Olive watched Daniel sip his coffee with deliberate calmness, his demeanor completely unbothered. The aroma of the coffee wafted toward her, and she frowned, her stomach turning. She didn’t know whether it was the smell or the situation itself, but everything about this moment felt wrong.
“This feels like a waste of time,” Olive muttered under her breath, drumming her fingers on the table. Daniel glanced up from his cup, his expression unreadable. “I know you feel that way, Miss Bennett, but this meeting isn’t about wasting time. It’s about finding a resolution to this… complicated matter.” “Complicated?” she scoffed, leaning back in her chair. “That’s one way to describe it. I’d use a different word.” The smell of the coffee grew stronger as Daniel lifted the cup again, and Olive’s stomach churned violently. Her face turned pale, and she shot to her feet without another word, rushing to the restroom. Inside, she barely made it to the sink before the bile rose, and she retched uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to the cold porcelain for support. When the nausea finally subsided, she leaned against the wall, her breathing ragged. She looked at herself in the mirror, her reflection pale and haunted. This pregnancy was taking a toll on her body, her emotions, and her entire life. It hit her like a brick she only had two weeks left before she had to report back to court, and she hadn’t made any decisions. Her hands instinctively went to her stomach, trembling. “What am I going to do?” she whispered, her voice breaking. The tears came hard and fast, and she slid to the floor, crying until her face was blotchy and her eyes red. Every emotion she’d tried to suppress overwhelmed her anger, fear, helplessness. For the first time, she realized she wasn’t just dealing with a mistake or a situation. She was carrying a life inside her. Time slipped away as she sobbed quietly, her head resting against the wall. When she finally emerged from the restroom, she was surprised to find that over three hours had passed. Daniel was still sitting at the table, his coffee long gone. He looked up as she approached, concern flickering in his eyes. “Miss Bennett, were you crying?” he asked, his voice softer than before. Olive opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. Her body felt weak, her legs shaky. She barely registered Daniel standing up before the world tilted, and everything went black. Olive’s unconscious body slumped into Daniel’s arms, and he reacted instantly, his calm exterior giving way to urgency. He fumbled for his phone and dialed quickly. “Mr. Stone,” he said as soon as the line connected. “It’s Olive. She fainted. We’re at the restaurant, and she needs medical attention immediately.” Raymond’s voice was sharp on the other end. “Get her to a hospital. I’ll meet you there.” Daniel hung up and signaled to the restaurant staff, who rushed to assist him. Together, they carefully carried Olive out and into the waiting car outside. The hospital was a flurry of activity when they arrived. Nurses and doctors surrounded Olive, wheeling her into an examination room while Daniel filled out the necessary forms. “What happened?” a nurse asked as they worked on Olive. “She fainted” Daniel explained. The nurse nodded, her focus shifting back to Olive. Minutes later, Raymond stormed into the hospital, his face a mask of controlled anger and worry. Daniel approached him, updating him on the situation as best as he could. “She’s still unconscious,” Daniel said. “The doctors are doing everything they can.” Raymond nodded curtly and strode toward the waiting area. He didn’t sit, didn’t even look around. He just stood there, his hands clenched into fists, his thoughts racing. After what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged from the room. He glanced between Daniel and Raymond before speaking. “Who’s her husband?” the doctor asked, his tone brisk. "Husband" Raymond muttered to himself then he realized the girl in there is carrying his child without him being in any commitment to her. Raymond stepped forward without hesitation. “I am.” The doctor nodded, not questioning him. “Your wife’s condition is stable for now, but she’s severely stressed, which is putting both her and the baby at risk. She needs rest and proper care. This level of stress is dangerous.” Raymond’s jaw tightened. “Stress,” he murmured under his breath, almost to himself. The doctor looked at him sharply. “Yes. And if it continues, it could result in serious complications for both her and the child.” Raymond nodded stiffly, dismissing the doctor. He turned to Daniel, his mind already racing with plans. “Make sure she gets everything she needs,” he ordered before walking away to find some air. Olive woke up slowly, the sterile white