جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 160

OLIVIA“How can I be a better man when you won’t even listen to me?” Axel shrieked, frustration laced in his voice. “You keep pushing me away, Olivia. You’ve refused to give me a chance to prove myself.”I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the doorknob as I hesitated. I cleared my throat slightly, forcing my voice to sound steady.“You’ve had several chances, Axel. But you keep messing things up.”He walked briskly towards me, holding my wrist and trying to pull me away from the door.I refused to hold his gaze, knowing it would lure me into the same direction I was avoiding.“Give me another chance,” he pleaded. “I’ll make things right this time, I swear,"Another chance? I’d run out of giving him too many chances only for him to keep messing things up.“Stop trying to force things, Axel.”“I’m not losing you!”“You already lost me,” I snapped, finally facing him with tears in my eyes. “And I’m not going to make the same mistake of thinking you’ve changed. Because the mome

OLIVIAStaring at my reflection in the mirror, my fingers brushed through my wedding dress. I sucked in a deep breath and turned around slightly, staring at the back of the dress.Isabella had picked that out specially, saying I’d look good in it. Celyn said the same thing about it when the designer sketched it, and although I couldn’t deny that was true, something didn’t feel right.I wasn’t a fan of ball gowns or the other heavy designs that covered my whole body.Mermaid dresses? Bodycon dresses? Yes.Isabella had that wedding dress made by one of the biggest designers in New Orleans. It was a structured couture bridal mini dress with a tailored blazer silhouette. Made from pearl white Mikado, it had sharp shoulders, a corset that sculpted my waist, and precise tailoring.She said it fitted well because of the image I’d built for people to see. A mafia queen who had taken over her father’s empire.The only thing was the color. It wasn’t red.My eyes stared at my hair—a slick high

OLIVIAI ran as fast as I could.And I didn’t stop running until I’d gotten into my car with the stupid veil that kept moving in my way. Neither did I stop until I drove all the way to where I wanted to be.The Rossi’s estate. After Darren had pulled the trigger to scare me, Isabella stepped in to hit him. It was a whole lot of argument, and while that was happening, my eyes trailed after Axel.I’d seen his men rushing him into the car and speeding off while he kept bleeding. They didn’t take him to the hospital, and it made me worried about his safety.What if his condition worsened?He’d been shot. I didn’t know what exactly had happened or where the bullet had gone, but… I left my car open and rushed out, forcing my balance in my stiletto heels. His guards outside tried to stop me, but then I saw Grant and pleaded with him to let me in.“He’s in a critical condition,” he said flatly, still refusing to let me in. “It would be best if you took your leave, Red.”I refused to listen.

OLIVIADriving back home was tiring. I could barely keep my eyes on the road because they were throbbing badly. My head was pounding, and I felt like passing out.Axel had truly lost every atom of his feelings for me. I thought he would come out to acknowledge my presence, but… he didn’t even utter a word so I’d hear his voice.When I got to my estate, Isabella was standing outside. Her forehead creased immediately when she saw me approaching the entrance. And she started to lash out angrily at me.“Where the fuck have you been, Olivia?” She thundered, snatching my wrist as she forcefully pulled me back to face her when I tried to walk away. “I’ve been calling nonstop. You drove out of the cathedral without saying anything.”Honestly, I didn’t have the energy to say anything or even hold that conversation. If she really looked at me, then she’d notice the solemn look I had on my swollen face.My makeup felt caked against my skin, and the cold air seeping through my bones wasn’t helpin

OLIVIA“Where are you going?” Darren asked the moment he saw me dressed up, walking towards the parking lot.I halted, clutched my purse tightly, then turned around slowly to face him. It had been three days since our failed wedding. Yet we hadn’t said anything to each other because I’d refused to come out of my room throughout those days.“Out,” I responded in a single word.His eyes dragged through my body, staring with his jaw locked like I wore something totally unacceptable.“Like this?” He asked.“Like what?” I took another look at what I was wearing. It was a red backless halter-neck dress that dropped on my thighs. Since it was sunny outside, I wanted something that wouldn’t make me sweat.My hair was held up in a slick ponytail while my loose waves fell down my back. My sunglasses were on, and my silver-strapped heels matched with my jewelry and purse.Darren’s eyes twitched. “You look like you’re going to the strip club.”I exhaled sharply, not in the mood to further the d