The hospital room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Olive lay still, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that felt too fragile, too uncertain. Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the harsh fluorescent lights, and her dark lashes rested against her cheeks like delicate feathers.She looked peaceful, but the stillness was unnerving. It had been four days since she slipped into a coma, and the clock was ticking. In two days, the court hearings would begin, and her lawyer, Mr. Henry, was growing worried. He hadn’t been able to reach her since their last conversation about providing proof of surrogacy. After that call, he never heard from her again.Raymond sat by her bed, his usual composed demeanor fraying at the edges. His suit jacket was draped over the back of the chair, his tie loosened, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He hadn’t left her side in days, neglecting his duties as CEO of his vast empire. His fingers were tightly wrapped a
Raymond's eyes narrowed as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. "Oh, Raymond, Raymond," the voice on the other end of the line was dark, taunting, and dripping with malice. Raymond’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenched."Nice to hear from you, Raymond," the voice crooned, almost mockingly. "You say you want death? Huh?"Raymond's pulse quickened, but he refused to let it show. His voice remained cold, calculated. "Thirty billion worth of orders. Send them now to my warehouse. You have one hour."Without waiting for a reply, he ended the call with a sharp press of his finger. His heart pounded in his chest, but outwardly, he remained composed, his eyes fixed on Olive, still lying on the bed before him.She looked fragile. Too fragile. His mind wandered back to the troubles of the last few days, all of it pressing heavily on him. But his focus snapped back to the present. Ezra. His rival. The one person who always stirred up trouble for him for no reason, and
The day before her wedding, Olive Madison couldn’t contain her excitement. Her white lace wedding gown hung neatly on the closet door, and her veil lay folded on the bed. Everything she had ever dreamed of was about to come true—marrying Frank, the man she had loved for six years, in front of friends and family.She glanced at the clock. Diana, her stepsister, was supposed to help her with last-minute wedding details, but she was late, as usual. Olive sighed and decided to make herself some tea.The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. As she stirred honey into her tea, Olive’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. It was Frank.“Hey, babe,” she answered cheerfully.“Hey, I left my cufflinks at your place,” Frank said. “Mind if I swing by and grab them?”Olive smiled. “Sure. They’re in the bedroom drawer. I’ll leave the door unlocked.”“Thanks. I’ll be there in ten.”Olive decided to take a quick shower before Frank arrived. She left her phone on the counte
The following morning, Olive woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the coffee table. She had fallen asleep on the couch, her face streaked with dried tears. Her eyes burned, and her head throbbed as she groggily reached for the phone.A flood of messages and missed calls greeted her. Most were from concerned friends and family checking on last-minute wedding details. But there was one from Frank, and just seeing his name made her stomach churn.We need to talk. Call me.Olive stared at the message, her heart heavy with anger and pain. What more was there to say? She had seen everything she needed to. She tossed the phone aside and sank back into the couch, burying her face in her hands.The betrayal was still fresh, the memory of Frank and Diana together replaying in her mind like a broken record. Diana’s smirk, her mocking words, and the damning pregnancy test result—all of it left Olive feeling raw and exposed.Olive decided she couldn’t stay in the apartment any
Olive adjusted the strap of her suitcase as she maneuvered through the crowded airport. The din of announcements over the intercom and the bustling of passengers filled the air. Her chest felt heavy, weighed down by the betrayal and heartbreak that had unraveled her life in just a matter of hours. Each step felt like she was leaving behind the fragments of a dream she had clung to for years—a life with Frank, a family she thought she could trust. But that dream was dead now, and she had to move forward.She gripped her boarding pass tightly, as if it were her lifeline. Her destination was New York City. It wasn’t a place she’d dreamed of living, but it was far enough from the chaos she was escaping. It was a city big enough to lose herself in, to start over without the judgmental stares and whispered rumors that would undoubtedly follow her back home.Olive inhaled deeply as she stopped at a coffee counter to order something warm. The sleepless night had drained her, leaving her jitte
Olive stood at the window of her temporary hotel room, staring out at the city that was both foreign and overwhelming. New York’s endless buzz felt like a cruel mirror of the turmoil inside her. Her fingers drummed on the edge of the windowpane as her mind reeled from everything that had unfolded.This city was supposed to be her escape. It was supposed to be a place where she could start fresh, leave her broken engagement and family betrayals behind, and figure out what to do next. But instead of finding peace, she was now saddled with a mystery pregnancy and a gnawing fear that her life was spiraling out of control.“I need to find a place,” she murmured, pacing the room. Living in a hotel felt too transient, too uncertain. She needed stability, even if only the kind a proper apartment could offer.---The search for a new home consumed most of her day. Olive wandered through neighborhoods, touring cramped apartments and overpriced studios. Nothing felt right. The city was bustling,