ceiling above her coming into focus. She groaned softly, her body aching. She turned her head, surprised to see Raymond standing near the door, with Daniel behind him. Raymond’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, there was something unreadable in his gaze. But he said nothing. Without a word, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. Olive blinked, confused and frustrated. What was he doing here? Why did he care? She didn’t have the energy to think about it. All she could feel was the overwhelming weight of her situation pressing down on her. Olive lay on the hospital bed, her hands resting protectively over her stomach. Her emotions were a tangled mess, exhaustion and despair clouding her thoughts. The door creaked open, and Daniel stepped inside. He held a folder in his hands, his expression neutral but concerned. “How are you feeling, Miss Bennett?” he asked, his tone unusually gentle. Olive shrugged weakly. “Like my life is spinning out of control.” Daniel nodded, pulling a chair closer to her bedside. “I’m not here to pressure you, Miss Olive,” he said, surprising her by using her first name. “But you need to know how serious this situation is. Your health and the baby’s depends on how you handle things moving forward.” Olive let out a humorless laugh. “Handle things? Do you even hear yourself? I’m in this mess because someone didn’t handle things right in the first place.” Daniel didn’t respond immediately, giving her space to vent. When she calmed down, he leaned forward slightly. “I know this isn’t what you planned. It’s not what Raymond planned, either. But the reality is, this baby exists. You have to decide what’s next—for yourself, and for the child.” His words hit Olive like a blow. She felt tears welling up again, but she blinked them back, determined not to break down in front of him. “I need time,” she said quietly, her voice shaky. Daniel nodded. “Of course. But time is running out. Mr Raymond… he’s determined to make sure this child is born.” Olive’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “Of course he is. He’s Raymond Stone. He’s used to getting what he wants.” Daniel didn’t argue. Instead, he stood up and placed the folder on the bedside table. “These are documents outlining the support Raymond is willing to provide financial, medical, everything. You don’t have to decide now, but take a look when you’re ready.” With that, he left, leaving Olive alone with her thoughts. Raymond sat in his office later that evening, staring out at the city skyline. He replayed the events of the day in his mind, Olive’s pale face haunting him. For the first time in a long while, he felt something he couldn’t quite identify guilt. He didn’t know why it mattered so much to him that she was okay. Maybe it was the child. Maybe it was her defiance, her refusal to let him control her. Whatever it was, it unsettled him. He picked up his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen. After a moment, he set it down again, shaking his head. Olive Bennett wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted saving, and he wasn’t the kind of man who knew how to save anyone.Olive’s thoughts swirled around her, too rapid for her to make sense of them. Her mind kept drifting back to Raymond’s unexpected appearance in her hospital room, his words lingering even as the pain in her head grew stronger. I don’t need you, she had whispered, but the truth was, part of her wanted him to stay. She closed her eyes, trying to escape the confusion in her heart, but exhaustion overcame her, and her eyelids fluttered shut, pulling her into a deep, dreamless sleep.The night passed in a blur, and as the first light of dawn crept into the room, the quiet was broken by a gentle knock on the door. A nurse entered, her presence calm and reassuring. She checked the monitors by Olive’s bed, adjusting the drip and checking her vitals.But something was wrong.The nurse’s brow furrowed as she noticed Olive’s temperature climbing. She pressed her fingers to Olive’s forehead, confirming the rising fever. Without wasting a moment, she called for assistance, and soon, a team of doct
Raymond sat still, his gaze fixed on Olive as she lay unconscious in the bed, the rhythmic beep of the machines the only sound filling the sterile room. He had been here for hours, watching over her, but his mind was far from peaceful. Olive’s condition had stabilized, but the unease he felt gnawed at him. There were too many questions swirling in his head, too many things he didn’t understand about what was happening to him, to her, and to the child she carried. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger than him was at play, something that threatened to unravel everything.His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and in walked the doctor. The man looked at him with a serious expression, his lips tight.“Mr. Raymond,” he said, glancing at Olive briefly before returning his attention to Raymond. “I need to speak with you in my office. It’s about Olive’s condition. There’s something important we need to discuss.”Raymond’s brow furrowed, his concern for
