(Lucas’s POV)I woke up feeling like my head had been trapped in a vice.The past few days had been nothing but a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and betrayal. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the same questions I still didn’t have answers to. Ryan West. Olivia. Amelia. The lawsuit. EthanIt felt like my entire life was closing in on me, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get a grip on things.I exhaled heavily, rubbing my face before pushing myself upright. The air in my bedroom felt suffocating. I needed to clear my head.Dragging myself to the bathroom, I turned on the cold water and let it run over my face. The chill bit into my skin, but it didn’t wash away the tension sitting like a weight in my chest.Amelia had told me Olivia was marrying Ethan. I acted like I didn't care but I did.I wanted to believe she was lying—wanted to believe Olivia wouldn’t do something like that—but I had been wrong about her before.I had been wrong about a lot of things.I turned
Olivia’s POVI sat in my office, gripping the edge of my desk so tightly my knuckles turned white.Lucas was in jail because of me.I had tried to focus on work, tried to push the weight of my guilt to the back of my mind, but it was impossible. My heart pounded, my stomach twisted, and no matter how many deep breaths I took, nothing could shake the horrible feeling that all of this was my fault.Ryan. Lucas. The lawsuit. The accusations.If I had just handled things differently, maybe Lucas wouldn’t be behind bars right now.Natalya walked in without knocking, her face tight with concern. “Olivia, you need to eat something. You’ve barely touched your lunch.”I shook my head. “I’m not hungry.”“You haven’t been hungry for two days.” She crossed her arms. “And don’t tell me it’s not about Lucas.”I sighed, pressing my fingers against my temples. “Of course, it’s about him. He’s sitting in a cell because of me.”Natalya softened, moving closer. “It’s not your fault.”I gave her a hollow
Chapter 68Olivia’s POVThe cool night air brushed against my skin as we walked along the quiet streets. Lucas’s steps were a little unsteady, but he wasn’t completely lost in the alcohol—just enough to let his guard down.He glanced at me, his eyes dark with something unreadable. “You’re quiet,” he murmured.I smiled, but it felt weak. “I’m just thinking.”“About what?”I hesitated. About us. About what I wanted to say but couldn’t. About how I was aching to tell him everything.Before I could answer, his stomach growled, and I laughed. “I think we should get some food before you pass out from hunger.”He smirked. “That bad, huh?”We found a small restaurant, dimly lit and quiet. It was late, and most people had already gone home, leaving the place mostly empty except for a few night owls. We slid into a booth, and Lucas leaned back against the seat, watching me with an intensity that made my skin warm.“I missed this,” he admitted, swirling his drink in his glass. “Just us. Without
Chapter 66(Lucas’s POV)I woke up feeling like my head had been trapped in a vice.The past few days had been nothing but a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and betrayal. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the same questions I still didn’t have answers to. Ryan West. Olivia. Amelia. The lawsuit. EthanIt felt like my entire life was closing in on me, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get a grip on things.I exhaled heavily, rubbing my face before pushing myself upright. The air in my bedroom felt suffocating. I needed to clear my head.Dragging myself to the bathroom, I turned on the cold water and let it run over my face. The chill bit into my skin, but it didn’t wash away the tension sitting like a weight in my chest.Amelia had told me Olivia was marrying Ethan. I acted like I didn't care but I did.I wanted to believe she was lying—wanted to believe Olivia wouldn’t do something like that—but I had been wrong about her before.I had been wrong about a lot of thing
Olivia’s POVI tightened my grip on the letter, my mind racing. The words on the paper weren’t just a threat; they were a reminder that someone was watching me, someone who wanted me to break. But I wasn’t going to let that happen.Vivian sat across from me, her arms crossed, worry evident in her eyes. “Olivia, you can’t ignore this,” she said, her voice firm. “Whoever sent this knows too much. You need to tell report to the cops or let's just call Ethan.""I let out a slow breath and leaned back in my chair. “Telling Ethan won’t change anything, Viv. I need to find out who did this myself.”She exhaled sharply, frustration flickering across her face. “And if you can’t?”“I will,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I’m not as helpless as everyone thinks.”Vivian sighed, shaking her head. “It’s not about being helpless. It’s about being careful.”“I am careful,” I countered. “And that’s exactly why I need to handle this alone.”She studied me for a long moment before standing up. “Fine. If you
Olivia’s POVMy pulse pounded in my ears as my gaze darted around, taking in the unfamiliar space—bare walls, a single wooden chair, a bed and a locked door. A chill ran down my spine. Where was I?Then, I saw him.Ryan.My breath caught in my throat. He stood across from me, arms folded, his dark eyes locked onto mine with an unsettling calmness. The sight of him sent a jolt of fear through me. It wasn’t possible. He was kidnaped.I forced my voice steady, though my hands trembled. "How… how are you here?"He said nothing.My heart pounded harder. "Ryan, how did you escape, who kidnapped you?""Silence.A slow, sickening smile curved his lips, and my stomach twisted.I swallowed hard. "Why am I here?"Ryan finally moved, stepping closer. His movements were slow, deliberate, and it made my skin crawl."You already know why, Olivia," he murmured.I shook my head. "No, I don’t. I was getting threats that there were going to take your life and...""He chuckled, the sound devoid of warmt