Olive sat in the cramped seat of the plane, her fingers tracing the outline of the leather handbag resting on her lap. She had only packed the essentials—clothes, a few personal items, and the lingering sense of uncertainty about what awaited her back in Chicago. For the first time in days, she felt a small but real sense of calm. She had made up her mind. New York was where she wanted to build her life. It would be her escape, her fresh start.The past three days in New York had done something for her—brought her peace, gave her space, and allowed her to breathe. The messages from her father had only confirmed that there was no going back to the life she had known. She wasn’t the same woman who had left Chicago, and she never would be again.As the plane touched down in Chicago, Olive stared out of the window, unsure of what she was walking into. It was hot for the middle of the afternoon, and the heat pressed against the window as the aircraft taxied to the gate. She had no intentio
Olive left the hospital with a heavy heart. The encounter with Raymond Stone was still fresh in her mind, but she couldn’t dwell on it. She had more pressing issues to deal with. As she hailed a cab to the courthouse, her thoughts raced. She had to face Frank, her ex-fiancé, and his ridiculous demands. The very idea of compensating him for “wasting his time” felt absurd, but Olive knew she had to remain calm and strong. The courthouse loomed ahead, and as the cab stopped, Olive paid the driver and stepped out. She saw her lawyer, Helen Porter, waiting for her near the entrance. Helen gave her a reassuring smile, but Olive’s attention was quickly drawn to the two figures standing near the steps—Frank and her sister, Delilah. Delilah spotted her first and smirked, her eyes filled with mockery. She stepped forward, holding an envelope. “Oh, dear sister,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “you’re just in time. I have something special for you.” Delilah tossed the envelope at Ol
Raymond's eyes narrowed as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. "Oh, Raymond, Raymond," the voice on the other end of the line was dark, taunting, and dripping with malice. Raymond’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenched."Nice to hear from you, Raymond," the voice crooned, almost mockingly. "You say you want death? Huh?"Raymond's pulse quickened, but he refused to let it show. His voice remained cold, calculated. "Thirty billion worth of orders. Send them now to my warehouse. You have one hour."Without waiting for a reply, he ended the call with a sharp press of his finger. His heart pounded in his chest, but outwardly, he remained composed, his eyes fixed on Olive, still lying on the bed before him.She looked fragile. Too fragile. His mind wandered back to the troubles of the last few days, all of it pressing heavily on him. But his focus snapped back to the present. Ezra. His rival. The one person who always stirred up trouble for him for no reason, and
The hospital room was silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Olive lay still, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that felt too fragile, too uncertain. Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the harsh fluorescent lights, and her dark lashes rested against her cheeks like delicate feathers.She looked peaceful, but the stillness was unnerving. It had been four days since she slipped into a coma, and the clock was ticking. In two days, the court hearings would begin, and her lawyer, Mr. Henry, was growing worried. He hadn’t been able to reach her since their last conversation about providing proof of surrogacy. After that call, he never heard from her again.Raymond sat by her bed, his usual composed demeanor fraying at the edges. His suit jacket was draped over the back of the chair, his tie loosened, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He hadn’t left her side in days, neglecting his duties as CEO of his vast empire. His fingers were tightly wrapped a
The bar was dark, smoky, and filled with the scent of alcohol and sweat. Music played in the background—low, sultry beats that made the room feel heavy. The air was thick, and the dim red lights gave everything a dangerous glow.A man sat in the corner, his cigarette burning between his fingers. He was deep in thought, his jaw clenched as he remembered Mia’s words."You let her escape?"His fingers tightened around his glass of whiskey. He had never failed a job before. Never. But tonight, Olive had gotten away. Raymond had gotten to her first. And Mia… she was furious.A long drag of smoke filled his lungs as he exhaled slowly."This isn’t over," he thought.His gaze flickered to the entrance of the bar. The door swung open, and two women strutted in. Their hips swayed with confidence, their stripeless outfit clinging to every curve. They were meant to be distractions. Beautiful, dangerous distractions. The blonde one locked eyes with him, a slow smirk curling on her lips.She walke
