Share

Chapter 42| New Liv

Author: Ronald James
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-19 20:52:53

Olivia’s POV:

Ethan is still asleep so I decide to leave first. I’m walking home from Emma’s when my phone starts ringing in my pocket. Pulling it out and seeing Brandon’s name, I let it ring and slide it back in place. His calls have been getting more frequent, with repeated texts to get me to answer him all day. Trying my hardest to ignore him; I can’t face talking to him right now.

My heart is in no way ready for another rejection from him, and I’ve been trying everything I can to keep him out of my head. I breathe a sigh of relief when it stops ringing, knowing he won’t leave a voicemail because he has a weird aversion to those, and I’m hoping he doesn’t send another text.

I can’t deny that I miss him too, but it will never let me move on if I fold now.

I know that’s all this is. He’s missing me because he can’t get hold of me. In time, he’ll get used to it, and then he won’t notice anymore. I have to protect my heart!

My cell beeps with a new text, despite hoping he wouldn’t, and
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 43| Goodbye?

    Olivia’s POV:I can’t stop running my fingers through my hair as I sit across from Millie in the bistro café we have come to for drinks. Lifting the deep black strands of hair and twirling them nervously. I have no idea what my Emma, Theo or Harvey or even Ethan will say about this drastic change, but the reflection in the hair salon showed me a completely transformed woman. I look and feel, for the first time, that I look my age, and the number of well-dressed men turning our way in passing has not just been for my new friend.Gone are the long blonde strands and in its place, a more angled, sleek facial shape. Framed with dark hair that seems to make my eyes stand out crazily, as though the blue is somehow more intense and less washed out. I couldn’t stop staring at the stranger in the mirror when she showed me the new look. I look like some vampy woman who needs a sexy dress. Millie then attacked me with winged liner and red lipstick, declaring me her new hair bestie, and invited m

    Last Updated : 2024-12-19
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 44| Out of line

    Olivia’s POV:The past days were a blur. Millie and I spent the night together at a club and the I had fun. I don’t even know what time we headed to her place. I must have fallen asleep quickly as I wake to noise, only half aware of Millie telling me she was going out and falling back into oblivion after the door slammed shut in the outer living area. I think I drift off again into oblivion because everything becomes confusing and time seems to drift away.I jump up with the pounding noise coming from the door.I get up warily, nursing a hangover. The knocking became persistent.“I’m coming!” I yell out as I try to cool the hammering of my heart to a steadier pace. Still foggy-headed from sleep, trembling from my rude awakening and realizing I never even picked up a robe to cover myself.Without hesitation or even checking the peephole, I open the safety lock and ease the heavy door, just enough to pop my head around to see who is making all that infernal, impatient noise, with an irr

    Last Updated : 2024-12-19
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 45| Back in NY

    Olivia’s POV:“I just needed to find you.” He seems to struggle with the closeness and steps back again, dragging air into his lungs, screwing up his face as though battling something in his head and rubbing his hand up the back of his neck and hair in agitation. “I didn’t think beyond finding you, and I never intended to say any of this to you. All this shit wasn’t why I looked for you. I just wanted you safe, to know where you were and that you weren’t alone with some idiot hurting you. I couldn’t get it out of my head that you needed me and wouldn’t call me.” He seems broken, making my heart break too, but still, the nagging doubts in my heart are pushing me in so many directions.“But...” I’m really confused.“I was wrong, Liv! So many boundaries this crosses.” He rubs his face with both palms roughly, giving me space, yet again, and so obviously in turmoil. He’s more ravaged with every word out of his mouth, suddenly so clear as to why his head is in the throes of world war three

    Last Updated : 2024-12-19
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 46| Back to square one