Olive was finally discharged from the hospital. The sun’s warmth touched her skin. The doctor had assured her that her condition was stable, but she needed rest and proper care. She stepped out clutching the small bag. She couldn’t bring herself to thank him. After all, her life was a mess because of him. Outside, a sleek black sedan waited. A uniformed driver stepped out, offering a polite nod as he opened the car door. “Miss Olive, Mr. Raymond has asked me to take you to the penthouse.” Olive hesitated, She had always been independent, and this sudden reliance on Raymond’s resources felt suffocating. After a moment of internal debate, she refused to entered the car, deciding she can stay on her own and do better. “Tell Mr. Raymond I can take care of myself.” Olive said to the driver. The driver’s brow furrowed, but Olive didn’t wait for his reply. She turned on her heels and hailed a cab, her resolve hardening. She wouldn’t let Raymond or anyone else control her. The ride to
Olive packed her belongings in silence, her small apartment growing eerily quiet as the evening deepened. Her heart ached with every item she placed into the suitcase; this had been her refuge, her sanctuary during trying times. Now, she was being uprooted, thrust into a life she didn’t want but couldn’t escape.A sharp knock at the door startled her. Was the driver here already? She glanced out the window and saw the black car pulling up, the driver only just stepping out.Her stomach knotted as she approached the door. Another knock sounded, more insistent this time. Olive hesitated before unlocking it and pulling it open, her eyes darting into the dimly lit hallway.No one was there.Her breath hitched. The corridor was empty, save for the faint shuffle of the driver approaching the building. She leaned out slightly, her gaze scanning the shadows.“Did you knock just now?” she asked as the driver reached her door, his expression neutral.He shook his head. “No, Miss Olive. I only j
“Sir Raymond, Miss Olive has arrived at the mansion safely,” the housekeeper’s voice came through the phone. “She’s settled in and well taken care of.”“Good,” Raymond replied, his tone brisk. “Make sure everything she needs is provided.”The call ended, but Raymond’s mind lingered on Olive. He leaned back in his chair, his office dimly lit except for the desk lamp that illuminated the mountain of paperwork in front of him.Despite his focus on work, her face kept slipping into his thoughts. He smirked, recalling the doctor’s earlier words:"You need to engage her in sexual activities to strengthen her pelvic walls for the child."Raymond shook his head, chuckling softly to himself. The idea amused him, but it also planted a dangerous thought in his mind.With a sigh, he pushed Olive out of his head and returned to the matter at hand. His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him away from his work.It was a text message from Olive:"Please, I need the documents of your real surrogate mo
Olive jolted awake, her scream still ringing in her ears.Her chest heaved as she fought to calm her ragged breaths. Sweat slicked her skin, her hair plastered to her damp forehead. Her eyes darted frantically across the room, searching for any sign of the darkness that had consumed her moments before.She looked around wildly, her eyes adjusting to the familiar surroundings of her room.Clutching her stomach, her trembling fingers pressed against her flesh, half-expecting to find the blade that had pierced her in the dream. But there was nothing. Just the pounding of her heart, loud and unrelenting, as if it were trying to hammer its way out of her chest.She could hear the ticking of the clock in the silence. Looking up, she saw it was only 2:30 AM. Grabbing the sheet tightly, she wrapped it around herself as she trembled.“It was a dream,” she whispered shakily, her voice barely audible. “Just a dream.”But it had felt so real. Too real. She pulled the covers tightly around her tre
