Chapter 82: Tug of WarOlivia sat at her vanity, her gaze fixed on her reflection as she dabbed on a layer of mascara. The article fallout had cooled down, thanks to Ethan's intervention, but the tension between them had only grown thicker. His recent overprotective behavior bordered on possessiveness, and while she hated to admit it, a part of her found it irresistibly thrilling.A sharp knock on her door interrupted her thoughts."Come in," she called, expecting Lily, but it was Ethan who entered, his presence filling the room instantly.“You’re not ready yet,” he said, his tone a blend of annoyance and amusement as his eyes swept over her still-incomplete outfit—a silk robe and her hair in rollers.“I have fifteen minutes, Mr. Punctuality,” she teased, turning back to the mirror. “Relax.”Ethan’s lips twitched as he leaned against the doorframe. “Fifteen minutes isn’t enough for what I have in mind.”Her brow arched as she glanced at him in the mirror. “And what exactly do you have
Chapter 83: An Unexpected ProposalThe next morning, Olivia woke to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly. Groaning, she reached for it, barely cracking an eye open. It was Lily.“This better be good,” Olivia mumbled as she pressed the phone to her ear.“Good? Try great! Ethan Cole just announced a surprise press conference, and the entire industry is losing their minds,” Lily blurted, her voice buzzing with excitement.“What?” Olivia sat up, her heart immediately racing. “A press conference? About what?”“No one knows. But rumors are flying that it’s about you two.”Olivia’s heart sank. “Lily, tell me you’re joking.”“Would I joke about this? Look, it’s in an hour. Get ready!”The call ended, leaving Olivia staring at her phone in disbelief. Ethan hadn’t mentioned anything about a press conference, let alone involving her.An hour later, Olivia arrived at the venue, her heart pounding. The room was packed with reporters, cameras, and flashing lights. Ethan stood at the podium, c
Chapter 84: Dinner and DisarmamentOlivia spent the entire day pacing her apartment, replaying Ethan’s words in her head. He was a man who always got what he wanted, and somehow, she’d found herself swept into the chaos of his world.By the time the clock struck seven, Olivia had tried on four different outfits, each more glamorous than the last, only to end up in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves. It wasn’t stunning by red carpet standards, but it would do.When Ethan arrived at her door promptly at eight, he looked as effortlessly dashing as ever. A tailored navy suit with the faintest hint of cologne that made her knees weak.“Ready?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.“I suppose,” she replied, grabbing her clutch. “Where are we going?”“You’ll see.”Ethan drove them to an intimate rooftop restaurant overlooking the city. String lights twinkled above, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air. A private table had been set up with a breathtaking view of the skyline.“O
Chapter 85: When Reality HitsThe next morning, Olivia woke up feeling as if she were floating on air. Memories of Ethan’s kiss, their dance, and his heartfelt confession lingered in her mind. She rolled over in bed, expecting solitude, but her stomach dropped when she saw a note placed neatly on the pillow beside her.It read:"Good morning, beautiful. I had to leave early for a meeting, but let’s pick up where we left off tonight. –E"She groaned, pressing the note to her chest. Why does he have to be so annoyingly perfect? She shook her head, dragging herself out of bed.Olivia moved through her morning routine in a daze, but reality soon began to creep in. A text from Lily, her assistant, snapped her back to the real world:“We have a PR nightmare. Call me ASAP.”By the time Olivia arrived at the studio, the air was thick with tension. Lily was pacing back and forth, holding a stack of papers in one hand and her phone in the other.“What’s going on?” Olivia asked, stepping into he
Chapter 86: The Charity GalaThe grand ballroom of the Regency Hotel was a vision of opulence. Crystal chandeliers sparkled against high vaulted ceilings, and every corner was adorned with fresh flowers that added a soft, romantic fragrance to the air. A sea of elegantly dressed elites mingled and sipped champagne, their hushed whispers and laughter echoing throughout the hall.Olivia Hart stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart pounding beneath the shimmering silver gown she wore. The fabric clung to her figure in all the right places, a daring slit revealing a toned leg and a plunging neckline that made her feel exposed and powerful all at once.“You clean up well,” came a familiar voice.She turned to see Ethan Cole striding toward her, looking devastatingly handsome in a sharp black tuxedo. His crisp white shirt was open at the collar, just enough to hint at his casual rebellion against the formal dress code.Olivia tried to keep her expression neutral, but his smirk told her he
Chapter 87: The FalloutThe next morning, Olivia Hart woke to the shrill sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. She groaned, pulling the comforter over her head in a futile attempt to drown out the noise.“Who on earth is calling this early?” she muttered groggily.But the calls didn’t stop. With a huff, she grabbed her phone and squinted at the screen. Ji-Hye’s name flashed repeatedly, accompanied by several text notifications.Ji-Hye:Olivia, wake up!Have you seen the news?Call me NOW!Confused and still half-asleep, Olivia sat up and tapped on one of the links Ji-Hye had sent. Her heart plummeted when the headline screamed at her:"Hollywood's New Power Couple? Olivia Hart and Ethan Cole Caught in a Steamy Kiss!"Below the headline was a high-resolution photo of her and Ethan locked in their passionate embrace on the terrace at the gala. Her face flushed crimson as she scrolled through the article, which speculated wildly about their relationship and included q
