed, gently placing the burger down on the plate.I wanted him home with me, cuddling me, his presence reassuring me that I was safe. I was tired of being alone.Just then, my phone rang on the bedside table, and I sat up straighter, and excitedly leaned forward to grab it off the table.But the s