Olivia’s POVThe cold night air hit my face as I ran. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my bare feet scraping against the rough ground. I didn't care about the pain—I just needed to get away.Branches whipped against my skin as I pushed forward, breath ragged and uneven. Behind me, I could hear Ryan’s footsteps. Heavy. Angry. Determined.I had no idea where I was. The only thing that mattered was escaping him.But then—A strong hand yanked me back.I screamed as I was thrown to the ground. Ryan’s face loomed over me, twisted with fury. His chest heaved, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter."You really thought you could run from me?" His voice was low, deadly.I scrambled backward, but he grabbed my ankle, dragging me toward him. I kicked wildly, trying to break free, but his grip was unyielding."Let me go!" I shouted, thrashing with everything I had.Ryan’s hand shot out, grabbing my chin in a bruising grip. "I was trying to be a gentleman, Olivia
Olivia’s POVRyan collapsed onto the floor with a sickening thud. The shattered bottle slipped from my trembling hands, glass shards scattering across the wooden planks. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I stared at his motionless body.Was he dead?I didn’t want to check. I wanted to turn and run, to leave this nightmare behind—but what if he wasn’t dead? What if he woke up and came after me?I took a shaky step forward, my knees weak beneath me. My stomach twisted violently as I crouched beside him, my fingers hesitating before pressing against his neck.Warm skin. A pulse.Relief crashed into me, quickly followed by fear.He wasn’t dead.I jerked my hand away, my heart hammering harder. I didn’t have much time. He could wake up any second, and if he did, he wouldn’t give me another chance to fight back.I needed to go.Now.I stumbled to my feet, my legs burning with adrenaline as I rushed toward the door. My hands fumbled with the lock, my finger
Lucas’s POVI stared at Amelia, watching for any flicker of dishonesty in her expression. She had just admitted that Ryan wanted Olivia to himself and had asked her to make sure I fell for her. The pieces were starting to connect, but I needed more.I didn’t trust her. Not even for a second.Her admission could be real, or it could be another carefully calculated move. Amelia had always been good at playing the game—too good. And until I had proof, I couldn’t believe a damn word she said.I leaned back, studying her. “That’s all he said? Make me fall for you?”She met my gaze, tilting her head slightly. “You sound disappointed.”I let out a dry chuckle. “Disappointed? No. Suspicious? Yeah.”She smirked, swirling the whiskey in her glass. “Lucas, I know you don’t trust me, but I have no reason to lie. Ryan just wanted Olivia. I didn’t ask why. It’s not like I care about his personal motives.”That was exactly what made me doubt her.Amelia never did anything without a reason.
Lucas’s POVOlivia froze. Her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—hesitation, frustration, maybe even fear. I wanted her answer, but I already knew I wasn’t going to like it.After a long pause, she finally spoke.“You don’t have to worry about Ethan,” she said quietly. “He’s not the problem.”I clenched my jaw. “And Ryan?”Her gaze dropped, and she shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to talk about it.”I scoffed, taking a step back. “Of course you don’t.”She looked up sharply. “Lucas—”“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to shut me out every damn time something gets difficult.”Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “It’s not about shutting you out! It’s—”“It’s what, Olivia?” My voice was sharp, my patience hanging by a thread. “You stand here, telling me to be careful, to think things through, to not do anything reckless, but you won’t even give me the full picture. How the hell am I supposed to fight a batt
Olivia’s POVThe cold night air bit at my skin as I walked away from Lucas’s house, my heels clicking against the pavement. My breath came in uneven puffs, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the chilly air or the frustration boiling inside me.I had come here to warn him, to tell him about the anonymous notes, but instead, I left feeling like a fool.Lucas had laughed at me.Mocked me.And worst of all, he had said Amelia’s name.The name that still felt like a dagger to my chest.I clenched my fists, willing myself to push away the emotions threatening to resurface. I had wasted enough energy on him tonight. I should have never come.I was halfway to my car when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.“Olivia, wait!”I stopped but didn’t turn around. My heart pounded at the sound of his voice, but I forced myself to stay still.The footsteps grew louder, and within seconds, Lucas was in front of me, slightly out of breath. His hair was a mess, his shirt wrinkled from sleep, but his