    Olivia’s POV:I’m more relaxed after my bath, warm and lazy from the hot soak, and wrapped in a fluffy robe, carrying my soiled clothes. I leave his room and head back towards the guest room for tonight. Head full of things I want to say to him.I jump when his voice comes from right behind me.“It’s late; maybe we should go to bed and talk over breakfast.”I spin on him as he dumps his car keys on the table and hauls off his hoody to reveal a t-shirt molded to that hunky frame. I turn away and clear my throat, shocked at how differently my insides react to the familiar sight. We’ve done much more than this before.“I guess.” I hesitate, not sure if I should make a stand and make it clear tonight that he has no control over me or if I should let him sleep and become more amenable to what I want after some rest. He looks exhausted. There is so much to talk about and a mess to pick through, and I have no idea where to start.“I called Theo and told him we’re already here and told him yo

    Last Updated : 2024-12-20
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 47| Roadtrip

    Olivia’s POV:We’ve been driving for a couple of hours with nowhere to go, just idle chit-chat and evasion of certain topics have me staring out at the passing scenery as rain makes everything wet, dull, and shiny. Bored and listless as music fills the car. We’ve listened to various radio stations as we travel, and Brandon seems lost in his head. There's nothing unusual there; he’s always been a thinker who went quiet and sorted shit out while he drove us anywhere. I find it strangely reassuring to watch that focused frown, the gears turning in his head and taking the quiet time to be still with everything. He hasn’t said anything for at least the last half hour. The silence isn’t exactly awkward; we can sit without talking and not feel weird about it, but I’m dying to have him say something about what he’s thinking.We went to the office and worked some. But we agreed to stupidly go on a road trip to celebrate my new hair. And that’s what we did.He glances my way when he feels my ey

    Last Updated : 2024-12-20
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 1| Drastic change

    Olivia’s POV:I was stunned. No, shocked to the core when an expensive looking man waited for me in the private visitor’s lounge in Bedford Women’s Correctional.“Hello, Olivia.” His teeth were pearly white I swear they could’ve blinded me.“Hi…I think you have the wrong Olivia…”He chuckled. “No, I have the right Olivia. You’re Olivia Charleston, right?”Damn, even his laughter sounded costly. Who is this man? I felt like a lump was blocking my throat so I nodded like a sea lion. With my orange outfit, I might pass as one. He motioned me to take the seat adjacent to his and sat down.“My name is Harvey Brown. I’m Meredith’s lawyer and executioner.” He extended his hand and I took it but very gingerly. “I heard you’re a free woman tomorrow.”“Meredith? She’s alive?” I realize that it was an inappropriate question and ignored everything he just said. “I am so sorry…it’s just that…the last time I saw her…she was being wheeled to an ambulance. They said it’s heart attack. I…I haven’t hea

    Last Updated : 2024-10-22
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 2| Heartbreak

    Olivia’s POV:“Okay…where am I supposed to stay?” I asked.My mother pulled out two hundred dollars and tossed it on the table carelessly as if she were giving money to a beggar. “Here, take this. Find a motel or rent a place. It's up to you.”I forced a bitter smile. “And what about Paul? What does he say about this?”Just then, Paul emerged from the bathroom. Without hesitation, he said, “Of course not. You're my sister. Of course, I'm on your side. If you want to stay here, I'll clear the room for you.”It seemed he still cared about me. I nodded with relief. “I’d like to stay for a while. I missed you guys.”But as soon as I said that, Paul’s expression froze. He stood there, looking at me, but made no move to clean the room. I stared back, puzzled. Did I say something offensive?At this time, Miles walked up to me, her voice sharp. “Olivia, have you lost your mind in prison? How can you be so inconsiderate? Can't you see how cramped the house is? Even if we clear out the room, it

    Last Updated : 2024-10-22
  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 3| Assumptions

    Brandon’s POV:I am Aunt Meredith’s only family and I have high hopes for myself. My Aunt is a complicated person. She married three times and her wealth came from all the marriages that did not give her any children. To this day, she’s Meredith Walton. Her last marriage was lucrative.She was a Pembroke and wealthy in her own right before she married all the ridiculously wealthy men. Until this day, I had no idea how a woman who doesn't have an active social life managed to ensnare three of America's wealthiest. Aunt Meredith's conviction wasn't even disclosed to the public eye. Because she's freakishly wealthy and had connections everywhere---people assumed she was just chilling in one of her many properties in the tropics when, in fact, she was serving time in Bedford Women's Correctional.Her life was pretty scandalous too. But that’s beside the point. My main concern here is who takes over all her assets. Harvey Brown’s secretary smiled at me when I walked into his elegant office

