CHRISTIAN Despite myself, a corner of my mouth tilted upward. “Fine,” I muttered, passing her a knife. “But you’re doing the tomatoes.” She snorted, picking up the bowl. “Just try not to cry all over the onions, okay?” I let out a laugh, and continued chopping the onions quietly. For a while, we said nothing to each other. Until the questions at the back of my mind began to yell. I exhaled, stealing a glance at her. “Can I ask you something?” I said, pressing my lips together. She glanced up from the bowl of tomatoes. “Sure.” I exhaled again. “How can you tell when you…” I trailed off, wiping my suddenly clammy hands on a kitchen towel. “How can you tell when you care for someone?” She didn’t answer right away. Maybe she knew I needed a second. “The heart usually finds a way to tell you,” she answered softly. “Even if your head hasn’t caught up yet.” “But I—” I stopped myself. A memory flashed in my mind, of her, years ago, holding a picture frame close to her
OLIVIA My eyes snapped open, a bitter taste already rising in my throat. Sheets tangled around my legs as I threw them off and ran to the bathroom, barely able to think past the roiling in my gut. I pushed the door open as I dashed in and hit the floor hard, my knees scraping tile just as the sickness surged up. I gripped the toilet seat and retched violently, my body folding in on itself with each heave. There was no control, no time to breathe, just wave after wave until there was nothing left but the sour burn in my mouth and trembling muscles. When it finally stopped, I stayed there, resting my forehead against the cool porcelain, the world tilting sickly around me and each breath I dragged in felt like it scraped raw through my chest. After several minutes, I forced my body to move. My arms shook as I pushed myself upright, and when I stood, my legs buckled slightly under my weight. I staggered toward the shower, twisting the knob until warm water rushed down on me
OLIVIA I knew the way he spoke, the way his voice shifted depending on who he was talking to. I knew the way he smiled when he meant it and the way he didn’t when he didn’t. I knew the small, careful movements he made that most people missed. I could probably write a thousand pages about him without blinking. With a sharp exhale, I dropped the fight. I lowered my head and let the words come, scribbling down whatever poured out, until several minutes passed and my pages were filled. “You have ten seconds!” Mr. Sylas announced, and murmurs spread through the room as everyone rushed to finish up. I smiled to myself and set my pen down, folding my arms in satisfaction. The alarm blared, signaling the end of the exam. I handed in my paper and started heading out with others. Just as I was trailing behind others, Mr. Sylas called out my name. “Olivia Carter!” I turned, brow raised in annoyance. Why did he always have to say my full name? He crooked a finger, beckoning me fo
OLIVIA My face burned. I shifted slightly on the bed, fingers brushing over the IV in my wrist as the nurse glanced at her chart. “We ran a series of tests,” she said, flipping a page. “You’re fine.” She paused, eyes narrowing at something on the paper. “It looks like it was just stress. And… you’re not eating enough, especially for someone who’s pregnant.” I nodded, even though she wasn’t really waiting for a response. Honestly, I felt fine now, too fine, considering I’d almost passed out earlier. Maybe it was the IV, or the sheer humiliation of being here because I skipped breakfast that numbed everything down. I let out a small breath and turned my head, hoping for some kind of distraction…and my gaze flicked to Liam. He stood near the bed, hands shoved deep into his pockets, just staring at me like he wasn’t sure if he should say something or just turn around and leave. For long, I had tried to pretend he wasn’t there, had kept my eyes on the nurse, on the IV line
OLIVIA “Is it safe for her to be discharged?” he asked. “Yes,” the nurse nodded reassuringly. “She’s stable. She just needs rest.” Christian hesitated, glancing back at me like he wasn’t sure he trusted the answer. His gaze locked with mine for a few seconds, searching, and unsure. Finally, after a beat of silence, he released my hand and gave a tight nod, excusing himself to follow the nurse out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, and the second he was gone, Liam exhaled loudly, shifting awkwardly as he shuffled closer to me. He rubbed the back of his neck, confusion or maybe even shyness flickering across his features. His gaze kept shifting between me and the empty space where Christian had been, like he was trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. “So,” he finally said, jerking his chin in the direction Christian had gone, “Is he the father?” I let out a small, tired sigh and gave a tiny nod, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment. “Wow,”