Mia’s bitter laugh echoed through the room, her trembling hand pointing accusingly at Olive. Her voice was venomous as she snarled, “You think this is over? You’ve ruined everything—everything.”Raymond’s eyes darkened, his towering presence exuding cold authority. He stepped forward, his tone sharp and unyielding. “Mia, you’re not thinking clearly. I’ve asked you to leave because it’s the best thing for both of us. Staying here isn’t helping you.”Mia’s rage wavered, her face contorting as despair seeped into her expression. Her shoulders sagged, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Best for who, Raymond? You? Do you even care what you’ve done to me?” Her voice cracked, heavy with anguish.Raymond sighed, but his tone turned harder, more resolute. “I care, Mia, but not in the way you want me to. I’ve never loved you, and I never will. I care because of the friendship between our families—nothing more. It’s time for you to let go.”Mia shook her head violently, her hair flying 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
Mr. Logan arrived at Raymond’s penthouse, clutching a leather-bound folder containing every copy of the Golden Island estate documents.Raymond stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette framed against the city’s shimmering skyline. He didn’t turn when Logan approached, but the tension in his shoulders was a dead giveaway. He already knew why Logan was there.“Here it is,” Logan said quietly, placing the folder on the glass coffee table. “Every copy… as you asked.”Raymond inhaled deeply, letting the weight of the moment settle over him. For years, Golden Island had been more than an estate; it was the heart of his empire—his blood, his sweat, his identity. Trading it away felt like carving out a piece of his soul. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the folder.His eyes skimmed over the documents, but the words blurred into a haze. His chest tightened. He blinked rapidly, willing away the sting of emotion. There was no time for weakness. Not now.A flicker of memory s
Raymond paced back and forth on the dock, his shoes echoing loudly in the empty space. The wind howled, creating a mournful sound as it swept through the old metal beams. Despite the sun shining brightly, a cold sensation churned in his stomach.He couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening. His team stood a few feet away, staring at their phones with worried expressions. They were all thinking the same thing: What’s going on?Raymond stopped pacing and gazed out at the water. He checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time.He started walking again, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if something had happened to Olive?He wasn’t sure he could forgive himself if it had.“History can’t repeat itself,” he whispered under his breath. “The woman I love has to live. She can’t die. Not again.”His team glanced at him, their eyes filled with unspoken questions. But Raymond had no answers. All he could do was wait and hope that everything was okay.The wind kept b
Delilah leaned against the cold brick wall, one leg bent as she twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. The phone was pressed to her ear, her lips curling into a knowing smirk as the line connected.“Hello, Frank.”There was silence which was long enough for her to picture the way his jaw would tighten.Then, his voice came through as he said “What do you want, Delilah?” in a sharp and impatient tone.Her smirk deepened. Oh, how she loved getting under his skin. “Oh, come on, don’t be so grumpy. I have good news.”Frank’s scoff was immediate. “Good news?” He sounded incredulous, his anger barely restrained. “After all the losses I’ve taken because of you?”Delilah rolled her eyes, tapping her nails against the phone. “Oh, don’t start. I’m fixing everything.”“Fixing it?” Frank snapped. “Because of you I lost properties, money and even trust from my families”She sighed, cutting him off before he could launch into one of his never-ending rants. “Olive is here.”For a brief seconds
"We will check to see how long," Ethan responded.Ezra sighed lazily as he crossed his arms against his chest, his eyes fixed on Olive, who sat oblivious to their presence. Olive was now so weak that she couldn’t even sense how many people were in the room. She was almost slipping into a coma.Ezra shifted uneasily. “So, what’s your plan?”Ethan didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained locked on Olive, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “Let’s watch first. But Mia must not hurt her.”Ezra scoffed, dropping his arms from his chest. “And if she does?”“You have to stop her. This wasn’t the plan, but I don’t care anymore. All I need to find out is if she’s truly our sister. If she is, this mission has to be aborted.”Ezra exhaled sharply, his skepticism evident. Ethan had always been the strategist, the one who thought five steps ahead. That trait had been the reason for their issues with Raymond, but now, him giving it up meant he was truly invested in uncovering what had