Chapter 88: The Publicity StuntOlivia Hart’s phone buzzed non-stop as she stepped out of the elevator into Ethan Cole’s office the next morning. The air was buzzing with tension, both from the fallout of the viral photo and her unresolved feelings toward Ethan. She found him at his desk, looking every bit the confident CEO, his sharp suit accentuating his commanding presence.“Good morning,” he greeted, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes lingered on her flustered expression.Olivia sighed. “Morning? It’s barely morning anymore. I haven’t slept since the news broke.” She tossed her phone onto his desk, the screen still filled with headlines and comments. “Have you seen what people are saying now?”Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking entirely unbothered. “Of course. I’ve also seen the trending hashtags. #EthanVia and #HollywoodScandal have been quite entertaining.”“This isn’t funny, Ethan,” Olivia snapped, her hands on her hips. “People think we’re faking a relationsh
Chapter 89: Caught in the WebThe aftermath of the gala left Olivia’s mind in chaos. Every fleeting glance, every accidental touch, every whispered word from Ethan played on a loop, making her question whether their “publicity stunt” was blurring the lines between reality and performance.She couldn’t afford to let this spiral. Not when she’d worked so hard to build boundaries with Ethan Cole.Olivia sat in her kitchen the next morning, nursing a cup of coffee and scrolling through the latest headlines. The internet had gone into a frenzy overnight, with photos and videos from the gala flooding every platform.“Ethan and Olivia’s Magical Dance: The Look of True Love?”“Hollywood’s Most Enigmatic Couple Takes Center Stage.”“Oh, give me a break,” Olivia muttered, setting her phone down.Just then, her doorbell rang. She frowned, not expecting any visitors. When she opened the door, she found Ethan standing there, casually leaning against the frame with a paper bag in hand.“Good mornin
Chapter 125: New BeginningsThe days had started to blur together in a way Olivia had never expected. Life with Ethan had taken on a new rhythm, one that was far more peaceful than the chaos she had once known. Their moments together were simple, but each felt significant, like pieces of a puzzle slowly falling into place. It was almost too perfect, and yet, there was an undeniable sense of anticipation in the air. Something was shifting. She could feel it.She stood by the window, gazing out at the city skyline as the first rays of dawn touched the horizon. It was still early, but she couldn't sleep. There was a nagging thought at the back of her mind, a thought that seemed to demand attention.As she looked at her reflection in the glass, Olivia couldn’t help but wonder about the future. She had always lived with uncertainty, constantly questioning her next step. But now, with Ethan by her side, everything felt different. Could this be it? Could they finally be building something la
Chapter 124: Stepping ForwardThe days following their heart-to-heart in the park felt like a fresh start for Olivia and Ethan. The tension that had once loomed over them was no longer suffocating. Instead, there was a sense of calm, an undercurrent of happiness that bubbled just beneath the surface. It was a feeling Olivia hadn’t expected to experience so soon, yet it was undeniable.As she moved through her daily routine, her steps felt lighter, her heart fuller. Every glance at Ethan seemed to reinforce the decision they had made to move forward, to build something new, something untainted by the past. They both knew there was work to do, but for the first time, Olivia didn’t mind. They were in this together.One morning, as Olivia was getting ready for a meeting, she noticed Ethan standing in the doorway of their apartment. His eyes, dark and intense, followed her every movement, as if he were watching something beautiful and fragile.She paused, the brush she was holding frozen i
Chapter 123: Turning a New LeafThe days after the call from Derek felt like a blur to Olivia. She couldn’t deny the weight it carried, but something inside her had shifted. The confusion that had once gnawed at her every moment was gone. Derek had spoken his piece, and now, there was nothing left to do but move forward. The lingering shadow of her past was slowly receding, and with it, her doubts about what she truly wanted.Ethan had been her rock through it all. His quiet support, the way he’d always been there for her whether it was listening to her vent or comforting her when she needed it most—had never wavered. And now, as they sat together in their favorite café, she could sense the change in both of them. There was a calmness to the air between them, as though the worst had passed and they were ready to face the future together.She glanced across the table at him, his eyes focused on his phone for a moment before he looked up and caught her gaze. The familiar warmth spread a