The tires screeched against the pavement as the car came to a jarring halt."Shit! She jumped out!" the man cursed, slamming his fists against the steering wheel as they came down from the car.The girl’s eyes burned with fury. “We need to get her before—”She stopped mid-sentence. Headlights sliced through the darkness, a black SUV speeding toward them.“Damn it!” the man growled. “We have to retreat.”He backed away cautiously, keeping his eyes on the unmoving form of Olive. The girl spat out a curse but wasted no time. They both rushed to the car, slamming the doors shut.The SUV skidded to a stop just a few feet away from Olive’s crumpled body.“Olive!” Raymond’s voice cracked as he leaped out of the car, his feet pounding against the asphalt. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he reached for her. She was pale, her skin icy to the touch, and blood pooled beneath her, staining the ground red."Follow them!" he barked at his men.His men were already in pursu
Raymond stormed out of his penthouse in New York, his phone pressed tightly against his ear.“I want every resource we have looking for Olive Bennett. Now.” His voice was sharp, filled with urgency.His driver rushed to open the car door, but Raymond didn’t wait. He slid into the backseat and slammed the door shut. “To the airport. Fast.”As the car sped off, Mia stood by the window, watching with a sly smirk. Everything was going just as she had planned.She picked up her phone and dialed.The cloaked man answered after one ring.“Hello,” she said smoothly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I don’t want her to see the sunlight of the next day.”The man chuckled darkly, taking a long drag from his cigarette. “Consider it done.”He exhaled a cloud of smoke before leaning back lazily. “When will I get my part of the deal?”Mia rolled her eyes, her tone playful yet cold. “Don’t be in a hurry. Everything will be processed soon.”The man grinned, taking another sip of his wine. “It
The waitress leaned back against the passenger seat, her dark eyes gleaming with malice. “Not bad. She’s a pretty one,” she said, smirking as she glanced at Olive. “Maybe you will have a little fun with her before she kisses the earth goodbye.”Olive’s skin crawled at the words. She felt like an animal, something to be used and then thrown away. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to escape, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She was too weak, too scared. She felt like a lamb surrounded by wolves, helpless and cornered. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to give her captors the satisfaction of seeing her break.Who were these people? What did they want? None of that mattered now. All she could think about was escape. She had to get out, no matter what.The car slowed to a halt, the sound of crunching gravel beneath the tires breaking the tense silence. Olive squinted through her blurry vision and saw they had arrived at a desolate location—a forgotten piece
The morning sun shone brightly through the curtains of Olive’s hotel room. She woke up slowly, feeling tired after a restless night. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, then stretched her arms. It was time to start the day.Dragging herself to the bathroom, she washed her face with cold water. The chill helped her wake up fully. After drying her face, Olive stared into the mirror for a moment. Her heart was heavy. The court case today was on her mind.She dressed simply, in a white blouse and navy jeans, and then walked over to the phone on the bedside table. She pressed the button to call the hotel’s room service.“Good morning,” she said. “I’d like to order breakfast, please. Coffee, scrambled eggs, and toast.”“Yes, ma’am,” the voice on the other end replied. “We’ll deliver it shortly.”After ending the call, Olive grabbed her phone and texted her lawyer, Mr. Henry. “Good morning, Mr. Henry. I’ll come to your office today with the documents.”It didn’t take long for him to reply.
Mia leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming against the table as she held her phone to her ear. “Make sure it’s done cleanly. No mistakes, no trace,” she said sharply.The man on the other end chuckled, his voice smooth and unbothered. “Mia, after all these years, you still question what I’m capable of?”He took a drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing briefly before he exhaled a cloud of smoke. His gaze wandered to the Chicago skyline outside his hotel window, his lips curving into a faint smirk.“Relax,” he said, his tone dripping with confidence. “You can start celebrating. The job’s as good as done.”Mia's laughter echoed through the phone, a cold, mirthless sound that sent shivers down the spine. "I knew I could count on you. You're the best in the business."The man's response was curt, his tone dismissive. "Just make sure you hold up your end of the deal." His words were a warning.He ended the call, slipping his phone into his pocket. His movements were deliberate a
“Who’s there?” Olive asked, her voice cautious as she approached the door.“It’s me, Raymond,” came the deep, familiar voice from the other side.She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door to find him standing there, his tall frame filling the doorway. His expression was calm, but his intense gaze held hers firmly.“I hope you’re comfortable in this suite,” he began, his voice softer than usual. “Or do you want me to get you a house instead?”Olive blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly. “A house?” she repeated, her brows furrowing in confusion.Raymond nodded, his face betraying no emotion. “Yes, a house. I want you to feel at ease. If you’re not comfortable here, just say the word.”Olive stared at him, stunned by the casual way he made such a grand offer. “No, I don’t need a house,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “This suite is more than enough.”Raymond’s eyes dropped to the bed behind her, where her open suitcase lay with neatly folded clothes. “Are you leaving