CHAPTER 174

Olivia's POV My heart was a tangled mess, pounding with a fragile certainty I’d only just admitted to Vivian—my answer to Austin’s question about kids, a quiet “yes” that felt like a leap into the unknown. My hands gripped the reins, my knuckles white, my throat tight with the weight of that choice, my chest swelling with love for Austin but aching with the fear that I wasn’t ready, that Lucas’s shadow still lingered. Vivian’s voice broke through, her tone teasing but insistent, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she rode beside me, her horse’s gait steady. “Come on, Liv,” she said, her words playful, her hands gesturing, her smile wide but probing. “What’s the big secret? You said you know your answer about kids with Austin—spill it. What’d you decide?”My heart leaped, my breath catching, my eyes darting to the hills, my tears threatening as I forced a smile, my voice trembling but firm, my hands clutching the reins to steady my shaking fingers. “It’s a secret, Viv,” I said,

Last Updated : 2025-07-13

CHAPTER 175

Olivia's POV My heart was still racing, my chest tight with a wild mix of joy and vulnerability from my announcement to Austin—I’d said yes to a family, to kids, to a future with him, the words a leap that left my hands trembling, my eyes stinging with tears of love and fear. His hand held mine, his fingers warm and steady. My throat burned, my breath uneven as I leaned into him, my body buzzing with the weight of my choice, the memory of Lucas’s shadow fading but not gone. Aiden’s playful joke about a “playmate” had lightened the moment, his giggle a spark that warmed us all, but Austin’s eyes held mine, his gaze was intense with a wide smile. His voice was low and fervent as he leaned closer, his words a were jolt that sent my heart soaring.“Liv, that announcement,” he said, his tone thick with emotion, his hand squeezing mine, his eyes glistening with a mix of pride and longing. “It’s making me want to do a proper proposal, you know? Get down on one knee, make it official all

Last Updated : 2025-07-14

CHAPTER 176

Olivia's POV The hum of my office was a familiar comfort, the soft clack of my keyboard mingling with the faint buzz of phones and chatter beyond the glass walls. My heart was lighter than it had been in months, my chest swelling with a quiet pride as I sifted through client files, my fingers steady, my mind sharp despite the whirlwind of the past weeks. My throat tightened, my eyes stinging with gratitude as I leaned back in my chair, my hands pausing on the desk, my heart racing with a love for Austin that had deepened in ways I hadn’t expected. Across from me, Nataliya, my secretary, scribbled notes, her voice crisp but warm, her eyes flicking up with a smile that mirrored my own quiet contentment.“So, the Henderson account needs your sign-off by tomorrow,” she said, her tone efficient, her hands gesturing to a stack of papers. “They’re pushing for a tighter deadline, but I told them you’d review it first. And the new client, Mr. Grayson? He’s still being a pain—keeps changi

Last Updated : 2025-07-15

CHAPTER 177

Lucas's POV The living room was a sanctuary of soft light, the late afternoon sun beamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the plush couch where I sat, cradling Lily in my arms. Her tiny mouth worked the bottle of formula, her gurgles a delicate melody that soothed my frayed nerves, her wide, trusting eyes locking onto mine, stirring a love so fierce it made my chest ache, my throat tighten.My heart pounded, a steady rhythm of devotion, my fingers steady but shaking with the responsibility of fatherhood, the only thing that kept me grounded in the chaos of my life. The past months had been a relentless storm—Olivia’s tearful goodbye, the gunshot that had nearly ended me, Amelia’s constant presence, her ring on my finger a choice I’d made for Lily, not for love. My eyes stung, my breath uneven as I pushed thoughts of Olivia aside, her smile a ghost that haunted me, my love for her was buried beneath my duty to my daughter.The peace shattered when Amelia stormed in,

Last Updated : 2025-07-16

CHAPTER 178

Lucas's POV My eyes stung with unshed tears, my chest aching with the regret of this marriage, the loss of Olivia, the chaos that had become my existence since the shooting, the contract, the accusations that clung to me like a shadow. The soft hum of the house was a cruel contrast to the storm in my head, my breath uneven, my hands clenching as I tried to steady myself.A knock at the door jolted me, my heart leaping, my body tensing, my hands instinctively reaching for nothing, my fear spiking with the memory of the life I’d barely escaped. My throat tightened, my eyes darting to the entrance as the door swung open, revealing James, my cousin, his familiar grin a burst of light in my dark world. My heart raced, a mix of shock and relief flooding my chest, my tears spilling over as I crossed the room, my arms wrapping around him in a fierce hug, my voice breaking with emotion. “James, holy shit,” I said, my words rushed, my hands gripping his shoulders, my chest swelling with g

Last Updated : 2025-07-17

CHAPTER 179

Lucas's POV My eyes stung with unshed tears, my chest aching with the thought of Olivia starting a family with Austin, a life I’d let slip away, a pain that cut deeper than I’d expected. The air was heavy with my confessions, my voice raw as I poured out my desperation, my thoughts of divorce, of escape, of clearing my name.A sharp buzz from my phone jolted me, my heart leaping, my breath catching, my hands fumbling as I grabbed it, the screen flashing my private investigator’s name—Tom. My throat tightened, my eyes darting to James, my voice low but urgent. “It’s Tom,” I said, my words rushed, my heart racing with a mix of hope and dread, my chest heaving with the possibility of answers. “I need to take this. Hang on.” James nodded, his eyes narrowing, his hands resting on his knees, his concern a quiet force that steadied me as I answered, my voice sharp. “Tom, you got something?”“I’m outside,” Tom said, his tone clipped, his urgency a spark that ignited my nerves. “Got n

Last Updated : 2025-07-18