OLIVIA The ride home was hell. My mother always had a short fuse over the smallest things, so now that it was something big, she was losing her mind. Completely. She hadn’t stopped yelling since we got in the car, and the entire ride was hot and suffocating, her words burning through the air like acid. I stayed silent, staring out the window, and feeling smaller with every mile. Besides, what could I even say? That Christian had paid me to be his surrogate? That I used the money to save James’ life? That everything between Christian and me was built on a lie? She wouldn’t just be angry, she’d probably drop dead the second she heard it. Christian sat stiffly beside me, quiet, and tense. It was the first time I ever saw him seem unsure of himself. After a while of her yelling, he responded, his voice calm. “Ma’am, we’re really sorry you had to find out this way.” I blinked in surprise and turned to look at him. He was apologizing? But, of course, it didn’t matt
OLIVIA I cocked a brow from where I was hiding at the staircase, staring down at them with disbelief. My mother sighed heavily, dragging her hand over her face in frustration. “Look at you,” she muttered. “Standing there talking about respect.” She dropped her hand and pinned him with a hard stare. “If you really respected my daughter, you wouldn’t have gotten her pregnant without putting a ring on her finger.” Christian’s jaw tightened, but he stayed silent. “She had dreams, you know,” she pressed, her voice breaking now. “Big dreams, a future. And you…” she shook her head again, “You’re about to take all of it from her with that baby. Just like that!” Oh, Mom. I knew she was hurting, and angry, but she was pushing too far now. She didn’t know the full story. She didn’t know I chose this, too. I opened my mouth, ready to finally go down and stop her……when something happened that made me freeze. Christian dropped to his knees. My heart slammed against my ribs and my
OLIVIA For weeks, I’d waited for him to explain their relationship, to show that she didn’t matter, but I never got that. I couldn’t keep waiting for his words to match his actions. “What about her?” He didn’t answer right away, but his gaze didn’t waver either. His eyes searched mine, like he was waiting for me to say more. When I didn’t, he exhaled. “I didn’t fuck her, Olivia.” He took a slow step forward, like he wanted to make sure I understood every word. “Or whatever you think happened.” I shook my head, still not convinced. “Then just tell me the truth.” His eyes softened for a second. “Tell me why you think I’m lying. And say something more than me dancing with her at the ball.” Dancing with her at the ball? Was that all he thought this was about? I lifted my chin. “When I went to shop for a dress… Lydia told me you…” I paused, trying to steady myself. “She said you made her leave your bed that morning. I don’t think that means nothing.” He raised an eyebrow, a
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
Christian’s POVMartha and the staff were already waiting downstairs, like I’d instructed, and as I pushed down the stairs, I sighed heavily, threading my fingers through my hair.I sunk into one of the couches as I got to the ground floor, gesturing towards Martha who stood to the side. “Please, sit.”She nodded and dropped into the couch opposite me, and I turned my attention to the other maids that stood to the side.“I’m sure you’re all aware I have a guest,” I started in a clear voice, linking my fingers between my knees and leaning forward, sweeping my gaze from one face to the other, and they nodded quietly.“As you know,” I continued, “I rarely bring anyone here, so she’s no ordinary guest.” I paused, my gaze straying to Martha. “She’s special.”“She’s my future,” I continued without missing a beat, “my home. So you must make sure she feels at home all the time.”I nodded as I spoke, pulling out my phone from my pocket. “Also, she’s pregnant,” I announced, “so you have to be c
OLIVIAIt was as if he sensed my shift in mood, and he moved closer. “You should think bad thoughts more often,” he said, his tone teasing. “Keeps your mind occupied.” Yeah, just like the doctor advised. He’d mentioned how common it was for accident victims to suffer from PTSD or depression, how they often spiraled by reliving the trauma. He’d encouraged me to focus on the present, to appreciate the people around me, and to learn to accept what had happened, no matter how difficult. It was complicated. But I knew Christian was trying to help me avoid those darker thoughts. Truth be told, I didn’t want them either, especially after the nightmares that had been haunting me for the past few days. “What bad thoughts?” I asked, focusing on him. “Remember our texts?” My face flushed instantly, the heat spreading like wildfire. “If you’re planning on staying in this room with me,” I muttered, “that’s… a really bad idea.” “Why?” he asked, as he casually began unbuttoning his shirt.