    Last Updated : 2024-10-22

Latest chapter

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 47| Roadtrip

    Olivia’s POV:We’ve been driving for a couple of hours with nowhere to go, just idle chit-chat and evasion of certain topics have me staring out at the passing scenery as rain makes everything wet, dull, and shiny. Bored and listless as music fills the car. We’ve listened to various radio stations as we travel, and Brandon seems lost in his head. There's nothing unusual there; he’s always been a thinker who went quiet and sorted shit out while he drove us anywhere. I find it strangely reassuring to watch that focused frown, the gears turning in his head and taking the quiet time to be still with everything. He hasn’t said anything for at least the last half hour. The silence isn’t exactly awkward; we can sit without talking and not feel weird about it, but I’m dying to have him say something about what he’s thinking.We went to the office and worked some. But we agreed to stupidly go on a road trip to celebrate my new hair. And that’s what we did.He glances my way when he feels my ey

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 46| Back to square one

    Olivia’s POV:I’m more relaxed after my bath, warm and lazy from the hot soak, and wrapped in a fluffy robe, carrying my soiled clothes. I leave his room and head back towards the guest room for tonight. Head full of things I want to say to him.I jump when his voice comes from right behind me.“It’s late; maybe we should go to bed and talk over breakfast.”I spin on him as he dumps his car keys on the table and hauls off his hoody to reveal a t-shirt molded to that hunky frame. I turn away and clear my throat, shocked at how differently my insides react to the familiar sight. We’ve done much more than this before.“I guess.” I hesitate, not sure if I should make a stand and make it clear tonight that he has no control over me or if I should let him sleep and become more amenable to what I want after some rest. He looks exhausted. There is so much to talk about and a mess to pick through, and I have no idea where to start.“I called Theo and told him we’re already here and told him yo

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 45| Back in NY

    Olivia’s POV:“I just needed to find you.” He seems to struggle with the closeness and steps back again, dragging air into his lungs, screwing up his face as though battling something in his head and rubbing his hand up the back of his neck and hair in agitation. “I didn’t think beyond finding you, and I never intended to say any of this to you. All this shit wasn’t why I looked for you. I just wanted you safe, to know where you were and that you weren’t alone with some idiot hurting you. I couldn’t get it out of my head that you needed me and wouldn’t call me.” He seems broken, making my heart break too, but still, the nagging doubts in my heart are pushing me in so many directions.“But...” I’m really confused.“I was wrong, Liv! So many boundaries this crosses.” He rubs his face with both palms roughly, giving me space, yet again, and so obviously in turmoil. He’s more ravaged with every word out of his mouth, suddenly so clear as to why his head is in the throes of world war three

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 44| Out of line

    Olivia’s POV:The past days were a blur. Millie and I spent the night together at a club and the I had fun. I don’t even know what time we headed to her place. I must have fallen asleep quickly as I wake to noise, only half aware of Millie telling me she was going out and falling back into oblivion after the door slammed shut in the outer living area. I think I drift off again into oblivion because everything becomes confusing and time seems to drift away.I jump up with the pounding noise coming from the door.I get up warily, nursing a hangover. The knocking became persistent.“I’m coming!” I yell out as I try to cool the hammering of my heart to a steadier pace. Still foggy-headed from sleep, trembling from my rude awakening and realizing I never even picked up a robe to cover myself.Without hesitation or even checking the peephole, I open the safety lock and ease the heavy door, just enough to pop my head around to see who is making all that infernal, impatient noise, with an irr

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 43| Goodbye?