Chapter 122: A New Chapter BeginsThe soft hum of the city felt almost soothing as Olivia walked beside Ethan, her hand brushing lightly against his. After the chaos of the past few days, everything felt almost surreal. The moment they had fought for was finally here, but there was no triumphal music, no celebrations, only a quiet, steady realization that the battle was over. And somehow, it had brought them closer together.The air was crisp as they stepped into a small café, a place Ethan had recommended for a quiet escape. Olivia glanced at the surrounding tables, noticing the warmth of the ambient lighting and the faint smell of freshly ground coffee beans. It felt like a safe haven, a world far removed from the warzone of their lives.Ethan held the door open for her, and as she walked past him, she caught a fleeting glance of something in his eyes something soft, almost vulnerable. He wasn’t the same man she had first met. The intensity in his gaze had softened, replaced with so
Chapter 121: The Final ActThe atmosphere in the warehouse was thick with tension, as if every breath was laden with the weight of a thousand unsaid words. Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest, her eyes flicking between Ethan and Derek. The standoff was palpable, the final confrontation looming like a storm waiting to break. Ethan was standing tall, his jaw clenched in determination. Derek, on the other hand, wore his usual smug expression, though there was something different in his eyes now. Fear, perhaps, or the realization that his control was slipping.“You think you can just walk in here and take control, Ethan?” Derek sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’ve always been a pawn in my game.”Ethan didn’t flinch. His gaze was unwavering, his posture unyielding. “This game’s over, Derek. You’ve lost.”The words hung in the air, charged with finality. Olivia could feel the electric current of impending action, and she knew, deep down, that this was the moment everything wo
Chapter 120: The Final GameThe tension in the air was palpable, as if the world had momentarily stopped spinning to watch what would happen next. Olivia stood between Ethan and Derek, the weight of their history heavy in every breath they took. Derek’s sharp smile had faded, replaced by a look of irritation mixed with something deeper, fear.“You always did have a way of making everything harder than it needed to be, Ethan,” Derek sneered, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood just a few feet away.Ethan didn’t flinch. His gaze was steady, unwavering, as he stepped closer, positioning himself between Derek and Olivia. His protective instinct was palpable, but there was something else, something colder, something more calculated.“You always thought you were the smarter one,” Ethan said, his voice low and edged with menace. “But you underestimated me. You always have.”Derek’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. “Don’t act like you’re the hero here. You think you’ve won just by s
Chapter 119: Unmasking the EnemyThe following days were a blur of unease, tension hanging thick in the air between Ethan and Olivia. Derek’s visit had thrown them into a new kind of chaos, one that was far more personal than anything they had faced before. Olivia couldn’t shake the image of Derek’s cold, calculating smile or the way Ethan’s demeanor had shifted when he saw him. There was history there, history that Ethan hadn’t shared, and it was becoming painfully clear that the fight they were about to face wasn’t just against faceless enemies—it was a battle against ghosts from Ethan’s past.Ethan had been quieter than usual since their meeting with Derek, lost in his thoughts, his eyes constantly scanning for threats, even when they were at the office or in the safe confines of their apartment. Olivia understood. He was always a man of action, of control, and this unseen enemy threatened both in ways he couldn’t yet confront.“You need to talk to me, Ethan,” Olivia said one morni
Chapter 118: Unraveling the WebThe morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room. Olivia stood by the window, her arms crossed as she gazed out at the city below. Her mind was still racing from the revelations of the previous night. Ethan’s past, the people who were pulling the strings, the looming threat—it was a lot to process, and she knew things were about to get a lot more complicated.She had always believed in facing challenges head-on, but this… this was different. They were dealing with people who were dangerous, people who knew how to manipulate from the shadows. But the one thing Olivia had learned in her time with Ethan was that he didn’t back down from a fight. And neither would she.A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned, expecting to see Ethan, but instead, it was his assistant, Jake.“Ms. Hart,” Jake said, his expression serious. “Ethan’s expecting you in his office.”Olivia nodded, giving him a polite smile bef
Chapter 117: Secrets and RevelationsThe air was thick with tension as Olivia sat across from Ethan, her fingers gently tapping against the surface of the desk. The past few days had been a whirlwind of activity—meetings, press conferences, and media appearances. The world seemed to have moved on, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.Ethan had been distant lately. Not in a way that suggested he was pulling away, but in a way that made Olivia feel like he was hiding something from her. She had tried to ignore it, focusing on the work that lay ahead, but now, it was hard to avoid the nagging sensation that something was wrong.She took a deep breath and finally broke the silence. “Ethan, what’s going on?”He looked up from the papers in front of him, his eyes meeting hers. His expression was unreadable, but Olivia could see the flicker of something behind his gaze. Something that hadn’t been there before.“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice steady but with a hi