Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Mikhail watched Olivia's reaction, his eyes narrowed as he replayed the scene that had just unfolded. Her arrival had been unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome. He had anticipated this moment, carefully orchestrating the pieces that would lead her back into his life, if only to see her beg for the family she had so carelessly discarded.

When Hunter had looked up at Olivia and confusion was written all over his innocent face, Mikhail had felt a surge of satisfaction. He had never told his son who his real mother was, never uttered her name in their home. To Hunter, Olivia was just another stranger, someone who held no significance in his life. And when Hunter had looked at Calliope and declared her as his mother, Mikhail had seen the flicker of pain in Olivia's eyes, the brief moment where her carefully constructed facade had cracked.

He could tell she was hurt, that much was clear. But he also knew Olivia better than she knew herself. The pain she felt wasn’t just for the