Olivia’s POVLucas’s fist came down again. Ryan barely had time to react before Lucas grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, his face battered and bloodied. I could see the fury burning in Lucas’s eyes, the way his body shook with pure, unfiltered rage.“Lucas, stop!” I ran forward, my pulse hammering as I grabbed his arm. “Please, don’t!”His breath was ragged, his knuckles bruised and bleeding. His grip on Ryan’s collar tightened as if he hadn’t heard me.“Lucas,” I whispered, stepping closer. “You’re better than this.”His chest heaved as he looked down at Ryan, who was barely conscious, then at me.For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to listen.Then, slowly, his grip loosened.Ryan slumped to the ground, groaning weakly. Lucas stepped back, his hands clenched into fists as he exhaled sharply, trying to regain control.I reached for him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “We need to go.”Lucas didn’t move at first. Then, with one last glare at Ryan’s crumpled form, he tu
Olivia’s POVRyan collapsed onto the floor with a sickening thud. The shattered bottle slipped from my trembling hands, glass shards scattering across the wooden planks. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I stared at his motionless body.Was he dead?I didn’t want to check. I wanted to turn and run, to leave this nightmare behind—but what if he wasn’t dead? What if he woke up and came after me?I took a shaky step forward, my knees weak beneath me. My stomach twisted violently as I crouched beside him, my fingers hesitating before pressing against his neck.Warm skin. A pulse.Relief crashed into me, quickly followed by fear.He wasn’t dead.I jerked my hand away, my heart hammering harder. I didn’t have much time. He could wake up any second, and if he did, he wouldn’t give me another chance to fight back.I needed to go.Now.I stumbled to my feet, my legs burning with adrenaline as I rushed toward the door. My hands fumbled with the lock, my finger
Olivia’s POVThe cold night air hit my face as I ran. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my bare feet scraping against the rough ground. I didn't care about the pain—I just needed to get away.Branches whipped against my skin as I pushed forward, breath ragged and uneven. Behind me, I could hear Ryan’s footsteps. Heavy. Angry. Determined.I had no idea where I was. The only thing that mattered was escaping him.But then—A strong hand yanked me back.I screamed as I was thrown to the ground. Ryan’s face loomed over me, twisted with fury. His chest heaved, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter."You really thought you could run from me?" His voice was low, deadly.I scrambled backward, but he grabbed my ankle, dragging me toward him. I kicked wildly, trying to break free, but his grip was unyielding."Let me go!" I shouted, thrashing with everything I had.Ryan’s hand shot out, grabbing my chin in a bruising grip. "I was trying to be a gentleman, Olivia
Olivia’s POVMy pulse pounded in my ears as my gaze darted around, taking in the unfamiliar space—bare walls, a single wooden chair, a bed and a locked door. A chill ran down my spine. Where was I?Then, I saw him.Ryan.My breath caught in my throat. He stood across from me, arms folded, his dark eyes locked onto mine with an unsettling calmness. The sight of him sent a jolt of fear through me. It wasn’t possible. He was kidnaped.I forced my voice steady, though my hands trembled. "How… how are you here?"He said nothing.My heart pounded harder. "Ryan, how did you escape, who kidnapped you?""Silence.A slow, sickening smile curved his lips, and my stomach twisted.I swallowed hard. "Why am I here?"Ryan finally moved, stepping closer. His movements were slow, deliberate, and it made my skin crawl."You already know why, Olivia," he murmured.I shook my head. "No, I don’t. I was getting threats that there were going to take your life and...""He chuckled, the sound devoid of warmt
Olivia’s POVI tightened my grip on the letter, my mind racing. The words on the paper weren’t just a threat; they were a reminder that someone was watching me, someone who wanted me to break. But I wasn’t going to let that happen.Vivian sat across from me, her arms crossed, worry evident in her eyes. “Olivia, you can’t ignore this,” she said, her voice firm. “Whoever sent this knows too much. You need to tell report to the cops or let's just call Ethan.""I let out a slow breath and leaned back in my chair. “Telling Ethan won’t change anything, Viv. I need to find out who did this myself.”She exhaled sharply, frustration flickering across her face. “And if you can’t?”“I will,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I’m not as helpless as everyone thinks.”Vivian sighed, shaking her head. “It’s not about being helpless. It’s about being careful.”“I am careful,” I countered. “And that’s exactly why I need to handle this alone.”She studied me for a long moment before standing up. “Fine. If you
Chapter 66(Lucas’s POV)I woke up feeling like my head had been trapped in a vice.The past few days had been nothing but a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and betrayal. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying the same questions I still didn’t have answers to. Ryan West. Olivia. Amelia. The lawsuit. EthanIt felt like my entire life was closing in on me, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get a grip on things.I exhaled heavily, rubbing my face before pushing myself upright. The air in my bedroom felt suffocating. I needed to clear my head.Dragging myself to the bathroom, I turned on the cold water and let it run over my face. The chill bit into my skin, but it didn’t wash away the tension sitting like a weight in my chest.Amelia had told me Olivia was marrying Ethan. I acted like I didn't care but I did.I wanted to believe she was lying—wanted to believe Olivia wouldn’t do something like that—but I had been wrong about her before.I had been wrong about a lot of thing