"That's enough, Ezra," Ethan called out. He stood in the room, watching Olive like he was seeing something that wasn’t supposed to be there. His chest tightened, but he forced himself to stay still.Ezra stood beside him, leaning against the wall with an impatient look. He was checking his phone, barely paying attention. Ethan licked his lips, hesitating for just a second before speaking."Doesn’t she look like Mom?"Ezra barely reacted. He let out a short, dry chuckle without looking up. "Are you serious?" His tone was flat, dismissive.Ethan’s fingers curled into his palms. His throat felt dry. "Look at her properly."Ezra finally lifted his gaze, scanning Olive for barely a second before shaking his head. "You’re overthinking."Ethan swallowed. His pulse was steady, but his thoughts weren’t. "No. I know what I’m saying."Ezra rolled his eyes and turned away. "We buried her, Ethan. Our sister is dead."Ethan’s stomach twisted. He glanced at Olive again. The resemblance wasn’t just i
The gunshot exploded through the room.Olive’s breath caught in her throat. The sharp crack of the gun was deafening, the scent of burned gunpowder stinging her nose. Her body braced for pain, for the punch of the bullet, but it never came.The gun clattered to the ground, spinning across the floor. Ezra stood in front of her, his chest rising and falling, his arm still outstretched from where he’d knocked the weapon from Delilah’s grip. The air between them pulsed with raw energy.Delilah took a deep, shaky breath, her shoulders rising as her hands curled into fists. Her face twisted into something ugly. “You should be dead,” she hissed.Olive couldn't speak. Her body had locked up the moment Delilah pulled the trigger, and now she was stuck in the aftermath, her limbs useless, her mind blank.Ezra’s voice sliced through the silence. “Do you even understand what you just did?” His usual calm was gone, his words sharp and cutting. His hands curled into his jacket as if he were stoppin
A stinging slap cracked through the air.Olive’s head snapped to the side, pain exploding across her cheek. Her vision blurred, her ears ringing from the force of the blow. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, the metallic taste sharp against her tongue. The room swayed, her mind sluggish as she struggled to process what was happening.A soft chuckle, dark and laced with venom, slithered through the dimly lit space."Pathetic," Sophia’s voice—no, something about it was off—dripped with mockery.Olive’s breaths came in short gasps. Her head throbbed, and when she finally forced herself to look up, the woman standing before her was smirking. The same face Olive had come to despise—Sophia’s face. Yet, there was something… different. A flicker of something familiar.A shiver crawled down her spine."You don’t even recognize me, do you?" The woman tilted her head, amusement flashing in her dark eyes.Olive’s brows knitted together, confusion clouding her mind. The voice, the way sh
Sophia sat across from Ezra, her fingers tapping lightly against the cold surface of the table. She wasn’t here to beg. She wasn’t here to explain. She was here to end Olive, once and for all.Olive had taken everything from her—her pride, her future, and worst of all, the love of Frank.Sophia scoffed at the memory of their last fight. Frank had stood in their apartment, his jaw tight, his voice devoid of the warmth he once had for her.“I can’t do this anymore, Sophia. You’ve ruined me.”Ruined him?Her nails dug into her palm as she recalled every hateful word he had thrown at her. Frank blamed her for his failures, his losses. He called off the wedding, leaving her humiliated and alone. But she knew the truth—Frank was still deeply in love with Olive.That girl had been a thorn in her side for too long.Not anymore.She had imagined this moment a hundred times—the moment where she finally proved to Frank, and to herself, that she wasn’t weak. That Olive had always been beneath her
"What's the way?" Raymond asked. The officer adjusted his cap. “There’s a private security firm a few blocks from here. They have high-resolution cameras covering this entire district.” Raymond exchanged a glance with Daniel. “I think you could check there,” the officer added. Without wasting time, Daniel pulled out his phone and called the other guard stationed at the hospital. “Bring the car now. We’ll need it.” Minutes later, headlights cut through the dimly lit street as the vehicle screeched to a halt. Raymond and Daniel jumped in. The driver didn’t need directions—he floored the gas, heading straight to the security firm. When they arrived, the building was closed, its shutters down. A few people remained inside, visible through the tinted glass. Daniel knocked hard. A security man peered out through a side window. “We’re closed. Come back tomorrow.” Raymond stepped forward. His voice was sharp. “We don’t have time for tomorrow.” “Business hours are over,” the ma