    Olivia’s POV:I can’t stop running my fingers through my hair as I sit across from Millie in the bistro café we have come to for drinks. Lifting the deep black strands of hair and twirling them nervously. I have no idea what my Emma, Theo or Harvey or even Ethan will say about this drastic change, but the reflection in the hair salon showed me a completely transformed woman. I look and feel, for the first time, that I look my age, and the number of well-dressed men turning our way in passing has not just been for my new friend.Gone are the long blonde strands and in its place, a more angled, sleek facial shape. Framed with dark hair that seems to make my eyes stand out crazily, as though the blue is somehow more intense and less washed out. I couldn’t stop staring at the stranger in the mirror when she showed me the new look. I look like some vampy woman who needs a sexy dress. Millie then attacked me with winged liner and red lipstick, declaring me her new hair bestie, and invited m

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 42| New Liv

    Olivia’s POV:Ethan is still asleep so I decide to leave first. I’m walking home from Emma’s when my phone starts ringing in my pocket. Pulling it out and seeing Brandon’s name, I let it ring and slide it back in place. His calls have been getting more frequent, with repeated texts to get me to answer him all day. Trying my hardest to ignore him; I can’t face talking to him right now.My heart is in no way ready for another rejection from him, and I’ve been trying everything I can to keep him out of my head. I breathe a sigh of relief when it stops ringing, knowing he won’t leave a voicemail because he has a weird aversion to those, and I’m hoping he doesn’t send another text.I can’t deny that I miss him too, but it will never let me move on if I fold now.I know that’s all this is. He’s missing me because he can’t get hold of me. In time, he’ll get used to it, and then he won’t notice anymore. I have to protect my heart!My cell beeps with a new text, despite hoping he wouldn’t, and

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 41| Decoding boys

    [That’s great news, honey! You have her, she took the bait! Hook, line and sinker!] Alice was enthusiastically talking at the other end of the line. [I’m great you are following my advice down to a T. I can’t believe she feels that way about me---and to think I’m going to pretend as your bestfriend. Her radar is amazing.]Brandon updates Alice every day. When he suggested to fly to Greece to see Olivia, she was against it. Primarily because she couldn’t see what they’d be doing there and she doesn’t trust Brandon’s judgement when it comes to Olivia.But their plans have to push through. They’ve already invested too much time and effort to back out now. Alice is optimistic about their plan and Olivia just put the cherry on top. [Why did you leave her when she said she loves you?]He paused for a minute, “because if she sees I’m hesitant. It will give her reason to believe Harvey. That man has somehow got into her head.”[You are brilliant, honey! I love you! Keep this up. By the way, w

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 40| Extend

    Olivia’s POV:“What are you talking about? We talked about that last time, Liv. Right?” He’s still trying to angle me in for a hug, completely oblivious that I’m trying like mad to keep parts of his anatomy well away from malfunctioning parts of mine, and he seems to think I am probably struggling because I am still pissed at him. I duck out under his arm and hightail it to my bedside table, breathing hard as tears fall down my face in utter frustration.“What the hell?” He turns with a smile, but seeing my tears, he stops in his tracks. a concerned frown overtaking those “What is it? Are you really this upset with me? I’m sorry, you know I can be mean sometimes, but it doesn’t mean anything. I didn’t mean anything I said.” He moves towards me, but I hold up shaky palms in complete soul-destroying desperation. Panic is sweeping me fully.“I don’t just like you. I love you.” I almost spell it out to him because I have to, slowly and firmly, voice trembling painfully, raising my eyebrow

  • Billionaire Heiress by default   Chapter 39| I came

    Olivia’s POV:It’s our fourth day here in Santorini. The last two nights, I spent mostly with Emma and Theo and the mornings to myself. Ethan have me the entire day and I liked it. I’m in my bedroom, after showering and pulling on jeans and a T-shirt. I want to take a walk at the little plaza I spotted last night. My hair is on top of my head in a messy bun, and I am corresponding emails in New York.Harvey says my absence has been noted, and now that I am clear-headed and have some distance, I can see how shallow these people really are.I flop back on the bed, pulling Ethan’s stuffed bear, over my face and sighing loudly. I squeeze the stuffed toy tightly and quell the urge to scream into its soft little belly.“You could replace the bear with me. I hug back.” The familiar male voice catches me off guard as I yank the bear away and snap my eyes to the open door with a heart-hammering jolt.Brandon stands leaning against the door jamb a little sheepishly, and I have to stop myself fr

DMCA.com Protection Status